There is a specific kind of torture that administrators accidentally inflict on teachers. It is the Friday afternoon email that says:
“Please come see me Monday morning.”
You might just want to ask them about a field trip form. You might want to ask how their sick cat is. But when a teacher reads that email at 3:45 PM on a Friday, they do not think about field trips.
They think: “I’m fired. A parent complained. I messed up.”
They will spend Saturday and Sunday in a state of low-grade panic. You have effectively stolen their weekend.
When I became an Assistant Principal, I made a vow to protect my staff’s off-duty time. I implemented the Friday Rule.
The Rule: No Vague Emails After 12:00 PM
If I haven’t hit “Send” by noon on Friday, it waits. Period.
If a situation arises at 2:00 PM that I need to discuss with a teacher on Monday, I have two options:
Option A: The “Schedule Send” (My Best Friend)
I write the email immediately while it is fresh in my mind. But I do not hit send. I use the “Schedule Send” feature (available in Gmail and Outlook) to have it land in their inbox at 7:30 AM Monday morning.
I get it off my plate. They get to enjoy their Sunday without thinking about work. Everybody wins.
Option B: The “Context” Requirement
If it is urgent and I must see them, I never leave it vague. I tell them exactly what it is about so their imagination doesn’t run wild.
- Bad: “Can you stop by my office Monday?”
- Good: “Hey! Can you stop by Monday to sign that Purchase Order for the science lab? Thanks!”
Why This Matters
As leaders, we often forget how much weight our words carry. A casual comment from an administrator feels like a shout to a teacher.
If your teachers know that an email from you is safe, they will trust you. If they flinch every time your name pops up on their phone, you have a culture problem.
Be kind to their weekends. The job is hard enough.
If you want to build real morale, stop holding boring meetings and try Replacing Faculty Meetings with Coalitions.