2022 - 2023 Climate Survey Results - Combined Campus Report

Q1 My campus assignment is:

...the required student outcomes for my classes are clear to my students.

Q2 I know that:

...the required student

outcomes

...the teachers in my school communicate with each other to make student learning consistent across grades and subjects.

... teaching and learning is fun in my classroom.

FOIABY OURGUNTER

...good communications among employees.

...an office staff that willingly supports instruction.

...clean and well-maintained buildings and grounds.

...a positive learning atmosphere for faculty and students.

...pride in personal and team performance and achievement.

... practices to keep employees up-to-date on changes in procedures or policies.

...an atmosphere of trust.

...a principal who is visible, accessible and available.

Q3 My campus has:

...treats me with respect.

...is an effective instructional leader.

...facilitates communication effectively.

...supports me in my work with students.

...supports shared decision making with the faculty.

...is effective in helping to reach our school vision and goals.

...treats everyone fairly and equally.

...equally and adequately enforces the adopted dress code.

...fairly and equitably administers the discipline policies and procedures of the district.

...deals firmly and fairly with student and staff problems as they arise.

Q4 My principal (or supervisor):

Answered: 53 Skipped: 65

1 UIL, Choir/drum club,

2 I feel that our student leadership team is run really well and the students take pride in being a part of this group. I also think our "Readers are Champions" reading program is really successful and the students love being recognized for all the reading they are doing. I feel that our "Student of the Month" program is really encouraging and a great way to honor exceptional behavior among grade levels.

3 Academic UIL

4 Readers are Champions- reading incentive program for the entire school Student of Month

6 Student leadership program, UIL, GT program

7 The student leadership team is awesome, love that it gives students leadership roles.

8 Our parent and family involvement activities have been wonderful this year.

9 I think our academic UIL had a really successful year, and it was amazing to see the kids succeed in an academic activity. I am glad that there were amazing coaches who stepped up to teach and lead the kids in their events.

10 UIL

11 Our athletics program as a whole has created an atmosphere of elite expectations and competitive kids that trickles down to even the less talked about programs. Our kids carry themselves with pride in themselves.

12 Kinder - Third grade Reading Buddies

13 Every program excels and has high expectations- there is winning across the board.

14 Girls' Basketball is in the Regional Tournament!!

15 We absolutely do the best we can with the staff and resources that we have. I am proud of how the staff steps in to help each other when subs are not available or when a life situation happens. The teachers do their magic in the classroom to teach subject matter in spite of over-crowded conditions and the lack of enough staff to properly cover all learners in the building. The GMS Art program creates amazing artwork, STEAM stretches the students' thinking, and our yearbook class always creates a fantastic product.

16 UIL Success

17 I’m not sure there is a school-wide one. While we started the year off pouring time and money into a united theme, it seems it was only for getting school up and running. After that, we don’t seem to have much happening campus-wide.

18 I love seeing the students helping at carline.

19 Gathering students and families together for Popsicles with the Principal, DEAR Night/Gingerbread Decorating, Meet the Teacher. Any opportunity to interact and better know our students and families and understand their needs.

My students love the Golden Spoon in the Cafeteria.

PM

Q5 Name or describe any activity or program occurring at your school this year for which you are exceptionally proud.

22 Popsicles with the Principal, Meat the Teacher, DEAR Time/Gingerbread House contest.

24 I'm proud of our students and teachers who participated in UIL academics.

26 Meet the Teacher was a tremendous success! Last summer,

Fantastic idea, our campus has never looked better and it was a great way to build excitement.

28 I am proud of all the programs and activities. The MS staff works very hard to make learning fun as well as relavent while loving on the kids and bending over backwards for them.

31 The Reading night we did just before winter break was a great success. I enjoyed watching students listen to teachers read stories. Some students joined in the story telling with singing and chanting. It was such a fun reading event.

32 I am thrilled to see the district adopting MAP testing, and look forward to seeing how it impacts instruction next year.

Our staff goes above and beyond to meet the unique needs our each of our students. They give their all every single day.

The volleyball and football earning the state champion honor. The robotics program earning qualification to the state competition.

The sports programs are doing well, and Fine Arts is knocking it out of the park as well.

programs are among the best in the state.

52 volleyball, football, baseball, basketball, softball, golf, robotics, HOSA, AnP, Engineering, horticulture 2/13/2023 2:47 PM

53 Tara West Phonics is having a profound impact on closing student learning gaps and supporting our dyslexic students in phonemic awareness and phonics! We are growing readers!

2:45 PM

Answered: 61 Skipped: 57

RESPONSES

Gunter Elementary has always been a high performing school with high, but achievable expectations for students and teachers. More and more is being put on teachers' plates without lightening the current load or offering more time for them to work and learn the new things. The offers of help and doors being open seem to be nothing more than lip service. As teachers try to follow the YAG, students are getting left behind, and no one seems to care. There is no give in the schedule to allow for stopping or slowing down to completely reteach. Sadly, we feel the need to just soldier on even though we know students are struggling. Student behavior and lack of respect for adults (especially among the upper grades) is another serious concern.

One example is 3rd and 4th grade lunch and specials. I am fortunate enough not to have lunch duty, but I have seen the blatant disregard for simple requests.

Students know consequences are unlikely as it’s the majority of the class. There is also the issue of parents who come to eat with their children who seem to think asking students to use conversational volume (rather than yelling) and asking permission to get up to do things is asking too much of the students,

PM

Also, new programs or things that have been rolled out, have very little follow through. Communication is lacking and very last minute, which can lead to unnecessary extra stress for teachers. We are heard and supported, which is wonderful. Going forward with the new campus opening in 2024, we really need to revamp the Sped. department and better serve our children. I also think we really need a full time certified librarian that can better meet the needs of our students and teachers. We need one that can pair with teachers for planning and really extend those ELAR TEKS during library lessons. :)

3 Communication and district wide expectations on a more regular basis

4 WE NEED SUBS! We cannot continue to have an effective teaching/learning environment with the amount of staff/teachers that are consistently off. We need permanent subs....

