DENVER – Nearly nine in 10 Colorado educators say they have good experiences involving their classrooms and schools overall, according to a new survey of teachers released in recent weeks.
But despite their schools overall being a good place to work and a good place for students to learn, many teachers believe the need more time to prepare for lessons and to train, according to 35,000 Colorado educators who filled out the anonymous Teaching and Learning Conditions in Colorado (TLCC) survey earlier this spring.
More than half of the state’s approximately 68,000 teachers completed the survey, and among respondents, 89 percent said they believe their school is a good place to work and a good place for students to learn.
But only 58 percent of the teachers who responded to the survey said they have adequate time to prepare for their lessons, and others said they lacked professional development opportunities and training programs for new teachers.
Around 57 percent of elementary and middle school teachers responded to the survey, as did about 53 percent of high school teachers.
The survey, whose results were released late last month, is in its first year after replacing the TELL Colorado survey. Its results come on the heels of a testy semester for many teachers – some of whom rallied at the state Capitol for better pay, education funding and pension assurances.
The teachers’ union, the Colorado Education Association, declined to comment on the survey, referring questions to the Colorado Department of Education.
“We appreciate everyone who took the time to complete the survey, which gives us valuable information that we can dig into to help us better support teachers and improve education for all students,” Colorado Education Commissioner Katy Anthes said in a statement to Denver7.
