• "What I See From Here" Teacher Survey

    This survey will be paired with in-depth interviews in an effort to learn from the observation and experience of teachers - What does elementary education actually look like for the children in front of you today? Not a policy question. Not a political one. Simply, what do you see, what's working, what isn't, and if you could design it right for these children, what would you do? I'm not an academic or a journalist but I am an experienced teacher and school administrator who believes teachers are the most honest observers of the children and that your perspective is essential to understanding what is broken and what might be fixed in our educational system. 

  • This survey should take approximately 10 minutes and consists mainly of multiple choice questions, in an effort to collect a significant data set to acompany qualitative evidence collected in long-form interviews.

    Your name and any other specific identifying information will not be shared. 

    You will not be contacted beyond this survey without your permission.  

  • Teaching Background

  • How many years have you been teaching?*
  • How would you describe the stage of your professional career?*
  • What grade(s) do you currently teach*
  • Do you teach...*
  • What level(s) of higher education have you completed? (select all that apply)*
  • What made you become a teacher? (select all that apply)*
  • How would you describe your overall level of professional fulfillment right now?*
  • How much longer do you anticipate teaching?*
  • Would you recommend teaching to someone starting their career today?*

  • School Context

  • What region of the United States is your school located?*
  • Is your school located in a city, small town, or rural environment?*
  • What is your school type?*
  • How many students are enrolled at your school?*
  • How many students are in your class?*
  • Does your class have an assistant or an aide (not including a para or shadow assigned to a single student)?*
  • How many sections of your grade are there at your school?*
  • How would you describe the general economic profile of your students?*
  • How would you describe the racial and ethnic diversity of your classroom?*
  • If predominately one group, which group is most highly represented?
  • If predominately one group, which group(s) are least represented? (select all that apply)

  • The Students

  • Compared to students you taught before 2020, how would you describe students today overall?*
  • Which of the following do you observe MORE in students today than in the past? (select all that apply)*
  • How would you rate the overall social-emotional readiness of your current students when they arrive at the start of the school year?*
  • How significant a factor is students' home life and outside-school experience in their ability to learn in your classroom?*
  • How many of your students have their own personal screen device at home (phone, tablet, etc)?*
  • How much does screen time and device use outside of school affect student behavior and focus in your classroom?*
  • How often do students use personal devices for learning or classwork inside the classroom (computers, tablets, etc.)?*
  • How much does screen time and device use inside of school affect student behavior and focus in your classroom?*

  • What Isn't Working

  • How much of your school day do you spend on activities you believe are NOT genuinely beneficial to students' learning or development?*
  • What are the biggest obstacles to effective teaching in your classroom? (select top 3)*
  • How well does the current curriculum align with what your students actually need?*
  • How do standardized tests affect the culture of learning in your classroom?*
  • How supported do you feel by your school's administration?*
  • How often do you feel that your professional judgment and expertise are respected in decisions that affect your classroom?*

  • What Is Working

  • When you think about moments of genuine learning and connection in your classroom, how often do they happen?*
  • What approaches or practices in your classroom do you find most effective? (select all that apply)*
  • Where does your most effective teaching tend to happen?*

  • The Vision

  • If you could make changes to elementary education tomorrow, what area(s) would you focus on? (select up to three)*
  • How well does elementary school currently prepare children for the world they are entering?*

  • The Big WHY

  • Thank you for completing this survey! Your input is invaluable.

  • Would you like to join me for a 60-90 minute zoom interview so I can learn more about your experience?
  • Would you be interested in being added to my Substack newsletter (includes a weekly article and book project updates)
  • Should be Empty: