Why (our) Surveys Matter
Nearly everyone loathes completing surveys. Unless someone is disappointed or angry and finds a sort of catharsis in relating that anger and disappointment, the prospect of completing a survey seems like little more than an additional chore to be completed at the end of an already long and busy day. I hope that you will permit me an opportunity to make a case for the surveys you will soon find landing in your inboxes.
First and foremost, we care about the results. We read them. Study them. Try to learn for them. In some cases, agonize over them for months or years. The School Accountability Committee (SAC) recently completed their survey of the faculty on behalf of the Board. I assure you that the administration and the Board reviewed the results of that survey carefully. Obviously, we want great results, but we also want to grow, fine tune, improve, and perfect those areas in which we are falling short. The results change the way we hire teachers, the way we conduct our summer training, the way we support students. If we are doing well, we need to hear it so that we continue to prioritize it; if not, we need to hear about it to improve it.
Soon, you will be receiving requests to complete a number of additional surveys. They are as follows:
The SAC will conduct a community-wide survey on behalf of the Board. The survey asks general questions about your experiences at Ridgeview.
The Administration will conduct a survey of elementary-school parents. Your responses to this survey are used by the administration to evaluate the quality of our elementary school, but specifically your experiences with our elementary teachers.
The Administration will conduct a survey of 7-12th grade parents about their experiences with their children’s faculty advisors. We want to know whether these experiences have been positive or negative as we believe that this continues to be an integral part of supporting students at Ridgeview.
The Administration will conduct course and instructor evaluations with students in 9-12th grades. Again, this is done to improve the quality of instruction in the high school.
While I know that completing these surveys is an intrusion upon your time, I do ask for you to complete these surveys honestly and thoughtfully: the complimentary as well as the critical. This feedback has very real consequences for the work we do and the quality of the Ridgeview experience for our children and students. Thank you for your continued support and encouragement.
D. Anderson
Headmaster
