A recently released report by Gallup focuses on classroom engagement from both the student and teacher perspective. According to the results, 7 out of 10 teachers aren’t emotionally connected and/or are dissatisfied with their workplace environments. In addition, teachers were also the least likely of the surveyed professions to feel like their opinions at work count and the least likely to feel like their supervisor creates an “open and trusting environment.”
Sometimes it’s a little expected that people lose motivation or interest in a job they’ve been at for quite a while, but that isn’t the case with these particular numbers. These results might be a little easier to understand if this information was coming from teachers who have been teaching for twenty years, but the reality is that only 35% of first-year teachers reported feeling engaged. The number continues to drop to just 28% within the first few years of a person’s teaching career. As if those numbers weren’t shocking enough, the data estimates that after just five years, between 40-50% of teachers leave the profession. While teacher engagement isn’t lower than the general workforce engagement (30%), the numbers are still disconcerting considering the influential role teachers can have in children’s lives.
Research shows that there are several factors related to student engagement or lack thereof, but it’s clear that teacher engagement is one of them. Emotional engagement with school has a positive effect on a student’s math, reading, and science performance. Sadly, only about 55% of students reported being “engaged” in the learning process. How can we facilitate an environment that encourages success and achievement if our students aren’t engaged in learning? In addition, how can we expect our students to be engaged, if almost 70% of our teachers aren’t engaged?
The results of this report shouldn’t be used to place the blame on teachers, but instead it’s important to use these numbers to facilitate a conversation on how the community can do a better job of supporting our teachers. Whether that means additional professional development opportunities, stronger support from their administrators and school boards, more autonomy when it comes to teaching styles to effectively utilize teacher’s strengths, or even more parental engagement in school activities, it’s important to provide our teachers with the proper support and toolbox to effectively do their jobs. Education is a team effort and it’s important for administrators, parents, students, and lawmakers to be an active part of that team.
CHILDREN AT RISK’s 2014 School Rankings, which will be released at the end of this month, show that we have some exceptional schools in Texas and right here in Houston. A large part of what makes those schools successful are the teachers and their dedication and enthusiasm for making sure that every student has the opportunity to learn and grow.