The 2026 Tennessee Educator Survey has been released, and while its results point to general satisfaction among educators and administrators regarding some hot-button issues, what may be most striking is what is not in the report.¶
In the survey, teachers generally reported positive views about staying at their schools, curriculum implementation, and school leadership. Thousands of educators responded statewide, but several of Tennessee's largest school districts produced too few responses for district-level reporting.¶
Unrepresented Districts
Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS), Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS), Knox County Schools (KCS), and Williamson County Schools (WCS) were among the school districts that failed to produce enough responses for public district-level analysis. Districts must reach a 45 percent participation rate and include 10 or more educators to be represented.¶
Statewide, the participation rate was 47 percent.¶
Why It Matters
The Tennessee Educator Survey is an annual statewide survey conducted by the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) and the Tennessee Education Research Alliance (TERA) at Vanderbilt University. Teachers, principals, and other licensed school staff members are asked about working conditions, evaluations, curriculum, school culture, student behavior, and retention efforts, among other education issues.¶
Participation is voluntary and anonymous but strongly encouraged. In 2025, almost 42,000 educators across the state participated.¶
Other Survey Findings
More than 80 percent of teacher respondents said they plan to continue teaching at their current school, making teacher retention one of the most optimistic findings in the survey.¶
Other findings included:¶
- Nearly 90 percent of administrators said teacher evaluations help improve teaching.
- Most math teachers reported they can effectively use their curriculum.
- Teachers cited leadership and school culture as important reasons for staying in their current jobs.
The state uses Tennessee Educator Survey data for policymaking, which means the districts not included are left with their voices unheard.¶