FOIABY OURGUNTER

Not all teachers are treated equally. Some can wear what they want, others have to dress professionally. No teacher should be in a parent meeting with sweats and hats on. We need to expect MORE FROM OUR TEACHERS if we expect the kids to be respectful or dress appropriately.

There is often lack of follow through and communication could improve.

6 Grade levels should be teaching the same curriculum. There shouldn’t be some teaching a

PM

PM

Q6 Name and describe any issue or special concern on your campus that you feel needs to addressed to make the school environment more conducive to learning.

certain curriculum, while others teach a completely different curriculum.

We have the most kids at the elementary, the most kids that are way more dependent on adults, yet have the LEAST SUPPORT. We are failing these kids while

7 Teachers need to be allowed to teach instead of spending the majority of their days testing or in meetings about testing. There needs to be a specific curriculum taught across the grade levels. When 3/5 teachers choose a different program than what we are told to teach it causes difficulties as the students move up to the next grade or when classes are split due to lack of subs. There needs to be much better communication of expectations from administration. There needs to be a consistent grading policy across grade levels and within the school.

8 We need an AP.

We also need more staff!! Another Sped teacher and interventionists are needed. Teachers can't keep having more added to their plates and continue to use more of their personal time trying to keep their heads above water at work. Everyone is burnt out more than ever. Planning times have to stop being used for meetings. Staff is already short on time. The school day is too long for littles.

9 This year there were new academic tools introduced to teachers with not enough resources or trainings on how to use them. Without the proper trainings, teachers cannot effectively teach. Another issue that is faced is the lack of communication. The staff cannot properly do their job or stay in the loop with everything that is coming unless they are communicated with.

10 The speed at which TRS was implemented with lack of curriculum and resources. We were given hardly any time during in-service to take our brief trainings to figure out how to change our year at a glance, find resources to go with what TRS said we needed to do each day, and see if our curriculum the district has purchased for us connects with it. We were set up for failure at the beginning of the year because the expectation was to use TRS from day one. We spend so many hours and our own personal money weekly to find resources while also so many hours trying to figure out how to use TRS correctly. It's taken away time to focus on our students. We also are on too many committees, have too many meetings, and communication isn't great.

11 The campus in general is confined and not up to par anymore. The number of teachers/staff, which is already too low, cannot even feasibly grow due to the lack of available space. The school has a truly unbelievable, unique amount of participation from the student body in its extracurricular activities. 5A number of students involved those activities with a small 3A staff to support it. Teachers(coaches included) are stressed with the task of constantly, continuously playing catch up because there are often too many of them with too many hats to wear.

12 I have students frequently missing my afternoon classes (due to leaving early for sports events). Not only are they missing instruction or an assessment, but they are not coming in to make up the work they are missing. Coaches/sponsors say they are responsible for the makeup work, but I don't think the students actually understand. Students also don't have the time in their day to come in for makeup work. They have before school practice, film or meetings during break, and after school practice.

13 There has been too much change tried to be implemented this year. TRS was a huge leap for us, and we didn't have enough training if we were to do it 100% as expected.

14

Repeated disruptions in the classrooms by the same 5 or 6 students. Some students disciplined with ISS, while others seemingly no discipline at all. No bullying policy needs to be more strictly enforced. I have not seen that personally, but have heard from other parents that feel it is not addressed equally.

15 More teachers to teach specific grade level. We have teachers who are prepping for two different grade levels and subjects. And when coaches are out, there’s not enough staff to go around.

16 There is a lack of teacher support; for example, the teachers will be encouraged to get their class to do something to receive a small class reward, but there is no follow through, so the reward never comes. Students are then disappointed because they worked hard for the reward and then let down because it never comes. There is a lack of consistency in regards to curriculum across grade levels; when it is brought up, admin will tell one teacher one thing and then another teacher something different, so there it appears as if one can decide to do whatever they choose. Communication is lacking with admin. Teachers will email and not get a response for days/weeks.

17 Dress code and student behavior are problems. Our principal needs an assistant.

18 Need Substitutes, an Internet that works all the time

19 None

20

The classrooms are packed with students because we lack enough staff members to spread the students to other classrooms. The large class sizes inhibit the teacher's ability to teach how they would prefer, and how they know student's learn best, due to the inherent issue of space to move around in the room and also the inevitability of discipline issues arising when students are stacked one upon the other. This also makes it more difficult for the teachers to make those more personal connections with the students that are vital to optimal learning and reducing the discipline issues. Another huge issue is the lack of adequate staff members for our special populations students. The staff we do have do the absolute best that they can, but with the number of students that require one-on-one assistance to function in the general ed classroom, it is impossible for just one teacher and one sped staff member to appropriately support all learners in the classroom. It is doing the general ed students a disservice and is a huge disservice to the sped students.

21 More substitutes, facilities that work properly, follow though and everyone held to the same standards.

22 Staff bathroom

23 Hard to enforce discipline and dress code when the parents fight us on it.

24 There is a lack of desire to put in the effort to teach rigorously to the TEKS. Worksheets, programs and grades are driving instruction and getting in the way of helping each student grow based on their level of ability.

25 I think teachers planning vertically would help. It is helpful for teachers to know what is expected in the grade above so we can help better prepare our students.

26 We are in need of a licensed school psychologist to assist our teachers with the many issues our students are facing.

27 The dress code for both students and teachers is very lax and not enforced at all. Jeans for teachers would look better and more professional than what some wear.

