(Salem, Ore.) – Today Oregon Department of Education Deputy Superintendent Rob Saxton, Oregon Education Association President Hanna Vaandering, and Confederation of Oregon School Administrators Executive Director Craig Hawkins announced an upcoming statewide survey of teachers and administrators on school teaching and learning conditions.  The purpose of the Teaching, Empowering, Leading, and Learning (TELL) Oregon Survey is to document and analyze how teachers and other educators view the teaching and learning conditions at their school. The anonymous survey will provide valuable data for policymakers, educators, and stakeholders so they can make evidence-based decisions on policies and practices that will improve student achievement and teacher retention.

“Every public school teacher and principal in Oregon has the opportunity to shape the future of our schools,” said Deputy Superintendent Rob Saxton. “This survey gives teachers and administrators the chance to tell policymakers what educators need in order to do their jobs well. We must value the voices of the educators who work with children every day in our schools, and this survey will let their voices be heard.”

From February 24 through March 24, 2014, the TELL survey will be administered to all licensed Oregon educators employed in the state’s 197 school districts. TELL Oregon is conducted under the leadership of the Oregon Department of Education and supported by a coalition of education organizations, all of whom believe that it is critically important to listen to educators' views when shaping school improvement strategies.

“Providing quality learning conditions for every student in Oregon is key to improving the future of our great state,” said Hanna Vaandering, President of the Oregon Education Association. “TELL Oregon allows those working with students, who know the realities in each classroom, to inform those who are making the important policy decisions that impact those students.  OEA encourages every teacher and administrator to invest the time in completing this very important survey, and to stay involved in creating the schools our students deserve.”

All school-based,  licensed public school teachers and principals will be asked to submit their perceptions on a variety of issues related to student achievement and teacher retention, including the adequacy of facilities and resources, time, empowerment, school leadership, community support, student conduct, professional development, mentoring and induction services, and student learning.

By documenting and analyzing how public school educators view critical teaching and learning conditions, this initiative will provide each Oregon school with its own data that can become a part of the ongoing improvement planning processes in our buildings, school districts, and at the state policy-making level. TELL Oregon data can be used to promote discussions about instruction, planning time, professional development, school improvement, and related policy issues at both the school and district levels.

“Like leaders in other professions, school leaders utilize research to drive improvement," said Craig Hawkins, Executive Director of COSA. “The TELL survey should provide important data – the perspectives of teachers and principals – that superintendents and their teams can use as they develop and implement local school improvement plans.”

At the state level, the data will be useful to the Governor, the state’s Chief Education Officer, the Oregon Education Investment Board, the State Board and Department of Education, legislators, and other policymakers who are committed to listening to the voices of educators as they develop and implement education reform policies.

“I am thrilled that this tool provides a systematic way to bring teacher and principal voices to the table to share perspectives on teaching and learning conditions,” said Oregon Chief Education Officer Nancy Golden.  “The findings will be a critical resource as we gauge the impact of current investments and determine the most effective mechanisms to support educators in helping Oregon students succeed.”

The survey will be administered by the New Teacher Center (NTC), a national organization dedicated to supporting the development of a high-quality teaching force. NTC has conducted similar surveys in other states, and since 2009 has heard from more than one million educators.  Results from the Oregon survey will be aggregated and reported approximately five weeks after the close of the survey window. Results will be at the school (if at least 50 percent of educators responded), district, and state levels.

For  more information about the 2014 TELL Oregon Survey, and to track individual response rates by school,  please visit www.telloregon.org.