OK- did I say something wrong?

Last night I sent my principal this email-

I did some planning today and I wanted to find out a couple things:

-I would like to use Bud, Not Buddy and Maniac Magee with my two ELA classes.I want to make sure I request them before someone else does because I want to buy the audiobooks as part of my differentiation plan.
-I also noticed that I have a single AIS period with a third class- I have some ideas for what I'd like to do with that time, but before I do any more legwork I want to make sure that something is not already planned that I will be expected to do.
-I have some things ready to be copied- parent letters, some handouts for the first few days, etc. Will Anabel be available during the first few days to get these run off, or will she have other priorities? If not, I have time to get to Staples.



I got this response: I will call you on 8/25.

So- was there something unreasonable in my email that I'm not seeing? I feel like I asked some simple things. The only other thing I can think is that my program is being changed and he wants to tell me on the phone. I'm just aggravated because my time to do work is limited and I don't want to spin my wheels.

Re: OK- did I say something wrong?

Maybe he is on vacation and just doesn't have time to sit and respond. But that is still a few days of waiting that sucks.

Message edited 8/21/2008 11:05:46 AM.

Re: OK- did I say something wrong?

I got a similar response to an email i recently sent to my principal. i asked a question and her response was to come in on such-and-such a date when she was back from vacation. so aggrevating that i couldn't just get a simple response to my question. so i don't think you said anything wrong. your principal is probably putting everyone off till that date.

Re: OK- did I say something wrong?

Thanks ladies. The more I think about it, the more frustrated I get. I tested the incoming sixth graders in June, but haven't crunched the data yet- maybe I won't even be teaching sixth grade! I hate not knowing. I have a daughter so my time is very limited- in fact, today's the last "real" day to get anything done.

Re: OK- did I say something wrong?

Posted by MissJones

Maybe he is on vacation and just doesn't have time to sit and respond. But that is still a few days of waiting that sucks.

Re: OK- did I say something wrong?

I think

1) some people are just not email people. prefer phone (and vice versa).

and / or

2) some people (esp in the work world) do not like to have documentation of what they said, emails can be fwdd to others, misconstrued, etc. and I think this might be more the reason than # 1.

I had a coworker that would always call my phone after she got an email. this was more # 1. soo annoying either way.


I hope your questions are answered.

Re: OK- did I say something wrong?

i don't think there was anything wrong with your email but i don't think there was anything wrong with your principal's response either

they may not have an answer for you right now
they may not have the time to answer your questions right now
they may be on vacation
or some of the other posters responses
it sucks they didn't answer you but remember you are one of many teachers and while it is very important to you it might not be at the top of their list right now
from what i understand administrators are very busy right now

Message edited 8/22/2008 10:43:22 PM.

Re: OK- did I say something wrong?

I'm guessing it's just a case of your principal being really busy. Yours was probably #73 in a list of 105 emails he had to respond to, and by the time he got to yours he stopped with the pleasantries and let you know what you need to know - that he'll get in touch with you next week.

My supervisor is similarly brief over email. The simple reason for that is she Blackberry with her wherever she goes and emails from there and is terrible with the little keyboard! So she writes as little as possible. Could be something as innocuous as that with you.

Re: OK- did I say something wrong?

I used to get these brief emails ALL the time from my special ed. supervisor. She would do this to avoid putting anything into writing. It's a technique that I see a LOT of administrators use.

Re: OK- did I say something wrong?

Re: OK- did I say something wrong?

I know my principal has flat out told us that she doesn't like to have anything in writing so and correspondence is strictly done face-to-face. That may all it is.

Re: OK- did I say something wrong?

Re: OK- did I say something wrong?

Re: OK- did I say something wrong?

my principal goes on vacation the two weeks before the week we come back to set up and she doesn't want to answer any questions during that time