28 Students need PE more than once a week.

29 Our current students as well as those coming to us from other districts are dealing with a wide range of mental health issues. We need someone on each campus equipped to help our students and their families.

FOIABY OURGUNTER

30 Dress code has been a concern this year. Communication is not consistent. Teachers who are new to the district have brought their previous districts values with them. They do not respect the culture Gunter has built and the reason why they wanted to come work in GISD. Grade levels are not consistent with the programs being taught. Kindergarten and 2nd grade are still teaching Saxon Phonics. Gunter has been very successful with Saxon Phonics. It is disappointing that new teachers to the district have come in and changed the resources.

31 I have an issue with our phonics instruction. We have taught Saxon Phonics here for almost 25 years.

not consistent anymore like it has been in the past. I think it would benefit our students if our phonics instruction was consistent in K - 2.

32 better communication; more teachers so we can have consistency across grade levels (no teachers teaching multiple grades); more tutoring time - there is none at this time.

33 Mental health.

34 Limits on who can take Advanced Courses

35 is

The MS campus does need an assistant principal so that the workload can be shared.

Our teachers are also doing a phenomenal job. Don't add to their workload with things that they don't need to add. Let them do the wonderful job they are already doing. Not once have I seen any of admin just wandering into classrooms to see what a great job they are doing when they are over for the great meals they bring us. Maybe that's because I am busy in my room getting my work done but they haven't been in the room I am in so that is why I think they need to be more visible to see the great work going on. I know their jobs are hard too, but some see what a great staff we have! This campus has a homey feel and I've only been on one other campus that felt that way in my career. Having that feeling makes a HUGE difference to getting up and coming to work each day.

37 We need additional staff (assistant principal, ESL coordinator, 8th grade math teacher). We need teacher bathrooms that work.

38 When positions are vacated a replacement needs to be hired quickly so that the learning environment in not disrupted by the lack of adequate staffing and by others who are stretched beyond their capabilities,

39 Classes are not balanced well. Some classes are very small, and then my inclusion class is one of my biggest. I'd also like to see students able to check their own grades more independently, Our current system is not user-friendly for the student.

40 1. inconsistent class sizes = classroom management concerns = lack of engagement and learning 2. inconsistent proactive monitoring of commons areas

41 Same old same old, Shortage of staff. Lots of meetings about the shortage but no real effort towards fixing the problem. Nothing being done by Admin to get the word out to the public about the need for subs, or making accommodations to the system to get them in. Classes being split daily. This is not good for the kids or the teachers. We spend too much time talking about nonsense while we cant even keep our heads above water. We need admin filling in for classroom's down here in the trenches with the rest of us. We are no longer providing top notch education we are merely surviving the day. I feel like that is true across all campuses as I have a child at each.

42 Physical Education is important to young children, once a week is not enough.

43

44 Making class sizes smaller that are heavy in special populations

45 Teachers need to be trusted to do their job.

46 smaller class sizes more staff to meet the needs of students-math lab, reading remediation teacher

47 Adequate resources and SPED help

48 COMMUNICATION - There is a serious lack of communication, timely responses to emails and concerns.

49 We need an assistant principal, an additional secretary, more special education staff, and a campus police officer. We are growing too large to fast to continue to have our special populations: Special Education, 504, ELL, etc. being led by teachers.

50 A higher degree of behavioral expectations from ALL students. Being more aggressive in teaching kids right from wrong and not allowing gray areas to be an excuse.

51 1:1 technology so that students do not need their phones (teenager with phone = distracted).

52 Expectations be met by all staff.

54 Only having PE once a week. That's not enough. Also, there have been so many changes this year, and we haven't had enough training &/or clarity on how to carry out many of those changes.

Classrooms are overcapacity Reliable restroom facilities Transit between campuses (student safety)

Less electives in the MS.

57 Teacher restroom needs to be fixed.

58 The school is too small for our current numbers. Halls too narrow. Cafeteria too small.

59 Students feel extra-curricular classes are suppose to be 'easy A classes'. Their parents think the same. Most students worried about that 4.0 plus GPA and less worried about actually learning something.

60 Team leaders need to understand their role as a leader and role in bringing the team together, for the success of our students, and relationships of teammates!

...coming to work at my school each day.

...seeing the results of my work with students.

...working in an educational setting.

Q7 I enjoy:

...coming to work at my school each day.

...seeing the results of my work with students.

...working in an educational setting.

Strongly Di Disagree Agree Strongly Ag Not Applica

STRONGLY DISAGREE DISAGREE AGREE STRONGLY AGREE NOT APPLICABLE TOTAL WEIGHTED AVERAGE

...that the other staff members care about and encourage me.

...that learning can be fun and enjoyable.

...recognized for the good work that I do supporting education.

...that compensation is fair and competitive compared with other districts.

...that I am treated with respect by my colleagues.

...that I am listened to when I have ideas for improvement.

...the curriculum for the district gives adequate guidance for instruction.

...there is adequate training provided for curriculum implementation.

Q8 I feel:

Q9 I have the opportunity to:

...develop my professional skills.

...think for myself and not simply carry out instructions.

Strongly Di Disagree Agree Strongly Ag Not Applica…

...develop my professional skills.

...think for myself and not simply carry out instructions.

...get help with problems or questions about the compensation and/or benefits program of the district.

...get assistance in understanding policies and procedures used to manage the district.

...get assistance in understanding policies and... STRONGLY

...get help with problems or questions about the compensat...

Answered: 28 Skipped: 90

1 As the number of Autistic students grows, I think we all could benefit by learning more about strategies to help reach them and enhance their emotional and educational experiences at GES.

2 Teachers could use any trainings right away when we are back in August before school starts. Trainings on the new STAAR redesign would have been helpful, as well as any TRS or curriculum training.

3 I would like to see more educational programs brought into the school, such as author visits and speakers during Red Ribbon Week, etc. I would also like to see after school clubs with paid teacher sponsors.

