Amanda Richards, Possip’s Reporting Team Lead, analyzed data from our Pulse Checks to provide you with the top 10 staff trends from the beginning of this spring semester! Read more to see how Possip is analyzing teachers’ needs and praises across the country!
This new semester is off to a busy and uncertain start with many schools facing an increase in COVID cases, weather delays or cancellations, and more. Possip is here to gather information from those who matter most, even during difficult times. Therefore, this month we wanted to spotlight our recent responses from staff (teachers, principals, and other school employees) with almost 1,000 responses through Possip Pulse Checks! 61% of staff members were happy this month.
What is top of mind for teachers and school staff this week?
1️⃣ COVID Safety Measures
2️⃣ Teacher Workloads
3️⃣ Professional Development Sessions and Teacher Training
4️⃣ Virtual Learning
5️⃣ Communication
6️⃣ Teacher Duties and Requirements
7️⃣ Teacher Vacancies
8️⃣ Mental Health
9️⃣ Student Attendance
🔟 Curriculum
Top 10 Staff Trends Breakdown:
COVID Safety Measures:
Feedback around COVID safety measures and requests for different safety protocols on campuses. Specific changes that were asked for more concern for staff member safety like getting enough KN95 masks for staff members, extra cleaning protocols in classes after COVID exposures, more testing opportunities, and feedback on other safety measures. As a result of the increase in COVID cases around the country, this trend will most likely continue.
Teacher Workloads:
Feedback on teacher workloads and supporting staff members with having manageable amounts of work. With some schools transitioning to remote learning, staff members feel overwhelmed with creating online learning resources and materials. For school still in-person, teachers on campus are feeling overwhelmed with extra work being added on when other teachers are out or they are assigned extra duties such as cleaning procedures. Possip data shows that teachers are asking school leaders and districts to focus on manageable workloads for teachers. For example, when our partners implemented practices such as canceling non-essential meetings during planning periods, we saw an increase in praise comments. Therefore, this created extra time for teachers to complete their work. Check out some other ways that school administrators can increase teachers’ capacities here!
Professional Development Sessions and Teacher Training:
Feedback around professional development sessions and teacher training. Teachers requested additional support and training when moving to remote learning, support with how to use new materials given to teachers during remote learning, and requests for more training on how to be successful during this time.
Virtual Learning:
Questions about the decision to move to virtual learning. If a school did move to remote learning temporarily, teachers are unsure of when they will return to in-person learning and want additional clarity on timelines and extension possibilities. Additionally, for schools that did not go remote, teachers are wondering what the conditions for moving to virtual learning are and request to go remote based on the increase of positive COVID cases in school communities.
Communication:
Feedback around communication from school administration. Teachers want more transparency and specificity in communication, along with clear communication of expectations during this difficult time.
Teacher Duties and Requirements:
Feedback around the increase of teacher duties and requirements during the school day. Teachers want to ensure their contract time is being followed. Additionally, they are advocating to have planning periods and not take on additional duties like subbing other classes. Check out this blog for more resources on planning periods!
Teacher Vacancies:
Requests to fill teacher vacancies on campus and have a more specific protocol in place to cover classes without a teacher present. For example, we have partners who are advising district staff members to rotate in the classroom to support campuses. Along with creating internal school-specific protocols to follow when a class needs to be covered.
Mental Health:
Requests for support with teacher mental health and finding ways to provide staff members with additional access to counselors, along with an overall prioritization of adult mental health.
Student Attendance:
Teachers provided feedback regarding student attendance and focused more on getting students to be present in class. Similarly, teachers are asking for the district to have more specific policies in place because they want to increase student attendance at school and provide ideas to improve student attendance.
Curriculum:
Feedback on the curriculum being used during remote learning and request for additional resources for students at home. Similarly, teachers are asking questions about how the curriculum fits into standardized assessments and the ultimate goal of standardized tests during this time.
If you have questions about these trends, how to resolve them in your school or have feedback on our trends blog, please reach out to amanda@possip.com!
