Re: administrator not answering emails
    Posted by: Certainly not on 10/29/13
    () Comments

    I am a principal and I will tell you that in any given day I
    may have 75-100 emails to answer. First priority is anything
    sent by a central office administrator (let's be honest - I
    like my job and want to keep it). Secondly I answer parents.
    Some of those emails require full investigations.
    At the same time, I am having students delivered to me who
    fought on the playground or were defiant to their teachers -
    those require investigations and consequences to be assigned.
    I have to talk to all involved.
    Next I have teachers with major concerns and those with minor
    ones. I try to address the majors first which means I don't
    always get to the minors.

    In the middle of that I am handling recess issues,
    transportation issues, building issues, complaints
    from "neighbors" to the school, Board members (I stop
    everything when they visit), teacher evaluations, IEP
    meetings...the list goes on and on

    If I had a teacher who was upset or offended that I didn't
    answer an email, I would probably just tell them that I am
    sorry and to please feel free to bug me. Have you tried
    talking to your supervisor?

    There are some emails I don't answer because: 1. I have
    already answered the question in a previous email.
    2. I have had so many emails on the same topic from the same
    person that I figure that it would be much easier to have a
    conversation.
    3. My answer is complex and I figure that it would be much
    easier to have a conversation.
    4. I don't trust you and think you might forward my email
    without permission.
    5. It just annoys me (I'm being real here)...for example if a
    teacher points out a problem with the schedule I have tried to
    fix for 7 days straight and I put out an email with the
    words "final schedule" and then they email me with a schedule
    concern which is more about their own personal preference and
    is not really a problem, I do sometimes just ignore it.
    Are your emails about something your principal already
    discussed with you? Do you already know the answer or can you
    find out from someone else?
    Try to think outside the box. I would be concerned about a
    teacher who took things personally that weren't personal like
    not returning an email.


    Posts on this thread, including this one

  • administrator not answering emails, 10/24/13, by Grace.
  • Re: administrator not answering emails, 10/29/13, by Certainly not.
  • Re: administrator not answering emails, 11/03/13, by agree with Certainly Not.
  • Re: administrator not answering emails, 12/08/13, by but....