The newest Teacher Working Conditions Survey results were just released. Local
media outlets were quick to report that teacher working conditions at Ashley High
School were improving, but are they really? What do the results really show?
You
have to hand it to the school systems public relations department. They do a
great job. They tell the media the message
they want to get out, and the media types up a story accordingly. The media reports on the newest Teachers Working Conditions
Survey at Ashley are no different.
Superintendent Dr. Tim Markley even warned in a press release “it is imperative that viewers keep in mind that this is just one piece of data about each school.” His warning should be headed. The slightly improved results
at Ashley are misleading at best. One very important factor that directly
affected the survey results is not even mentioned in media reports.
What
better way to improve your schools score than for teachers that were speaking out about deteriorating conditions at the school to leave. The exodus of teachers from Ashley High School undoubtedly had the biggest
impact on the new Teachers Working Conditions Survey. A large percentage of disgruntled
teaches left Ashley since principal Jackson Norvell took over. It has been
reported nearly 40 employees have moved on since mid last year. Not only did a lot of experienced teacher leave,
but new teachers were brought in. Those new teachers were much less likely to complain
about Norvell.
Concerns over retaliation likely kept some teachers from filling out the survey. While the survey was supposed to be anonymous, school officials were made aware that some Ashley teachers were concerned their identity might be compromised in the process.
A
2014 North Carolina Teachers Working Conditions Survey showed that under Norvell working
conditions at the school had plummeted. In emails to WWAY teachers
wrote "It has been the worst year at
Ashley ever this year. Our principal is a bully and is retaliatory," Another described
the school under Jackson's leadership as "A scary place to work." In a report at Fox Wilmington, Ashley
teachers said Principal Norvell has consistently punished those who spoke
up in the school and that teachers are in fear for their jobs.
Have things really changed that much? Just three weeks ago Ashley teacher Jennifer Sugerik spoke out publicly at a New Hanover County School Board of Education Meeting about the circumstances at the school. She also had letters in hand from other Ashley teachers that addressed the poor working conditions at the school. This type of action is unprecedented, but demonstrates how desperate many Ashley teachers still are for a change in leadership at their school.
