Survey Reveals Teachers Better Understand EES

A joint survey conducted by the Department of Education (DOE) and Hawai‘i State Teachers Association (HSTA) has revealed that the majority of public school teachers have a better understanding of the Educator Effectiveness System (EES).

The EES aims to increase teachers’ effectiveness in the classroom through professional development opportunities and a strong induction and mentoring program.

“As educators, teachers are committed to improving their practice and continuously strive to meet the highest standards and demands of our public schools,” said Joan Lewis, HSTA vice president and a member of the EES Joint Committee.

“The EES is meant to enhance the practice of teaching and benefit student learning, and we need to ensure that there is a clear understanding of teacher expectations and that we support Hawai‘i’s public school teachers and provide the necessary resources throughout this process.”

The survey indicated that 64% of teachers agreed that setting learning goals and monitoring progress are important for improving teaching, which are key principles of the EES.  Results also showed that the majority of teachers believed they were held to high professional standards in the classroom.

Fifty-nine percent of respondents indicated that they felt they were successfully executing the Hawai‘i Common Core teaching standards.

Participants also called for more training opportunities and enhanced communication from all levels.  Most teachers believed their evaluators to be fair and knowledgeable, though many are continuing to struggle with the mechanics and process of the evaluation.

The survey was sponsored by The Castle Foundation and conducted by Ward Research.  President Becki Ward noted, “You don’t see change like this in just one year in a survey unless something significant has occurred.”

The results of the survey will inform further action by the DOE and HSTA in refining the EES for next school year.

Of 12,991 surveys distributed, a total of 4,225 teachers completed the online survey.  It was conducted Feb. 23 – March 13.