Upbeat Releases New Report Highlighting Teachers' Experiences this Fall in the Changed Education Landscape

NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Upbeat, the nation's leading K-12 teacher engagement and retention tool, released a new report titled "Navigating the New Normal: Teachers' Experiences & Perceptions During the Fall Semester of 2021" that summarizes the experiences of 14,024 educators teaching during the fall semester of 2021. Upbeat collected responses to their Teacher Engagement Survey from 425 schools in 26 districts in Arkansas, New York, Louisiana, Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia, Oregon, Texas, Georgia and Vermont between September 27 and November 13, 2021. The report, written by Dr. Megan Conklin and Dr. Matt Kraft, reveals the pandemic has significantly shifted the classroom experience and impacted teachers' perceptions of workload, professional development and overall satisfaction.

According to the report, over 89 percent of teachers now report that they are teaching exclusively in-person, compared to only 27 percent in fall 2020. The transition back to the classroom has benefited students; last fall, 76 percent of teachers reported that most or almost all of their students were engaged in learning and in fall 2021, 81 percent of teachers report that most or almost all of their students are engaged in learning.

Conversely, returning in-person has presented new challenges for teachers. Teachers report low overall satisfaction with compensation and career growth opportunities, as well as dissatisfaction with work-life balance, professional development opportunities, and a lack of voice and leadership opportunities within their schools.

"Many educators felt like this year would be 'normal' again but it has been anything but," Upbeat's Director of Insights and Analytics, Dr. Conklin said. "Teachers have had to pivot to a new educational landscape; many are overwhelmed and in need of support to ensure they stay in the profession."

Work/life balance was one of the lowest domains of Upbeat's Engagement Survey with just 63 percent of all teachers responding positively. Female teachers were much less likely (10 percentage points) to report that they felt positively about maintaining their workload and that they were able to balance home responsibilities with work responsibilities. Sixty percent of early career teachers (four to six years experience) agreed that they would be able to maintain their workload long term, compared to 71 percent of veteran teachers (12+ years of experience).

Teachers also highlighted lower levels of diversity and cultural competence at their schools, while largely agreeing that their schools were workplaces that were committed to equity and inclusion. Only 65 percent of Black teachers and 66 percent of Hispanic/Latinx teachers reported positive perceptions about cultural competence in their work environment compared to 70-73 percent of teachers from other racial/ethnic groups; Native American teachers were the most likely to feel as though their schools did not use equitable practices (81 percent vs. 87-93 percent for other racial/ethnic groups).

"Despite all the challenges teachers and schools have experienced this year, we've seen a number of schools that have adapted and excelled," Dr. Kraft, Upbeat's Director of Research, said. "We've spoken to school leaders who saw progress this fall and highlight the practices that these schools leaders credit for helping them reduce teacher burnout and improve teacher working conditions."

Read a copy of the report here.

About Upbeat
Upbeat works with K-12 districts across the country to administer a research-grounded survey to elevate teacher engagement and retention by fostering strong school environments. Founded and led by former educators, we bring together data scientists, technologists, and experienced former school leaders to deliver a research-backed solution. Our surveys paired with tailored toolkits and intervention strategies, surface real-time insights so that principals and district leaders are able to better understand and uncover the conditions affecting employee morale and establish actionable plans to improve teacher and staff retention. More information about the company and its approach can be found at teachupbeat.com.

Media Contact

Kate Chizek, Upbeat Education, +1 3193830688, [email protected]

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SOURCE Upbeat Education