Elementary teachers (mainly K-2), what kind of personal communication boundaries do you set with parents/guardians of your students?
By personal, I mean having access to your personal phone number (via phone call or text message). The options I have given the adults of my students so far is contact through email and through ClassDojo. I am also fine with Google Meet. I am just not comfortable with that many people having access to my personal phone number. I plan on getting a basic cell phone for work purposes (especially since I have other jobs outside of school-teaching, so that will be helpful anyways.)
Do you also limit when you respond, and do you communicate this with parents? Of course, Late nights or early mornings are obvious, but say your school is from 8:00AM-3:00PM. Is there a window before, during, or after school where you are open to different forms of communication? (For example: phone/video calls up to 1 hour before & after school, text messages/emails at any reasonable time, only on school days & Sunday evenings, etc.)
I know this all seems unnecessary to even think about. But in other professional spaces I've been in, I'm known to be a bit detached, distant, and reserved, and I don't want to start the school year off with the families of my students feeling like I'm uncaring of and too clinical with their child- and with them as well. I just don't also want to compromise my own comfort and peace of mind.
Posted Aug 7, 2025, 1:03 AM UTC