Tennessee educators encouraged to share their experiences with the recently launched 2024 Tennessee Educator Survey

The state is encouraging teachers to help improve K-12 education in Tennessee by sharing their experiences in the 2024 Tennessee Educator Survey.The survey aims to measure key topics that school districts and leaders monitor annually such as school climate, educator evaluation, student readiness, and professional learning. The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) and the Tennessee Education Research Alliance (TERA) at Vanderbilt University first launched the survey in 2011.“The Tennessee Educator Survey is such a valuable tool to hear directly from those who are instructing and supporting Tennessee students every day—our educators—and I am eager to hear your thoughts and feedback,” said TDOE Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds. “I encourage all Tennessee educators to participate to elevate your voice and further inform decision-making for education in our great state.”TDOE and TERA are encouraging educators, administrators, and certified school staff in Tennessee to share their perspectives and expertise on issues affecting their classrooms and schools and share strategies and goals.Districts and schools with at least a 45 percent participation rate will receive data from the survey for decision-making at the local level.  Additionally, six schools with more than a 90 percent participation rate will be eligible for a lottery for a $5 thousand staff appreciation grants.Last year, more than 50 percent of Tennessee educators completed the survey which offered insight into topics including learning loss recovery and teacher satisfaction and retention. This year, questions regarding the TISA funding formula and the state’s new School Letter Grade system will also appear in the survey."We are excited about the additions of questions on important state initiatives like education funding and school accountability," said Executive Director of TERA Laura Booker. "Educator responses on items about their commitment to teaching, future plans, experiences about school leadership, and student mental health supports are also key to ongoing research projects we are doing in partnership with the state."The survey will be open from April 2 to April 26. Tennessee educators will receive a personalized invitation link to participate in the voluntary survey. All answers will be confidential.