State releases teacher working conditions survey
Update: More Guilford County Schools teachers reported being pleased with their working conditions this year than in 2006, the last time a statewide survey was issued by Gov. Mike Easley’s office. However, the district again posted lower scores than the state average.
A few things stand out about the results, released May 15 (but apparently not announced to the media):
* Eighty percent of Guilford educators responded to the survey, a 10 percentage point increase from 2006.
* More teachers responded favorably to questions about Guilford County Schools in the areas of time, facilities and resources, leadership and professional development. For example, 54 percent of teachers agreed that they have reasonable class sizes, compared to 43 percent in 2006.
* Despite concerns vocalized over the past year about student misbehavior and violence, 85 percent of respondents reported that they work in a safe school environment. That compares to 72 percent in 2006.
You can view the results here.
Comments (11)
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Its the feel good factor.
Grier has gone, Dots going...
Life is good!
Posted on June 2, 2008 9:56 PM
Yup. Grier has gone.
Do you feel the peace in the community? Do you feel it in our schools?
Meanwhile San Diego burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrsssssssss
Posted on June 5, 2008 11:35 PM
All is not well with the shuffling of principals that Grier did. I heard the parents have started a petition to get rid of the principal at SW Middle. The PTA is very upset at Florence is upset with the leadership as are many teachers. Colfax Elementary's PTA is extremely upset with their new principal. They miss Dr. Hamlin. The trend seems to be putting green principals (some with no classroom experience) in successful schools. I guess this brings down the successful schools so all are equal. Colfax did not make AYP this year. Many teachers are not happy.
Posted on June 6, 2008 1:24 AM
I am the parent of a child at Southwest Middle School and I want to say that I fully support the current principal. She has made some needed changes and I think the school is better because of her.
Posted on June 6, 2008 8:29 AM
Me 2.
Posted on June 6, 2008 12:29 PM
People dont like change thats all but we had better get used to it. All of our money is being spent in Iraq and the Country is going bankrupt!As the economy worsens many friends will lose jobs. Its just the way of the world these days!
Posted on June 6, 2008 3:08 PM
Colfax had a large group of opt-out kids from the Triangle Lake area (didn't want magnet) and there were alot of issues with that group. The transition of the children, not being in their community, not having parental support, academically being behind etc is a possible reason for their decline in scores.
Posted on June 6, 2008 4:54 PM
A couple of parents at SWM who were upset with the principal tried to get a petition going but they basically had no support in the general community.
We have a very good Principal at that school and we have had in general an excellent year.
Posted on June 6, 2008 8:04 PM
Debora,
I heard that there are major discipline problems at Colfax this year. I also heard that the focus is on the students from Triangle Lake and that parents of the Colfax zone students are not happy this year. It seems the principal's solution is to "kill them with kindness". I heard that she promised one young student if he behaved that she would shoot pool with him as that is what he liked to do. Now what kind of incentive is that? And how would this look?
Posted on June 8, 2008 6:38 PM
I know there were some issues with incorporating the new students (through the grapevine)-- I can't speak on anything from a personal viewpoint.
Sounds like the new principal likes the PBS system... positive behavior support. Reward the positive- which is not a bad thing in and of itself.. its the ignoring bad behavior that gets me.
Posted on June 8, 2008 7:16 PM
Exactly Debora, I'm all for rewarding the good. But it's not fair to the original Colfax students to ignore their successes and just reward the good in the tranferees. This is why the Colfax parents are upset. Many are pulling their children out. Does this help public schools?
Bad behavior should be dealt with the same in all students no matter where they live. If they are in the same school, they should be expected to obey the same rules.
The principal also reportedly said she would be very busy during her husband's election time so had to get some things done now. That didn't go over very well either.
In conclusion the teachers and the majority of parents are not happy since Dr. H left.
Posted on June 9, 2008 9:45 AM