« School Board Discusses Possible Year-Round Designation Criteria | Main | Congratulations to WCPSS Math Champions! »
Teachers Say Time and Empowerment Key to Student Learning
Recent Entries
- July Clinics for Tdap Booster Vaccines (Required for Sixth Grade)
- ParentVision: Back to School
- June 26 Superintendent's Journal: Further Actions to Prepare for a Lean Year
- Board Names Principals
- June 19 Superintendent's Journal: The Budget's Potential Impact on Schools
- WCPSS Students Earn Leadership Scholarship
- Dr. Burns Reports: June 16, 2009
- Board Resolution Honors Outgoing Chair
- ParentVision: Helping Our Youngest Students on the Bus
- Enloe High Graduates Class of 2009
Categories
Wake County teachers said time and empowerment were the most important areas to promote student learning, and that leadership most affects their willingness to keep teaching at their school, according to the Governor's 2006 Teacher Working Conditions Survey results.
Eric Hirsch, executive director of the Center for Teaching Quality -- one of the survey sponsors -- presented Wake County's results at the school board's Committee of the Whole meeting yesterday. N.C. Gov. Mike Easley had asked school personnel to complete an online survey to find out what they thought of their working conditions and ways to improve them.
Some other initial findings for Wake include:
Four of out of five educators said their school is a good place to work.
Teachers want more support, particularly in working with diverse learners.
Teachers are generally satisfied with facilities and resources in Wake County.
Teachers want more time to work collaboratively and plan instruction.
Teachers are more involved in decisions that impact the classroom than they are with decisions at their school.
Teachers are most positive about leadership relative to communication and evaluation.
Hirsch said that the WCPSS response rate of 76 percent was "tremendous," and attributed it to two things: 1) teachers feel it is safe to take the survey and 2) teachers believe the data will be used to make positive changes. Many principals, area assistant superintendents, NCAE, 2005 Wake Teacher of the Year Bill Ferriter, and others worked hard to get such a high response rate.
David Holdzkom, assistant superintendent for Evaluation and Research, said he is looking forward to further analyzing the data. Staff will be working to better understand, discuss and integrate the findings into school improvement planning.
Several WCPSS initiatives resulted from the last survey findings, including the 360 process, bringing Richard DuFour in as a speaker, and training opportunities related to the Leadership Academy.
School and district results are posted online at http://www.northcarolinatwc.org/reports/index.php?orgID=920.
Posted by Kristin Flenniken at 3:32 PM on June 7, 2006 | Leave Feedback
What Do You Think?
Have an opinion about this article? Let us know, using the form below.