Businesses seek to learn how people feel about their products and services so they can improve their value to customers. As an organization in the business of educating our future citizenry, we at CUSD need and want to know how our “customers” think we're doing, so we can improve the quality of education we provide to each of our nearly 11,000 K-12 students.
One important vehicle driving improvements is the online parent survey administered each spring. Parents appreciate the convenience of the survey, which takes only a short time to complete, but has enduring benefits.
As a former teacher and principal and a current parent, Devin Vodicka, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, understands the value of family feedback. “We pose questions drawn from research on effective schools,” he reports. “The results are shared with principals and inform each school's plans on enhancing student achievement. The results also help the District identify target areas for support. Deficiencies in a specific area, such as parent training and support, can be addressed through additional programs and new efforts.”
Tara Clark, who teaches at Poinsettia Elementary where her two children attend school, concurs. “Surveys give parents a constructive opportunity to have a voice in their child's education,” she said. “They also offer another way for the school to reach out to parents who may not be able to be on campus regularly to give feedback.”
Satisfaction increases
Survey results are charted by site and graphed by topic. The graphs yield annual comparisons, so the District can assess improvement.
“This year's results give us reasons to celebrate,” Devin confirmed. “We improved in every area.” Some, such as 'Students are involved in learning activities that are inherently engaging' and 'Teachers present clear learning goals,' showed substantial improvement, reflecting the District's emphasis on them during the past year. Most impressively, respondents' overall level of satisfaction increased significantly: from 64 percent in 2008-09 to 79 percent in 2009-10.
Results reflect the high level of technology use among Carlsbad parents. Most respondents are comfortable and happy with such communication tools as Web pages, e-newsletters, School Loop and Blackboard (auto-dialer telephone) Connect.
Of course, technology does not replace teaching; it augments it. Good teachers who have comprehensive and well articulated rules and procedures, systematically provide feedback on homework assignments and use different strategies with different types of students are highly valued by parents.
Parents share opinions
Much can be gleaned by reading the hundreds of responses to two open-ended questions. In answer to the inquiry, “What should be done to improve your child's school?” parents suggested changes such as expanding the number of foreign languages taught, nurturing middle school students more, reducing class size and continuing Jefferson Elementary's International Baccalaureate Programme to middle- and high-school levels.
Parents responded with equal honesty and energy to the question, “What are the best things about your child's school?” They commended their school's friendly environment, opportunities for involvement, protective student policies and, most of all, the people who serve their children. One statement is representative of many received: “Most of the teachers seem to work tirelessly for students.”
I take all comments, positive and negative, to heart. We love to hear the accolades, but we need to hear the criticisms, so we can continue to improve.
I must admit that one of my favorite responses to the question about what should be done to improve the child's school, is this: “I honestly can't think of anything. We've only been at [this school] for a year and have had a wonderful experience thus far!”
Our steadfast goal is to provide that experience to all.
To keep up to date on district doings, follow Dr. Roach at www.twitter.com/SuptRoach.
One important vehicle driving improvements is the online parent survey administered each spring. Parents appreciate the convenience of the survey, which takes only a short time to complete, but has enduring benefits.
As a former teacher and principal and a current parent, Devin Vodicka, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, understands the value of family feedback. “We pose questions drawn from research on effective schools,” he reports. “The results are shared with principals and inform each school's plans on enhancing student achievement. The results also help the District identify target areas for support. Deficiencies in a specific area, such as parent training and support, can be addressed through additional programs and new efforts.”
Tara Clark, who teaches at Poinsettia Elementary where her two children attend school, concurs. “Surveys give parents a constructive opportunity to have a voice in their child's education,” she said. “They also offer another way for the school to reach out to parents who may not be able to be on campus regularly to give feedback.”
Satisfaction increases
Survey results are charted by site and graphed by topic. The graphs yield annual comparisons, so the District can assess improvement.
“This year's results give us reasons to celebrate,” Devin confirmed. “We improved in every area.” Some, such as 'Students are involved in learning activities that are inherently engaging' and 'Teachers present clear learning goals,' showed substantial improvement, reflecting the District's emphasis on them during the past year. Most impressively, respondents' overall level of satisfaction increased significantly: from 64 percent in 2008-09 to 79 percent in 2009-10.
Results reflect the high level of technology use among Carlsbad parents. Most respondents are comfortable and happy with such communication tools as Web pages, e-newsletters, School Loop and Blackboard (auto-dialer telephone) Connect.
Of course, technology does not replace teaching; it augments it. Good teachers who have comprehensive and well articulated rules and procedures, systematically provide feedback on homework assignments and use different strategies with different types of students are highly valued by parents.
Parents share opinions
Much can be gleaned by reading the hundreds of responses to two open-ended questions. In answer to the inquiry, “What should be done to improve your child's school?” parents suggested changes such as expanding the number of foreign languages taught, nurturing middle school students more, reducing class size and continuing Jefferson Elementary's International Baccalaureate Programme to middle- and high-school levels.
Parents responded with equal honesty and energy to the question, “What are the best things about your child's school?” They commended their school's friendly environment, opportunities for involvement, protective student policies and, most of all, the people who serve their children. One statement is representative of many received: “Most of the teachers seem to work tirelessly for students.”
I take all comments, positive and negative, to heart. We love to hear the accolades, but we need to hear the criticisms, so we can continue to improve.
I must admit that one of my favorite responses to the question about what should be done to improve the child's school, is this: “I honestly can't think of anything. We've only been at [this school] for a year and have had a wonderful experience thus far!”
Our steadfast goal is to provide that experience to all.
To keep up to date on district doings, follow Dr. Roach at www.twitter.com/SuptRoach.