Job Satisfaction for our Teachers? Yeah…we’ve got that.
When we surveyed our teachers in May, we asked how many would be returning for the fall. 97% of them said that they were. This percentage of satisfied, invested and connected teachers is in stark contrast with the national trends. Find out why PacPrep teachers report such high levels of job satisfaction.
The teaching profession has been through the absolute ringer in the past few years. Statistics on teacher attrition in 2022 were grim. Although things have slightly improved this year, 35% of teachers still say they’re likely to quit within the next two years. Bucking the national trend, though, is our teacher team at Pacific Preparatory. The results are in from our end-of-year survey, and a whopping 97% will be returning next year. This is great news for our teachers and even better news for our students as they get to benefit from the expertise of teachers well-versed in 1:1 education at PacPrep.
The survey process itself is one example of why our teachers report such a high level of satisfaction and are excited to continue next year. The survey asked what they felt was working as well as what they believed could be improved. Faculty Manager Kathy Tojaga thoughtfully recorded, organized, and then responded to their feedback with specific action steps from the team to incorporate their suggestions. One teacher wrote, “Thanks for the detailed response to my survey! This is a prime example of how you make me feel valued at PacPrep. Everything you mentioned makes sense and sounds great!”
What is it about the PacPrep experience that keeps our teachers coming back? According to their surveys, the following are the top reasons:
The 1:1 setting.
Many of our teachers, like our students, have never had the opportunity to be so connected with their students and to understand them as people first and learners second.
The ability to continue with their students across multiple years.
Teachers enjoy seeing them grow year after year. They waste no time diving in because they start the year already knowing their students’ distinct strengths and challenges.
Teachers are treated as trusted, autonomous professionals.
They highlight the consistent and helpful support from the two dedicated leadership team members (Academic Dean and Faculty Manager/Instructional Coach), as well as being allowed flexibility and creativity in their lesson planning.
Paid prep time and unlimited access to materials.
We want teachers and students to have everything that they need to be successful, which is why we invest heavily in purchasing physical and digital learning materials and paid prep time for teachers to thoughtfully plan every single lesson.
But, it’s often best to hear it directly from our amazing teachers themselves. Here are some of their recent pieces of feedback:
“You guys are so terrific that I really can't think of anything [to improve]. I think your entire management team is outstanding and could serve as a role model for other businesses. You've figured it out! Just the fact that you're asking for our feedback shows how professional you are and that you value our feedback.”
“The PacPrep team consistently provides a warm and supportive work atmosphere. I treasure the opportunities to share with each of you about my students - their stories, achievements, and struggles. I feel your feedback is genuine, caring, and compassionate. The team is in tune/in touch with and connected to each instructor, family, and student. This makes such a huge difference for all of us. To me, best practices in instruction begins with first building a strong relationship.”
“I've honestly never had this much support from any organization I've worked for. So if there is some way that you guys can improve that, I don't know what it is.”
“I want to thank the administration for always prioritizing the needs of both teachers and students by providing all of the necessary materials and resources for teachers to provide authentic student learning. Having access to adequate resources can significantly impact the quality of education that students receive. With the right tools, I can create engaging and effective learning experiences that help my students achieve their full potential.”
“I appreciate the compassionate response from the team when issues arise with a student or I have a personal emergency impacting work. I feel like the admin team is "on my side," and shows empathy for the teachers.”
As the academic year comes to a close, it’s clear that our teachers feel valued, supported and excited to continue their work with PacPrep next year. Let’s do it!