4 It would be beneficial to allow the teachers to choose training that would directly benefit their grade level students and the problems they are dealing with instead of wasting their time on some umbrella training for students k-12.

5 The activity of time. We are given too much new stuff constantly and no time. We can't increase our effectivness after trainings unless we are given time to prepare and implement.

6 Please structure in-service training to allow us more time on campus with our teams and principal. The 22-23 in-service week contained trainings and talks that were not relevant. Sending out videos that we can watch as a team would be helpful as opposed to spending time away from our classrooms

7 More time to explore TRS and find resources to go along with it.

8 n/a

9 I feel that with TRS, we are no longer consistent between grade levels as to what resources we are to use. I'm still confused as to what is expected. We need much more time during the summer - BEFORE school starts - to get together and have time to plan out our activities and what resources we will use to teach each TEK. Perhaps a couple of days over the summer, and then one each nine weeks during the closest in-service day.

10 I would like to see more grade level/curriculum specific trainings brought in to the district, instead of being handed a book and expected to enforce/teach what is inside.

11 Ask what WE want or need training in to be successful. It seems to be a decision made FOR us not WITH us.

12 Collaboration with peers to improve my classroom.

13 Vertical alignment

14 Telling staff of curriculum changes prior to August. This will give us more time to plan accordingly. More input on curriculum and trainings.

15 N/A at this time. STEM cohort thru Rgn10

16 Just working on what is already going on, not adding new things to employees plates each year.

17 Dddd

18 I am interested in becoming part of a curriculum or instructional team.

19 Training in eduphoria for a better understanding on how keep a record of personal training and how to do lesson planning as a team. Training in microsoft office suite to improve collaboration

Q10 What program, training, or special activity would you like to be part of to enhance your knowledge and increase your effectiveness?

among team members and sharing documents.

20 I am passionate about instructional technology in the classroom, both for students and for teachers. I would enjoy expanding these skills and working with other teachers to enhance exsisting instructional tech skills.

22 I honestly feel my effectiveness would increase if I had more time to prepare, grade etc. I feel as though I go non-stop from the time I get here until I leave for the day. Most days I have to take work home with me just to stay caught up.

...teachers/staff.

...students.

...support staff (librarians, counselors, diagnosticians).

...administrators.

Q11 Morale is high on the part of:

Q12 I believe that:

Answered: 86 Skipped: 32

Strongly Di Disagree Agree

Not Applica…

...every student can learn.

...the instructional program at my school is challenging.

...the school provides an atmosphere where every student can succeed.

...quality work is expected of students at my school.

...quality work is expected of me.

...quality work is expected of all the adults working at my school.

... the vision for my school is shared.

...we have an action plan in place which will get us to our vision.

...effective instruction occurs in the classroom.

...it is important to communicate often with parents.

...I communicate often with parents about their child's progress.

...our superintendent is effective in helping us reach our district vision and goals.

...the school places a strong emphasis on student learning.

...our school board is effective in helping us reach our district vision and goals.

STRONGLY DISAGREE DISAGREE AGREE STRONGLY AGREE NOT APPLICABLE TOTAL WEIGHTED AVERAGE

Q13 What is something about working in the Gunter ISD that is exceptionally good or positive?

Answered: 57 Skipped: 61

RESPONSES

1 Teachers and staff at the elementary really are like family. We're flexible and always willing to lend a hand when someone needs it. Friendship among staff members is what I think keeps us going in many cases. I truly believe every teacher at GES loves kids and strives to do what he/she believes is best for them.

2 I LOVE being a part of this small community and really making an impact with my students. I love that I am trusted to teach my kids and do what is BEST for them. I really like that the administration will listen and is never too busy to do so. I think teachers do feel valued and appreciated. This is my favorite district that I've worked in and I have worked in several. :)

3 The staff at GES is supportive and the parents are supportive.

4 Staff all work together as a team.

5 Small town atmosphere and trust, despite the many changes and large school district mindset among the upper administration.

6 Gunter ISD still has somewhat of a small town feel. The administration team will meet with staff to ask for our input, however, it doesn't seem like they always follow through with the input that is given. The staff at GES enjoy their jobs and we all get along well. I look forward to coming to school to see my students and co-workers.

7 Can’t think of anything positive anymore. After 15 years…..I can only find negative. I thought it was bad before this superintendent, but here we are.

8 At the elementary level, you can see the teachers still care about their students. Many of us go out of our way, out of our pay, and take time away from our own families to support our students in and out of school. Teaching teams have fairly good, supportive relationships. Most of us are flexible and willing to help out a peer at any time.

9 Smaller community and ability to be involved outside the classroom and feel supported.

10

11

The staff is exceptional when it comes to being flexible. If they need to adjust the plan for the day, split students, or cover a class someone steps up and does the job. We are also very supportive of one another. There is a lot of love and respect for what each of us do, so you can always count on someone else to lift you up or help you when you are in need of something.

12 There is a strong sense of community, and most families enjoy our town and school district.

13 Admin-Staff relationship

14 Good repuation - but that "small town feel" that many come to Gunter for is being lost as we attempt to do things like Allen and Frisco do them.

15 I enjoy that I have freedom within my content and instructional practices. I can adjust my schedule as I see fit. I can teach the content how I see will best help students.

16 Teachers at the middle school support one another.

17 For the most part, most of the school is supportive of each other, they look out for one another, help one another. I feel that most of the teachers truly are looking out for the best interest of the students; emotionally and educationally. I love the smaller classroom sizes which allow us to form the close bonds with our students and families.

GISD would be LOST without her! The dedication she has for these students is phenomenal. Most people don't see how hard she works, and all the work that goes into helping these students. I appreciate all hard work. She is in our classes more than ever this year. I know this spreads her thin, but it is appreciated by us. She has made an impact on our students. I have seen lots of our students use the strategies she teaches. I love having her support in difficult meetings.

