State survey shows District 5 teachers report coworker and administrative support but note student engagement and behavior as top demands

Doctor Turner, chief human resources officer, and Sarah Gams of SC Teacher presented results from the 2025 South Carolina Teacher Working Conditions Survey and the district‑level dashboard. The survey is administered by SC Teacher and is funded by the South Carolina General Assembly.

Gams said Lexington‑Richland 5 achieved a 68% teacher participation rate; 96% of the district’s schools met the 50% participation threshold that makes school‑level results viable. At the state level, coworker support was the highest‑scoring resource construct and student engagement was the highest‑scoring demand construct; district results followed the same broad pattern.

District highlights reported to the board

- Participation: 68% district response; 96% of district schools reached the survey’s 50% viability threshold. - Resources ranking (district): coworker support highest, then administrative support, then parent support. - Demands ranking (district): organizational demands lowest (strength), followed by workload; student engagement and student behavior were the top demands. - Intent to remain: 78% of participating teachers selected somewhat agree/agree/strongly agree they intend to remain in the profession.

Gams described the survey as grounded in the Job Demands‑Resources (JDR) model and explained the survey timing (biennial) and state services (district dashboards, school PDFs when viability reached). She said districts have a year to use the data before the next administration in 2027.

Board questions focused on definitions and follow up

Board members asked for clarification on constructs such as “shared governance” and “autonomy in the classroom.” Gams explained shared governance questions ask whether teachers are included in school improvement planning, policies, assessment and discipline practices; autonomy items ask about controlling pacing and adapting materials so students can master content.

Next steps

Turner said the district will use the dashboard and related exit survey data to inform retention and recruitment strategies and encouraged principals and leadership teams to use school‑level reports (available to principals when the school reached the threshold). No board action was taken at the meeting.