Anonymous wrote:The content specialists/resource teachers often want to stay out of any issues in which there is wrongdoing by the teacher as they are not their direct supervisors. They ignore emails and pretend they didn't see them.

I'd skip them and go straight to the principal if you have a dispute with the teacher.

I guess if it's a content issue you could go to them like why did my child's teacher skip over the whole unit on fractions or something like that. But if it's something like a teacher making a racially charged comment against your child or others, don't bother with the content specialist.

The content specialists/resource teachers often want to stay out of any issues in which there is wrongdoing by the teacher as they are not their direct supervisors. They ignore emails and pretend they didn't see them.

I'd skip them and go straight to the principal if you have a dispute with the teacher.

Anonymous wrote:how annoying is it if parents email the principal about you? Does it affect you or bother you in any way?

Don't care

Here is something for all to think about, no one knows who the Content Specialist or Subject team lead is and it’s not identified easily on most school websites. I just looked at my kids schools here is the titles I see:

Resource Teacher
Teacher
Teacher, Special Education
Classroom Teacher High
Teacher Academic intervention
Teacher Focus

Now I know that the person listed as Resource Teacher is the Team Lead/Content Specialist, but at lot of folks won’t know that. Want to know which departments clearly label the manager/team lead: Security and Building Services.

Folks in education administration need to get use to using translatable language. If the Resource Teacher is the Department Lead, then list them as such as Department Lead/Team Lead/Manager/Specialist/etc are all words and positions that translate into other areas to help people identify that person having either a deeper skill set and/or supervisory responsibility.

Anonymous wrote:Chain of command:
Child for their perspective
Teacher
AP or Principal
Superintendent

I would say:
Child
Teacher
Content specialist (secondary school) - or reading specialist if it's ELA issue in ES
AP
Principal
Relevant central office staff member

And it rarely should go above the teacher.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it helpful for teachers if we send compliments to the principal? Or just annoying/ waste of people's time?

Depends on what you want to say: write to teacher, copy Principal. Or write compliment to Principal about teacher copying that teacher.

yes, this - either way.

Anonymous wrote:Is it helpful for teachers if we send compliments to the principal? Or just annoying/ waste of people's time?

Depends on what you want to say: write to teacher, copy Principal. Or write compliment to Principal about teacher copying that teacher.

Is it helpful for teachers if we send compliments to the principal? Or just annoying/ waste of people's time?

Yes. 100%. If you do not try to resolve it directly with the teacher first, you actually harm your relationship with the teacher AND the principal. Unless your child is in danger- which 100% outside people should be called as well as the principal, then go to the teacher. It is not well received to go to the “manager” without trying to resolve things first.

Chain of command:
Child for their perspective
Teacher
AP or Principal
Superintendent

Unless it is a compliment, communicate directly with the teacher.

Anonymous wrote:Talk to the teacher first. You only go to the principal if its a serious problem or to complement a teacher

+1
It's annoying to everyone if you have a minor issue that should have been directed to the teacher in the first place. Everything grade/assignment/instructional related should go to teacher first, then teacher + department head (content specialist/resource teacher), then department head + assistant principal if issue still isn't addressed. Things that are a relation issue between the teacher and student should start with the teacher (seeking information) or counselor if that doesn't seem appropriate. The counselor can speak with student and mediate miscommunications/misperceptions happening. A serious problem would be some specific incident that caused physical or emotional harm to your child where the teacher behaved in an unprofessional manner.

Talk to the teacher first. You only go to the principal if its a serious problem or to complement a teacher

Is it a "good" email??

how annoying is it if parents email the principal about you? Does it affect you or bother you in any way?