19 My team mates work hard every day to support each other and their students. I love our campus.

20 The majority of the teachers and coaches that work in GISD truly do have the students' best interests in mind and pour into them to help them achieve on a high level. The community really does support the efforts of the school and celebrates the accomplishments of the students. The people I work with and the students I teach are what is exceptionally good about GISD.

21 Small town atmosphere and being able to have good relationships with all my students and their families.

22 Every organization supports each other.

23 Love the sense of community and small town feel.

24 All the programs kids have the opportunity to be a part of.

25 TEKS resource system is amazing. If would be great if we could get all teachers on board with it being our primary tool to drive instruction. Thankfully, our school is a big part of our community and we are all united as Tigers. It is this unity and care for our community that will hopefully help us see that some hard work needs to be done to increase rigor in our schools. are trying to get us there, but are faced with teachers that are resistance to change and hard work. If students can be expected to be tough out on the field, we need to expect them to be mentally tough in the classroom, providing the challenges they need to get there.

She works with us through curriculum issues, parent issues and supports us in anyway she possibly can.

27 I love my co-workers. We have so many people that share positives, and try to make our work day the best day. been an amazing help to me as a teacher. She has listened to me, she has been an advocate, she has been my shoulder to cry on, and she has carried my burdens. She is also a great help to our students. has had my back with parents in a way that we haven't had before. Every time I have had a problem or a concern with a parent she has had my back. This has made me feel supported. The addition of was tremendous! She has been tremendous at helping our community and families.

28 The coworkers and the involved parents. The people doing the day after day grind with the kids. They care so much about helping each kid succeed.

29 I appreciate the fact that we continue to try to keep small class sizes at the elementary. I appreciate our school board.

30 Caring Staff, Willing to help others out. New schools on the horizon.Sports

31 has set a very positive, caring and welcoming environment. She is focused and attentive and always prepared to manage any situation that may arise.

33 The feeling of family on the MS campus and the smaller district. Although that is going to change with growth. I love my principal at MS!

35 We have some amazing parents who support us in the classroom and through serving in our PTO. We have excellent athletic programs.

36 I enjoy working in Gunter for the freedom to make my own instructional choices while

leadership is provided when I need it.

37 The staff are very supportive and willing to help in many ways. We are like a family.

38 I value the teacher-autonomy I have inside my classroom and I feel my principal supports me at every opportunity.

39 1. Students have opportunities to participate and be successful in multiple areas outside of the classroom=life lessons. 2. As a teacher, I have the opportunity to attend these events and support them outside of the classroom in order to build better working relationships inside the classroom.

staff and the feeling of family among all of us. Our true dedication to the students even when we are not totally supported by

Q14 What is the most pressing issue or concern that you believe Gunter ISD must deal with in the near future?

Answered: 59 Skipped: 59

RESPONSES

1 I believe one of the most pressing issues that needs to be dealt with is leadership, It often feels like the elementary faculty and staff is forgotten or an after

We often hear of decisions that are made, and we just shake our heads because those making the decisions don’t seem to know how things work on an elementary campus or take the time to ask before making decisions. One example is the compensation for covering other classes. It is completely different at the elementary, but one blanket policy was put into place. Our campus has been labeled "the talkers." We wouldn’t have to talk if anyone ever bothered to tell us things. Last year when a new principal was hired, no one came to let us know or even send out an email. We saw the name on the board agenda, and then It was all very awkwardly handled and caused more speculation and guessing than was necessary. Just tell us things. I feel the same way about the We were all contained on one campus together when we came back from Christmas break.

it joins the list of so many other elephants in the room.

I would certainly hope that we have the caliber of admin that makes that possible, but I also hope the have enough courage to question things even when it’s hard and uncomfortable. Our kids and staff are worth it.

Many things have fallen through the cracks this year. I feel as though we have given much grace and in doing so have sacrificed pushing for help and answers we’ve desperately needed for ourselves and our students, leaving us feeling frustrated and under-valued.

FOIABY OURGUNTER

The lack of help and, in some cases, the questioning of the work we’re doing leaves me asking, is this the place for me? I love my colleagues, and I love my kids, but parent pressures, admin pressures, and feeling at times that we’re on our own makes this job hard. That doesn’t even take into consideration the low pay. I got into this field knowing what it pays, but it’s kind of a hard pill to swallow being told there’s not money for this or that, when we added so many higher paying positions last summer. We’re growing, yes, but we seem to be a bit top heavy now. District wide, I think less thought needs to be given to what the parents think/want and more thought needs to be given to treating each student fairly. I’ve had children graduate from GISD, and I was blessed that they never really faced bullying or dealt with it in their friend group, but I know that is not the case for all students at GISD. I pray that it is being dealt with correctly and in a way that helps empower the victims. Unfortunately, I hear parents say this isn’t the case at the middle or high school.

2 As I stated before, I think we can really reach kids more with our Sped. department. Possibly hire a few more aides and teachers to help with the work load. I also really think we need a full time librarian at the new campus so that we can really meet the needs of all the students and extend upon classroom learning.

3 Clear communication from upper administrators as well as acknowledgment of ideas from staff who have been in the district.

4 The growth of the town and influx of students.

5 We are short-staffed. We have a large population of struggling students that would benefit from working with a specialist or SpEd teacher aside from simply talking assessments. With GES being a title I school, we should have the capacity for both a reading and math specialist for K2 and 3-4.

6 WE NEED BETTER LEADERS. The amount of people running for school board should show that we HAVE PROBLEMS. Let's address them. We have to help the teachers! We are needing support! We are screaming for help, but our Admin is ignoring us! We need accountability for our leaders, our upper admin, excessive number of cabinet members, school board. Get with it and let's try to keep good teachers! I've never seen such overpaid, useless, upper administrative leaders with no consequences. They are unqualified for their jobs and need to be gone.

