Richmond County school board member Barbara Pulliam wants principals to know their teachers' concerns, and the idea has officials developing a form for such feedback.
"I think it's something they (principals) should know if there's improvement that could be made," she said at a recent school board committee meeting.
A Morris News Service story that recently ran in The Augusta Chronicle said two-thirds of teachers who started their careers in Georgia this school year will quit within five years, partly based on the quality of their principals. The finding was based on a study published in the Journal of Teacher Education, which, according to the Sept. 21 story, determined that key factors in keeping teachers were positive relationships between them and administrators, a diverse student population and a work environment that emphasizes academic achievement.
Board members say Richmond County has many great principals, but they agreed that more could be done to ensure that teacher issues are known.
Mrs. Pullliam said she has heard of teachers leaving because of a principal, and she believes teachers should be able to express their concerns before quitting.
Board member Jimmy Atkins has said he also supports the idea of giving teachers a form to offer feedback to principals.
"I think we do need to address it," he said.
He said the form should probably be issued in the middle and at the end of the school year.
Murphey Middle School Principal Veronica Bolton said she has an open door policy for all of her teachers.
"I welcome them to come to me," she said.
She said that if the feedback form is instituted, she would prefer it not be anonymous because that would make it more difficult to address and investigate complaints.
Board members said the form would not be used as part of a principal's job evaluation, but for feedback.
The form is being developed.
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In truth, being a teacher is not worth it...be there and done that. Providing "feedback" to someone whose understanding of leadership is based on how well we like each other, is useless. A principals' career path should be seperate and apart from regular teachers. They should not come from inside the district and also should having firing authority. Too harsh a change U say, well, overall the schools are in such need, the kids deserve something better and giving teachers a forum to point fingers will not help.
I remember when they did an anonymous teacher "morale" survey a few years ago. The principal of a local magnet high school (still there, unfortunately) threatened teachers with transfers for putting unflattering info on the surveys. So, I'm sure principals would "prefer it not be anonymous," because Richmond County doesn't solve problems brought to their attention. They fire or transfer teachers pointing out the problems. Sorry principals remain....
This is a joke. Principals often have a superiority complex. I have left at least 2 schools in my career because of crappy leadership. One school the principal would blast you over the intercom in the hallway or classroom didn't matter. The other was out to get anyone who she didn't like. Fortunately for me, I was not on her hit list but it made me leave because one day I could have been on her list if I [filtered word] her off. I have also had some in the past that say things unprofessional. The bottom line is if they don't like you then you are a target for the whole year. There is no expressing your opinion. You don't have one.
I think that these surveys, if done, and without corruption/deception... (as most things in RCSS is done).. would be good. However, I believe that they would need to be anonymous because most teachers in RCSS (most employees) live in fear of retribution. Also, these surveys should not only be given to the principal but to the board members who’s the district appointed representative. I believe that the board members should get the original documents and not selected documents that have been selected to give the picture that some wish to be represented. Questions should be broad enough to get a true picture and not geared so that the only possible answer is maneuvered to be to the taste of the central office figureheads liking. I agree with the findings of the Morris News services. Teacher morale is the lowest I have ever seen and its not just because of the students or parents but more because of the bureaucratic non-sense played out everyday in RCSS. STOP the outsource spending and give teachers classroom supplies!! at least, copy papers, adequate copy numbers for copying, pencils and pens, and resource materials. Give the teachers a little credit, some appreciation and respect
Most principals are to narrow minded and insecure to accept criticism, especially females who have never been in a classroom as a teacher.
Yellow cat makes a good point. A lot of principals have very little classroom experience yet they are appointed leaders. Makes no sense to me. A leadership degree does not make you a leader.
Back when I was in grad school, in the 90's, I heavily participated in a study and survey done of RC teachers. There was a huge response (it was anonymous.) The responses showed obvious, identifiable problems. The study was totally ignored.
that's all the poor teachers need is to come and criticize their principal so they can be identified by them and the board, branded as trouble makers then singled out for retribution and/or retaliation. this nothing but a way the school board can single out teachers who are critical of their "backwards thinking, "lets solve the problem by throwing money at it, rewarding schools that have low graduation rates, test scores and failing to meet ayp" ways.