In an effort to better inform school improvement plans and accelerate progress, Delaware solicited feedback from nearly 60% of its educators. Through the anonymous, statewide Teaching, Empowering, Leading and Learning (TELL) Delaware survey, school-based educators shared their perspectives on the following topics regarding K-12 working conditions at the school, district, and state level.
- Community Engagement and Support
- Teacher Leadership
- School Leadership
- Managing Student Conduct
- Use of Time
- Professional Learning
- Facilities and Resources
- Instructional Practices and Support
- New Teacher Support
The results of the survey showcase many of the positive things educators feel about their
teaching and learning conditions, including:
- Educators feel their schools are good places to work and learn: 80 percent of
respondents agreed that their schools are a “good place to work and learn” and 77
percent indicated they plan to remain teaching at their respective school. - Educators value collaborative planning time: Schools across Delaware implemented
90 minutes of weekly shared planning time for core content teachers. Some of these
sessions are led by data coaches, who guide educators in how to analyze and use
student data to inform their instruction. Also, 88 percent said teachers work in PLCs to
develop and align instructional practices, and almost the same percentage said teachers
are encouraged to try new things to improve instruction. About 92 percent said their
school’s leadership facilitates using data to improve student learning. - Educators feel safe in their schools: 88 percent of respondents said they work in an
environment that is safe with 84 percent saying that their students understand their
schools’ expectations for conduct. Three out of four feel school administrators support
teachers’ efforts to maintain discipline. - Educators believe they are respected for their skill and expertise: 76 percent said
teachers are recognized as educational experts and 75 percent said they feel trusted to
make sound professional decisions about instruction.
The survey results also identified several key areas for statewide discussion. Learn more about the TELL Delaware survey results.