Paton-Churdan students will have a chance to express their views about their teachers in a survey designed by middle school students with the help of principal Annie Smith.
Smith told the Paton-Churdan board of education at its regular meeting Dec. 10 that the surveys are one way to promote continuous improvement of the staff. The online survey will provide information without students’ names attached.
“ I always think that complacency is dangerous. If you really think you’ve hit what you can do, I think it’s always good to be in that mindset of ‘how do we improve’ and admitting that there’s something that needs improved and acting on that,” Smith said.
The surveys will be completed before the Christmas break, giving teachers a chance over the break i “not only to reflect from their own point of view, but from their students,” Smith said. “It will give them food for thought. It’s nothing we’re going to act upon, and it doesn’t go into their evaluations. It’s just an idea of continuous improvement.”
Students in grades 4-12 will do the survey. Superintendent Rob Olsen reminded the board that making the student surveys part of teacher evaluations would need to be discussed during contract talks with the teachers.
