District posts Gallup survey results, aims to boost recognition and staff voice

Superintendent Wendy Dow presented results from a Gallup employee engagement survey with more than 700 respondents. She said overall job satisfaction is about 75% and noted the district’s strategic plan focuses on recruiting and retaining teachers, particularly those with 5–15 years’ experience.

Dow identified three weaker survey items: employees said they rarely received recognition or praise for good work; many felt their opinions did not matter; and fewer staff reported having had a progress discussion with a supervisor in the past six months. The board discussed ways to increase recognition and real-time feedback—recommendations include staff advisory councils, clearer principal-led recognition practices and expectations that supervisors provide at least one progress check-in annually (with a goal to increase frequency).

Dow acknowledged response-rate limits (roughly one third of employees) and emphasized that teacher response rates were higher; she said district leaders plan school-based conversations to design recognition and feedback practices that are locally relevant.

Next steps: cabinet will target the three weak areas with action plans, and principals will be asked to discuss survey results with building leadership teams to set school-based goals and implement staff-advisory mechanisms.