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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Is there any sort of required response time regarding a parent email at FCPS? Been waiting for over a week for response from an ES classroom teacher (with a second follow-up last week), but no reply or even acknowledgment of the email.  Teacher has sent other classroom-wide communications in the meantime. [/quote]

Email again saying this is the third time you’ve emailed in a week. Copy the principal. Sounds like the teacher needs some support.

—an ES principal [/quote]

You’re a principal? Maybe a troll? I would be so pissed if you were my admin. That’s not the type of support we need.
-a real ES Teacher[/quote]

Seems like a reasonable step to me. The teacher has had two opportunities to reply. The admin above is probably correct and this teacher may need support.
- a real HS teacher [/quote]

In your “real” experience, what kind of “support” have you gotten when a parent complained to an administrator that you didn’t reply promptly enough to an email?  I have literally never gotten *support* of this kind.

[b]Principal: what kind of support would you give to one of your teachers who was so busy ans working so many hours that she literally did not have time to reply to all of her parent emails?[/b]  [/quote]

[b]How I'd support the teacher:
[/b]First, I'd start by being curious and finding out what's getting in the way of responding to the parent...

Maybe she's new and was unaware of the professional obligation to respond by the end of the next business day. I'd let her know that moving forward this is the expectation and that I'm always happy to help write a response if she isn't sure what to say or set up a meeting with the parent.
Maybe she needs help setting up her Outlook account in a way that makes it easier to  organize emails. 
Maybe the parent is bothering her with endless emails. I'd work with her to either craft a response to cut back on the responses or simply step in and let the parent know that it's too much. I'd give the teacher permission to only respond to the parent once a week or whatever we both feel is appropriate.
Maybe the teacher is struggling with other issues that I can help with--maybe she needs help with planning or classroom management. I could work with her and/or have one of our content specialists work with her.
Maybe the teacher is going through some personal issues and could use a sick day to set up an appointment with a counselor.
Maybe the teacher is struggling with her teammates and needs some coaching for how to make those relationships more collaborative and productive.

It's too bad you have never received this kind of support. [/quote]

I’m the PP, and thanks for responding.  I certainly never have gotten support anything like this, and I have struggled.  I really appreciate your presumption of goodwill and love that you approach the situation with curiosity rather than condemnation.  That is how I approach my students who may be struggling with homework completion of behavior, too.

Your teachers are lucky to have you.  That said, I think missing an email here or there is no big deal (esp when they are non urgent emails) and I would never, ever sicc a administrator on one of my son’s teachers for not responding within the next business day.  I trust my son’s teachers to triage email as needed.  I emailed last Friday in response to a classroom newsletter and asked a non-urgent question about an end of year party.  I didn’t hear back until today (Wed) and I am TOTALLY fine with that.  She is really busy and my email was not urgent.  I trust she would have responded more quickly if it was time sensitive.  If I had alerted the principal because I didn’t get a response by COB Monday, I would be a Class A jerk.  Even if my kid’s principal was as great as you seem.[/quote]

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