Teachers: Good and bad at MHS

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first of three stories looking at the results released by TELL Colorado, which surveys teachers in Colorado every two years on specific teaching/preparation conditions at their schools. This week we will look at Meeker High School. The next two weeks will examine the results from Barone Middle School and Meeker Elementary School teachers. All results are taken from the surveys turned in by certified teachers only. Complete results for all three schools are available online at www.tellcolorado.org/results There are hundreds of questions in the surveys; what follows is only a sample.

MEEKER I Teachers at Meeker High School are not particularly happy with teaching, preparation and discipline issues at the school, according to the 2013 TELL Colorado survey, yet they are satisfied with other issues.
The Teaching, Empowering, Leading and Learning (TELL) Colorado survey is an anonymous statewide survey of licensed, school-based educators regarding teaching, preparation and discipline conditions at their school.
Results are intended to support school and district improvement planning and to assist with policy decisions. The 2013 TELL Colorado survey was administered Feb. 6 to March 11. Nearly all percentages reflect negatively when compared to 2011 results, also available as part of the survey.
There are three survey results for each school: site summary comparison (five printed pages); district summary results (six printed pages); and district detailed results (49 printed pages). For full results, visit www.tellcolorado.org/results.
The MHS results are based on 52 teachers surveyed and 44 of those surveys returned, for a 73.68 percent participation rate. The percentage of surveys returned from Barone Middle School was 81 percent while 95 percent of the teachers at Meeker Elementary School returned the surveys.
The most telling result regarding MHS may come with the last question of the survey. It asks the teachers how strongly they agree with the statement: “Overall, my school is a good place to work and learn:” 82.54 percent of state high school teachers agreed in the 2013 survey, 77.3 percent of all teachers in Meeker School District RE-3 agreed and 57.1 percent of the teachers at Meeker High School agreed.
There were positive and negative results evident throughout the survey, but a look at some of the key questions posed in the district summary identify what percent of teachers are happy and what percent believes there is need for improvement:
Teachers have reasonable class sizes: 59.7 percent of Colorado high school teachers agreed; 85.7 percent of MHS teachers agreed.
Teachers are protected from duties that interfere with their essential role of educating students: 60.8 percent of state high school teachers agree; 28.6 percent agree at MHS.
The community we serve is supportive of this school: 79.2 of state high school teachers agree; 92.9 percent agree at MHS.
This school does a good job of encouraging parent/guardian involvement: 80.1 percent of state high school teachers agree; 50 percent at MHS.
Community members support teachers, contributing to their success with students: 69.3 percent statewide; 76.9 percent agree at MHS.
At this school, the teachers take steps to solve problems: 77.9 percent statewide; 21.4 percent at MHS.
The faculty works in a school environment that is safe: 91.6 statewide agree; 85.7 percent agree at MHS (all of Meeker School District RE-3, 95.5 percent).
When it comes to the topics of “Managing Student Conduct” and “Teacher Leadership,” MHS doesn’t fare well in the teachers’ opinions.
A sample of the results:
Teachers consistently enforce rules for student conduct: 62 percent of state high school teachers agree; 28.6 percent at MHS.
Policies and procedures about student conduct are clearly understood by the faculty: 75.8 percent agree statewide; 35.7 percent at MHS.
Administration consistently enforces rules for student conduct: 60.5 percent agree statewide; 42.9 percent agree at MHS.
The administration supports teachers’ efforts to maintain discipline in the classroom: 76.7 percent agree statewide; 35.7 percent agree at MHS.
Students at this school follow rules of conduct: 68.4 percent of state high school teachers agree; 57.1 percent agree at MHS.
School leadership makes a sustained effort to address teacher concerns about: Following are the topics and percent of MHS teachers who agree: leadership issues – 38.5 percent; facilities and resources – 66.7 percent; use of time in my school – 57.1 percent; professional development – 50 percent; empowering teachers – 50 percent; community engagement – 64.3 percent; student learning – 71 percent; and new-teacher support: 53.8 percent.
The following questions reflect the response of MHS teachers if they agree or disagree with statements about professional development at the high school.
Teachers pursue professional development opportunities provided at your school: 74.5 said yes at statewide high schools; 44 percent agree at MHS.
Sufficient resources are available for professional development in my school: 63 percent agree statewide; 35.7 percent at MHS.
Teachers are encouraged to reflect on their own practice: 82 percent statewide; 69 percent at MHS.
Professional development enhances teachers’ ability to implement instructional strategies that meet diverse student learning needs: 60.7 statewide; 30.8 percent at MHS.
An appropriate amount of time is provided for professional development: 57.4 percent agree statewide; 42.9 percent at MHS.
School leadership participates in professional development opportunities with teachers: 71.5 agree statewide; 60 percent at MHS.
The last section of the survey addresses instructional practices and support.
There are three survey questions out of 13 total in this category in which Meeker High School teachers positively exceed statewide teachers.
The first is that teachers have autonomy to make decisions about instructional delivery: statewide, 78.4 percent of the teachers agree; 85.7 percent agree at Meeker High School.
The second is the statement that state and local assessment data are useful to me in my efforts to improve student learning: statewide the agreement rate is 55.4 percent; 61.5 percent at MHS.
The third is the statement that teachers share their students’ accomplishments with the school community: statewide, the agreement rate is 81.7 percent; it is 83.3 percent at MHS.
On the opposite end of the survey is the statement that teachers are working in professional learning communities to develop and align instructional practices: 77.8 percent of state high school instructors agree; 28.6 percent at MHS.
The curriculum taught meets the needs of the students: 76.7 percent of statewide high school teachers agree; that percent is 57.1 at MHS.
The faculty are committed to helping every student learn: agreement is 92.9 percent statewide; 83.3 percent at MHS.
Teachers are encouraged to try new things to improve instruction: 85.7 percent of high school teachers agree statewide; that percentage at MHS is 78.6 percent.