7 Gunter ISD needs to prepare for the growth. Increase in teacher pay to match other districts would be nice.

8

They do a lot of talking and take no action. I’ve never seen anything like it. We hired too many upper admin, with not enough growth to substantiate that. They do not support our campus. They do not support our teachers. Their response is always “I’ll look into it.” Then we get nothing. Zero. I don’t think it’s the most fiscally responsible thing to have so many administrators that never actually do their job.

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That is FALSE!! You do what is right for kids and staff! You make sure the superintendent and his recommendations are SOUND, RESPONSIBLE, AND WHATS BEST! That is your job. LISTEN TO THIS STAFF, LISTEN TO THE TEACHERS.

9 Teacher burnout is probably the most pressing issue. District expectations are so high, but they do not provide us with the curriculum, the tools, the time, the staff, or salary to be successful. I don’t think you can find one staff member on our campus who is happy with their job this year. The GISD administration acquired new Chiefs this year. WHY??? They are ineffective, take up what little time we have to plan, and two, in particular, have never worked on an elementary campus, yet they dictate how we run our classrooms. They ask what we need to be more effective or where we need help, and when we tell them, nothing happens. Or, worse yet, they promise to help, show up once or twice, then disappear, which invalidates or negates our concerns and creates an atmosphere of mistrust and anger. The only time they spend on our campus is when they show up to “appreciate” our work with food. They stand around chatting with each other for 2 hours when it would be 100% more beneficial to spend that time talking to the staff or helping with lunch duties. We need more paraprofessionals, aids, and interventionists, NOT more administrators telling us how to do our jobs. Our teacher, substitute, and aid pay is terrible, and much less than districts around us. Neither Communication is scarce, decisions are made on the “downlow” by those who aren’t familiar with the students we teach, the problems we deal with on a daily basis, and our concerns. These concerns are swept under the rug or we are told issues will be addressed at a later date. Additionally, it seems one hand has no clue what the other hand is doing.

2/26/2023 2:56 PM

A few years ago teaching at Gunter ISD was a coveted job. We had high expectations for our students. They were well behaved. Teachers were trusted to put the education of children first. We loved our jobs. Sadly, this is no longer the case.

10 Finding the right leaders for this district/community. Gunter was always known for their great schools and it seems like that is slowly fading. We seem to be losing great staff quickly. doesn't respond or provide support. They ask questions and seek our input, but there is no follow through or change. ALL staff needs to be heard and supported so everyone can be on the same team and feel they are welcomed, loved, and supported in their

passion to help grow kids. It should not be as obvious as it is when you walk into a building that everyone is defeated and affraid to be honest. We are the voice for children and that is a huge responsibility that comes with a moral compass, we should be encouraged to speak up for what is best for kids.

11 Nine people have applied to run for school board. This sends a very clear message. The most pressing issue Gunter ISD faces is leadership. We have a cabinet filled with six chiefs however we do not have the enrollment to support a large administrative team/salaries. The growth is coming but it is not here. To our school board- please question the positions being added/created to our still small school district as well as the qualifications of those selected for an administrative position.

12

We are paying out a significant amount of money to our administrators and expect a lot from each of them.

The increase in special populations. We do not have the amount of staffing to effectively help these students.

13 New High School Facilities/Growth

14 Direction on expectations and guidance toward TRS. Elementary students need more recess/PE time. I don't feel we are allowing the little ones to get what they need social/emotionally as well as developmentally.

15 Expectations within the classroom. It seems there is a lot of talk about having high expectations: teaching at a high level, holding students accountable, etc. I have not seen follow through for teachers that do not meet those expectations. It looks like those that are not "good teachers" are given other jobs with less responsibilities (no instruction).

16

Lack of teachers is leading to more and more on each teacher’s plate. Admin staff has increased while the teacher staff has not. Middle school desperately needs an assistant principal.

17 I would love to see smart boards in the classroom where the students can interactively participate in teacher instruction. More books in the guided reading library that follow the Science of Reading to allow our students to have more opportunities to read books on their levels and become successful.

18

No one has truly stepped in to help her. this group of students would not be receiving the amazing support they receive. The support they receive is ALL due to her and NO ONE ELSE! She is not paid enough for the amount of work she does. She works harder and wears more hats than any aide in the district. I hope she will continue to stay with us.

I feel afraid to ever voice a concern. When you are scared to have an opinion, you have a toxic work environment.

Anytime we have a question, we seem to be referred to Region 10.

FOIABY OURGUNTER

There is no real direction, and no one helping me to incorporate technology into my lesson. With us moving more and more online, we need someone who is there to help guide the way. I feel that the poor morale on this campus is going to be blamed on but that is not where it needs to be placed.

Communication. This is district-wide. When we reach out for information we are often not replied to, and if we are replied to it is days/weeks later. When it comes to decisions, we often feel that we are the last to know. We would like to hear back in 24 hours, especially since that is the expectation for us with parents. PARENTS. We have to deal with the parents. I fear that we are going to lose some great educators. We feel constantly attacked

and questioned. has supported us, and I know she has our backs, but it takes a huge emotional toll.

