It's like people just don't understand that you should return an email just like you would return a phone call.
If I understand correctly, public school e-mails can be subject to open records (with student information redacted) and may be admissible for any possible future legal proceedings. Therefore teachers/schools/districts may prefer to receive written e-mail communications but may be hesitant to respond, or may be instructed not to respond under certain circumstances.
... told her that there was a breakdown in communication last year and that DD was doing poorly on her meds for a few months before I even heard about it.
Might this be put in the positive, possibly by saying that once contacted about your daughter's meds, you were able to address that, for the benefit of all (your daughter, fellow classmates, the teacher)... that you look forward to hearing the teacher's observations so you can continue to provide needed support.
it's possible she's checking into that, but why not just write back and say that.
Some have had good results by including a request in the e-mail for the teacher to please contact them when they've received the message.
E-mail is known for a flat, impersonal, or abrupt tone, which can come across as negative and sabotage communications. Some have found good results by writing following a "sandwich" formula:
1) positive opening: for example agreeing with, thanking for, or sharing a positive observation.
2) the middle: your "beef"... the "meat" of the situation... talking "turkey"... etc (apologies to vegans, I know no vegan expressions for this... YET)
3) positive closing: for example looking forward to hearing their thoughts, working together, expressing confidence in them and in finding a great way to move forward. Sometimes it may reduce a sense of feeling pressured, if a parent asks if they've not reached out to the correct person, would the teacher share with you who you might contact with these thoughts.
Lastly, there is good and bad in everything... public forums provide great crowd-sourced information in a short amount of time... parents are not the only ones to read forums, but teacher/schools/districts may as well. Therefore some posters choose to remain as positive as possible on forums, knowing their child's teacher/school/district may view their posts. Families may not realize they are communicating with teachers/school staff through forums.
