Effective Parents Maintain a Cordial and Professional Relationship with School Staff
Maintain a cordial and professional relationship with school staff
It goes without saying that maintaining respectful and cordial relations with school personnel – even if you disagree on the issues – is a worthy objective. Effective parents know that their relationship with a school district may last 12 years or more, and the way in which they choose to communicate with school officials may well impact their child’s education.
Email seems to have become the most common method of communication between parents and teachers and school administrators. While the simplicity and convenience of an email cannot be matched, the down side is that, all too frequently, an email is sent impulsively or when the sender is angry or frustrated. As a result, many parents – and school officials – have been embarrassed when called upon to explain inaccurate or disrespectfully written communications.
Effective parents read and re-read each email before hitting the “send” button. They realize that their written correspondence is a reflection on their character and credibility. They know that all communications – written and verbal – must be courteous, professional and accurate and should never contain any personal attacks. They don’t allow personal animosity to cloud your judgment.
Effective parents also allow school professionals the opportunity to do their jobs. They know that, if a parent is uncooperative or interferes in an inappropriate manner, a hearing officer may eventually decide that the parent’s actions undermined the school staff’s ability to educate the child.