19 Obviously, the inevitable growth of our school district is going to be of concern in the next few years. Much work was done in years past to ensure that our district was ready for the growth, but the growing pains we feel now are tough to deal with on a daily basis. As a teacher, I feel that the most pressing concern is is so out-of-touch from what goes on in the buildings on a daily basis that it makes a tough job almost impossible. The feeling amongst the staff is that

, but most of the time, these opinions and concerns fall on deaf ears and are a waste of teacher's/staff valuable time. There has been a dramatic shift in employee morale in the last 2 years; from one of feeling appreciated and supported, to now where teachers and staff are just peons grinding out work that goes unnoticed by It also feels that if anyone questions , or has a differing opinion than , they are dealt with swiftly by being removed from their position or their life is made so miserable they no longer wish to work for GISD. Several staff members at GMS have voiced concerns about overcrowded classrooms and the desperate need for more teachers only to be told there is no money in the budget to allow more teachers to be hired. However, money is always found for extra cabinet members to be hired. It is impossible to maximize learning in a small room with over 25 students squished on top of each other and try to create those personal relationships that are so necessary for classroom management and learning. Discipline issues no doubt arise and optimal teaching/learning is difficult, to near impossible, in an environment such as this. ESL-we have no one! , the positioned was not filled and there has been no one to help with those students. Being resourceful and knowing we have to take care of ourselves, we have found our own resources and reached out to other districts' ESL coordinators to address these student's needs. We should not have to do that...but I'm sure the answer is that there is no money. This is a lawsuit waiting to happen and there is no doubt that the blame would be passed to the principal and teachers. SPED-there is an abundance of high-needs sped students in our building. Some that came from other districts that had one-on-one support, but we obviously don't have the staff for that. I am sure the excuse is no money. These students are forced into the general ed classroom with an aide where they try to keep up with the gen ed students, most of the time unsuccessfully. Their needs are not being met at the level that they should be. The gen ed students needs aren't being met as they should be due to the teacher's attention being diverted constantly by the gen ed population and the sped students that require so much more attention. This is an absolute disservice to all students in the classroom. Teachers, aides, everyone, do the best they can, but again this is a lawsuit waiting to happen. And again, no doubt that the blame for this would be put on the principal and teachers. Support-we feel none from the . Every one at the middle school campus supports one another: from the principal, the secretary, teachers, aides, and janitors, we care about one another and put in more time and work than any staff should have to. . It seems that they really don't care about the daily struggles and are just more concerned with Xello, data analysis and the upcoming STAAR tests than they are the people that work for GISD and the students, who should be our top priority. The teachers are at the end of their rope and ready to jump ship. All of us!! Our mental and physical health cannot sustain the toxic work culture that our current has created. But, because we are who we are, we love one another, love our students, and we feel called to this profession, we come back each day for the kids and for one another. I don't know if that makes us crazy or makes us servants, but we do it either way. Things could be done to make this job easier, to create better working and learning environments, and to allow optimal learning to happen for ALL students. It is just going to take someone in upper admin or on the school board with common sense and courage to make it a reality.

FOIABY OURGUNTER

20 Size is growing faster than we are planning for- space is a problem already, and job expectations for myself as a teacher are already maxed, some staff are stretch so thin, we were exhausted before school even started. Some don’t pull their weight and do the minimum. Everyone is going to have to work longer hours and as a team to make the next few years work. We will loose more staff to higher pay and less expectations to other districts, or from burn out. Many teachers are talking about getting out of teaching and changing careers. They are exhausted! I worry about attracting strong classroom teachers at GISD. We can only attract amazing coaches. We have a short window to chart the course of the future at GISD with the fast growth, we need to get our priorities straight right now. Are we known for our education???? We used to be….

23 The growth. We need more teachers

24 Letting go of “we have always done it like this..” Also, teaching to the TEKS; going beyond what tpt programs like Rooted in Reading have lined out to ensure the depth of the TEKS are taught. In other words, use resources like resources.

25 From May 2022 (1146)-January 2023 (1133) we have an overall 13 student increase district wide and hired a cabinet of chiefs in order to prepare for student growth.$$$$$ We do not need more chiefs. If you are going to be employed as a chief you should live within the district. Living within the district gives you the opportunity to vote in school board elections as well as connect with the community. We need a veteran curriculum director Our emphasis at the HS level is placed on sports, not learning

FOIABY OURGUNTER

It seems as though they don't care about the past, they won't ask how or why things have been done the way they are, and then need to come in and "fix" the situation. Some things just aren't broken, so don't break them. She never has the answers, and doesn't seem to care to help! Don't change things in August, and do not give us time to adjust. We were told of changes in in-service and given NO time to work on adjusting things. Give us TIME. It feels that does not care for us. The monthly treats are SO kind, but when there is a concern it seems to fall on deaf ears, or they don't ask the stakeholders. We have too many people at the top! We have campus-level needs that we can't/won't hire for, but have very big salaries at the cabinet level that weren't needed. Every time someone leaves we replace them with two people for the one job being replaced. It seems that if you attempt to have a voice then you are punished, moved, or have a target on your back. So, most people just keep their heads down and say nothing. Communication. This starts with the TOP. I feel that the lack of communication starts with and the campus gets the blame for not knowing. It seems that the community knows before the staff.

