Agree with almost all that was said here. A GREAT time to copy the AP and even the Principal, is during teacher appreciation week, when you are sending an email to DC's teacher thanking them for the great year your child had had, learning XYZ, getting excited about ABC, and really making a difference I your child's life. Be specific and be appreciative (and this gives all the whiners who complain about PTA teacher appreciation week experiences an appropriate alternative).

With all the crap they deal with on a daily basis, this can bring a smile to their faces.

Mom of 3 here. In 15 years at the same elementary school, I have never emailed the Principal or the AP. Ever.

Youngest now in 7th grade and had an ongoing issue with another student that was escalating. I simply emailed DC teacher and the teacher responded that it would be handled and taken care of immediately, thanks for the heads-up, etc.
Problem solved! Never did get the AP involved, although I certainly would have gone one level up if my concerns weren't addressed.

I'm a very reasonable, understanding and strict parent. I've gotten to know the teachers and I have a collaborative style. Perhaps because I take a hands off approach, the very few times I've needed to discuss a problem with a teacher, it's been in a conference or a brief email.

Hate to say this, but your reputation as a parent/family gets established pretty early and teachers and administrators and coaches talk. It's a small community. Fix this, OP!

Literally no one does this. Just you. You seem a bit insecure about your ability to resolve problems without mommy on your side.

Anonymous wrote:The AP is showing respect for the teacher by declaring that she is confident that the teacher can handle your request. I only cc the principal or resource teacher if the classroom teacher is not meeting my needs adequately.

This. And by cc'ing the AP on every email to the teacher, it indicates that you have no faith that the teacher can resolve the issue on his/her own.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would only cc the principal if there was an important issue that I had already tried to address with just the teacher but had failed.

Do you want someone ccing your boss every time they ask you a question?

+1 and, that email would only be to ask for a meeting with all of us. I see no point in trying to hash through issues via email.

And often schools will NOT engage in an endless pages long back and forth on discipline and school issues because of FOIA. Administrators will stress that only very simple communiques need to be via email and any situation that's going to require explanation and recitation of facts or possibly conflicting accounts does NOT need to be in writing. As much as possible schools will avoid even using a student's name in an email lest the parents later subpoena all emails related to their kid. This is the result of a litigious society. Way way easier to just have a meeting and get it settled face to face.