Blog

Today marks the start of the fifth North Carolina Teacher Working Conditions Survey (TWC).  All licensed educators in North Carolina have an opportunity to complete the survey and share their thoughts about working conditions in their schools through April 16. As a teacher, I have taken past TWC Surveys and have seen the positive impact of this anonymous survey on my school and district.  Results of the TWC Survey have led to research that shaped state policy changes for educators to include: instructional planning time for all teachers, duty free lunch periods, and stronger principal and school leadership evaluations. This work has changed the way we do business in public schools every day. 

Since 2002, the Governor’s Office, NC Professional Teaching Standards Commission, North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) and the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE) have supported the Teacher Working Conditions Survey. The 2010 TWC sponsors are AT&T, BB&T, Duke Energy, Golden Corral, and the NC Parent Teacher Association (PTA).  Sponsorships provide the educator tool kit, weekly cash prizes for educators and school grants of $500 and final educator and school grant grand prizes of $1,000.

Anyone is able to track live response rates for your school district and individual schools. Visit www.NCTeachingConditions.org to view the survey questions and track progress of survey responses.  Licensed educators who do not have an access code to complete their survey should see their NCAE Representative or Teacher Leader can contact the help desk at 877-628-9208. Final survey results will be available for schools and districts on May 1, 2010 at 9 a.m.

By completing this survey educators are able to help make working conditions better, which in turn increases student learning conditions and overall student achievement. By June 30, research will be complete, and publications will be available. We will know the impact of each of the factors: Time, Facilities and Resources, Community Support and Involvement, Managing Student Conduct, Instructional Practices and Support, Teacher Leadership, School Leadership, and Professional Development.

Thank you to every educator who will take the time to complete this survey and for every community member who encourages educators to complete the survey. 

My mother taught me two important lessons that I continue to live by: education is the key to success and you should give back to your community. During my life, there have been great mentors who spent their time helping to shape my life. I have participated in community service efforts since I was in the third grade, so volunteering comes easy for me.  I still remember one of my first volunteer experiences, which was preparing care packages at my elementary school. It is uplifting to see those same youth who I have mentored graduate from high school and college and remain great citizens in their community.

You and other North Carolinians have the opportunity to serve our children this week and help shape our future.  As part of “United We Serve”, this week is Education Week, a time dedicated to serving in a variety of volunteer and continuous mentoring opportunities. This week, I will volunteer at Pearsontown Year Round Elementary School in Durham, which is where I started my education career as a teacher and will work with YO: Durham, a program for at-risk teens to learn about leadership and opportunities that exist beyond high school.

There are a variety of ways that you can give back, too. You can mentor and assist at a local school or community-based organization.  To find mentoring and other education-related opportunities, visit www.serve.gov or contact a local school to see how you can volunteer. A person who cares can make a life-changing difference for a child. You can make the difference today during Education Week.