That was an email saying we are proactive with communicating. We weren’t in fact since GISD had a situation two weeks prior to Uvalde which then forced our hand and an email was sent out due to Uvalde. It would be nice to hear from him in the sense of a “state of our district” communication at least once a year. We are growing slowly right now and people deserve to know what is going on and what our vision and challenges are. Communication is the only way to move us forward. Make minutes from the school board way more easily accessible and thorough for those that can’t make it. We don’t have a local newspaper that helps spread the information. Staffing. Since the change in Leadership it is apparent our is more concerned about creating high paying jobs and hiring “a cabinet” than hiring staff that actually directly impact our kiddos learning. We need staff that can directly support the kids needs. We are told there is an employment shortage in our area well then what are we doing to incentivize people to work here….pay, perks,etc? Get rid of a cabinet member (until our district is big enough to warrant these positions) and hire two people for the trenches. Understand that the needs of the elementary are NOT the same as the high school. Our district puts way too much emphasis on the high school sports needs than the academic needs of the students. Winning is fun and great but in student athlete ….student comes first. Why would we give all our football coaches two weeks off (with pay I am sure) to “prep” for football games? Did we hire subs on top of that to cover the classes these coaches teach? No. Did female coaches get time off to prep for equivalent games? No they probably had to take their own PTO days. Are we truly making good economical and academic decisions that are good for the whole and jot select group of kids? Compensation plans that are rolled out to support our staff due to a shortage of subs but were designed again for the high school and not the needs of ALL campuses. We need to do better. This did not help the elementary morale at all and was actually a slap in the face to some staff. Staff that we value tremendously yet get nothing but a “chance” to get $ one time per quarter while others get paid every time they cover someone. Do better and think about all impacted before you roll out a plan. At the elementary campus these aides are expected to physically teach kids when they cover not just babysit classrooms (other campuses have all work online when teachers are out). Pay increase, extra comp hours something but show your workers in the trenches they are valued or DON’T roll out a plan unless all angles have been clearly thought out and communicated.

28 Respect of our leadership is a pressing problem due to the vast changes happening within the district. Gunter culture is strong and it is rapidly diminishing due to all of the changes.

Teachers coming in from other districts and not respecting how strong the values and ability to work together as a team. Leadership on campus has lost respect as well. The ability to prioritize and ask questions from teachers who have been in the district for years to see how operations work would go a long way for respect. Change is inevitable but morale is low due to the multiple changes without asking questions as to why things are done the way they are. I have mentioned this before but dress code and being professionally dressed has always been a priority. As teachers, we all love to wear jeans and have proven the ability to dress jeans up but yoga pants/leggings without a long tunic for women is definitely disrespectful to our profession.

29 I've been teaching here for over 20 years and maybe I'm old fashioned, but the way our campus teachers have dressed, beginning this school year, has been an embarrassment to our profession. If we want to be respected as professionals, we shouldn't dress like we're going to the gym (tights, yoga pants, joggers, etc)

30 Staying true to education. We need to have a winning attitude in the classroom as well as outside the classroom. I see a stronger emphasis on sport than on eduction.

31 Leadership.

We need a seasoned curriculum director capable of assisting and solving problems for teachers instead of calling Region 10 for support. Our school board must ask questions of our superintendent. We do not need six chiefs, we need more teachers, office staff, and paraprofessionals.

35 Future growth is a major concern and accommodating that growth. As a district, we need to address lack of staffing in some areas and overstaffing in other areas. Some campuses are understaffed, but administration appears to be overstaffed. Meeting the emotional and social needs of students is getting harder each year.

Growth is a pressing issue as is the perception that Gunter is a "sports" destination district.

39 I feel that our students are not acquiring life skills such as organizational skills, public speaking/presentation skills, study skills, and the HOW of learning. This results in students missing out on the essential skill of knowing HOW to learn new things and to organize their lives in order to take more responsibility for themselves and their own actions.

Adequately dispersing staff and maximizing time in the classroom in the appropriate time needed for the school day.

41 Staffing, growth. Research needs to be done on the amount of people claiming to live here but do not. Not fair to those who pay our school taxes.

47 We are outgrowing our buildings and classrooms. We are understaffed in almost all areas. Mental health of staff is a concern due to the pressure to keep up. Losing highly qualified staff due to unrealistic expectations and increasing demands. Basic needs of staff are often not prioritized.

The growth in the district and the lack of resources to deal with that growth. A comprehensive discipline policy that is very specific and addresses all issues with equality. The changing

behaviors of students and parents also needs to be addressed. We are well educated professionals and need to be treated as such.

50 Big district expectations without the resources available to carry it out.

51 Sudden enrollment growth is going to be a challenge, and will come with with culture shock and expansion of staffing and programs in the district. There needs to be a plan for consistency in curriculum and standards, as well as effective K-12 alignment in content/programs.

52 I believe that the leadership is operating in a way that makes employees feel as though they are not valued or heard. There is a veil of suspicion and coercion. The level of micro-managing from is extremely high, and very few teachers feel as though they are trusted. This is not the same place it was two years ago, and there is one very distinct change that took place. It feels unsafe. It feels untrustworthy. It feels dark. This is not a place where kids are getting the best out of their teachers because their tanks are empty. At no time should a teacher feel as though their best is doubted. Sadly, that is a constant. We have some of the best teachers in Texas in our district, but they aren't treated that way. Many of them work hard, and far past the expectations of the district or state. Why then do those same teachers feel inadequate? That is unacceptable. The praise and public relations of our students' successes is not equitable amongst all programs. Athletes are given far more credit for work done even though non-athletic programs are just as successful. We should be shouting all praises equally.

54 Gunter's vision has been lost. We are not moving in a direction that communicates professionalism or inspires others to be a part of a district with so much potential. There have been walls put into policy and positions that isolates the superintendent from any criticism or critique. Further, the role of campus administrator has been diminished by the implementation of new upper administrative positions. Those new positions have also taken away from new teacher positions that are critically needed. Promises aren't kept and the culture is lead through suspicion rather than trust. Gunter ISD's commitment to public media coverage of ALL student achievements is tilted towards MOSTLY athletic achievements. Other student achievements are largely ignored.

55 Keeping the "Gunter way" and community spirit high as we grow. It feels like we are moving away from many of the things that made Gunter unique - that small town feeling. I hate to see it become the next Frisco, Prosper or Celina.

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58 Make all classes challenging as they were in the past. No 'Easy A' classes. Students worked bell to bell.

59 The online dual credit classes are a joke. The students never work on their classes at school, so the assigned periods become nap time. The online courses are not even worthy to be called true college classes. The students can share answers and make an A without ever learning a thing. If there is not a professor on campus, it should not be offered. The students would get much more out of any other offering at the school.