“TELL Tennessee” Survey Results Set Standard and Strategy

NASHVILLE – The results are in, and more than 57,000 educators across the state completed the TELL Tennessee(Teaching, Empowering, Leading, and Learning) Survey. Overall, 85 percent of Tennessee’s educators agree that their school is a good place to work and learn. Survey data will be used to provide a foundation for assessing professional development, strategies for improvement, and policy development guidance. 

 

“We continue to listen and have discussions with educators across the state to gain insight into the changes that need to happen in education,” said Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam. “It is critical that we remain engaged and connected to work jointly towards the improvement and success of our teachers, classrooms, and student achievement.”

 

Tennessee’s school districts set the standard for first time participation in the teaching and learning condition survey efforts as conducted by the New Teacher Center. A record 77 percent of educators and administrators responded to the survey, which exceeds previous results in other states such as North Carolina, Mississippi, Ohio, Maryland and Kansas. Questions provided insight into key day-to-day factors about time management for instructional planning, school and teacher leadership, facilities and resources, and professional development opportunities.

 

“We are excited to have this information to study and use as a valuable tool to inform our work to transform Tennessee’s expectations of education and our schools,” said Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman. “These results will help us to better understand the things that work, but also help to identify areas that need improvement such as minimizing paperwork or disruptions that take away from valuable instructional time and developing more individualized professional development opportunities.”

 

To help facilitate these improvements, Tennessee SCORE randomly selected five schools that reached a 90 percent response rate or higher and rewarded them with $1,000 for their exceptional participation. These funds can be used towards implementing strategic improvements and guiding interventions that school leaders can identify by referencing the TELL Tennessee survey data. The selected school winners are:

Elisa Luna, Principal

Dr. Susie Lee Hodge, Principal

 

David Treece, Principal

 

Pickett County Schools

Rebecca Wallin, Principal

 

West Carroll Special School District

Lex Suite, Principal

 

The 2011 TELL Tennessee(Teaching, Empowering, Leading, and Learning) Survey was the first statewideopportunity for teachers and licensed staff in Tennessee to provide input about their learning environment.  The TELL Tennessee survey is supported by a Coalition of Partners that include Governor Haslam, Tennessee Department of Education, Tennessee Education Association, Tennessee Principals Study Council, Tennessee State Collaborative on Reforming Education, Tennessee School Boards Association, Tennessee Association of School Superintendents, and Tennessee Charter Schools Association. 2011 survey results are now available online at www.telltennessee.org.

 

For more information, contact Amanda E. Morris at (615) 253-4754 or Amanda.E.Morris@tn.gov.      

 

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