PITTSBORO — The results of the recent statewide Teacher Working Conditions Survey were released last week, with Chatham County Schools educators expressing a high degree of satisfaction with the school district and the respective schools at which they teach.
Chatham County Schools outpaced the state in every category in which educators were surveyed.
“We want to ensure our teachers feel appreciated and heard,” said Superintendent Dr. Anthony Jackson. “We’ve faced extremely challenging times over the past two years, and we see the survey results as reinforcement that our teachers recognize that the Board of Education listens and responds to the needs of staff to ensure Chatham County Schools is one of the best places in the state to work as an educator.”
The survey covered a variety of topics, including retention, school safety, community support and professional learning opportunities. School Improvement Teams will use the data from the survey to identify areas in which their school can make changes to improve working conditions.
Among the specific findings:
• Overall satisfaction — CCS rated 83% (tied for first place in our region), state and region averages were 78%.
• Use of time — CCS rated 73% (second highest in region), state and region averages were 65%.
• Facilities and resources — CCS rated 89% (tied for second highest in region), state average was 85%.
• Community support and involvement — CCS rated 85% (third highest in region), state average was 79%.
• Managing student conduct — CCS rated 78% (tied for third highest in region), state average was 75%.
• Teacher leadership — CCS rated 86% (tied for first in region), state average was 80%.
• School leadership — CCS rated 84% (second highest in region), state average was 79%.
• Professional learning opportunities — CCS rated 76% (tied for second highest in region), state average was 73%.
• Instructional practices and support — CCS rated 81% (tied for second highest in region), state average was 78%.
• Retention — CCS rated 81% (highest in region), state average was 74%.
• Equity — CCS rated 84% (tied for second in region), state average was 82%.
• Safety — CCS rated 86% (highest in region), state average was 82%.
Chatham County Schools had an excellent participation rate in the survey. Statewide, 112,529 educators responded to the survey, for a 91.96% response rate. Chatham County Schools had 779 educators respond, for a response rate of 95.94%.
“This demonstrates the passion our educators have for their profession,” Jackson said. “It also, through the individual questions in each category, points to real strengths within our district where our educators know they are appreciated and that their contributions are valued. We are fortunate to have a community that supports and invests in public education, and educators who are happy here and want to make Chatham County Schools their lifelong professional home.”
Breakdowns for individual schools and responses to questions in each category can be found at https://www.nctwcs.org/.
The survey is conducted every two years, with all teachers, school administrators, and licensed school-based educators asked to participate. It is administered by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction in partnership with the Academic Development Institute.