PEA/MEA

Dine and Discuss Survey Responses

12/8/05

1. How did you find your student teaching experience?

Waste of time

Somewhat valuable - 1

Valuable - 7

Very valuable - 12

2. When were you officially hired (how many months, weeks, days prior to the first day of school) to work for the Portland School Department?

· 2 wks prior

· 3 months

· About 1 ½ weeks

· 2000

· 1 week

· 9/3

· Approx. 30 days

· Hired in Dec.

· 26 days

· School had already started. I went in about 6 wks.

· 3-4 months

· 3 weeks

· Little less than 2 months

· 2 months

· Approx. 2 wks prior to school starting

· About one week

· Sept. 2001

· 4 yrs.

· Hired in July

· 1 month before

· 2 months

· 2 months

· During school year

3. Were you hired within your certification area?

Yes – 17

No – 5

4. Did you receive a reduced work load in any way? How many prep periods do you average per day?

Yes, one prep period plus only 1 prep for classes

Somewhat, the other sped teacher is taking a heavier caseload – I try to get a ½ hour a day

No, maybe 15 mins. a day

No, 1/2 per day

No reduction – no prep

No, less than ½ day average over week

No, ½ hr/day

No, one prep period a day, two different classes to prep for

No, but I am ½ time – I have 2 prep times/wk.

No reduced load at all!

No, 2

No, 1 30 min. prep/day

No

No/one

No/2

1

1 prep

2

No, I was .5 the first year and now full time the second 2 preps

2 - 4 hrs. but I am older

0 before after and at home

Prep time after 1 p.m. student release (West School)

5. Which of the following do you remember being most useful? Please number them 1 (most useful) to 5 (least useful)

District Orientation – 4-2s; 3-3s; 7-5s; and 9-5s

School Orientation – 7-1s; 5-2s; 4-3s; 3-4s; and 2-5s

Common Planning – 5-1s; 7-2s; 2-3s; 2-4s and 1-5

we don’t really do this

I think this would be very helpful but doesn’t happen at my school

never happened

Observe Others – 12-1s; 4-2s; 1-3; and 2-4s

organized on my own w/o support/guidance from school or district

Money for Materials – 4-1s; 2-2s; 7-3s; 4-4s and 1-5

didn’t get this offered to me!

never officially got any

never happened

6. How often did you analyze student work with your mentor?

Never - 2

Once -

A few times - 10

Once a month - 5

Once a week – 4

mentor relationship just established)

7. How many times a year were you observed by an administrator?

1 time – 4

2 times a year - 1

3 times a year – 13

6 times a year – 1

3 by admin/6 by mentor

New this year - not yet

1 time got cancelled by emergency

This is my first year and I have one scheduled for next week 12/12/05

One observation so far, two more to go this year

Did you find administrative feedback useful?

Yes – 13

No. – 1

Somewhat - 2

Extremely

Eh . . . sort of

Somewhat but not much!

One administrator did not give me feedback, other two gave useful feedback

Which of the following topics do you remember being emphasized the most:

Classroom management - 4

Instruction - 13

Curriculum - 2

8. On a scale of one, (highest) to four (lowest), how would you rate yourself in the following areas:

General preparedness – 4-1s; 13-2s; and 6-3s

Class management – 5-1s; 11-2s; 5-3s; 1-4 and 1-6

Curriculum development – 2-1s; 12-2s; 5-3s and 2-4s

Variety of methods – 8-1s; 11-2s; 2-3s and 2-4s

Content knowledge – 7-1s; 14-2s and 2-3s

Accommodations – 8-1s; 7-2s; 5-3s; 1-4 and 1-5

9. Do you see yourself in public education ten years from now? If not, why?

Yes – 15

Good question. 3 months into it, I’m not sure

Yes, so I can be 100% vested

Not sure. Don’t want to teach in classroom, but perhaps professional development; I’m interested in other kinds of social justice work, organizing

Don’t know

No, I would like to get a PHD in public education that incorporates the arts and different learning style

Possibly – it’s very exhausting and at times discouraging – perhaps I may try a different grade level

Who knows? I’m special ed – yeah! Burn out!!

Yes, this is my life long desire and aspiration!!

10. Are you a member of the Portland Education Association? If yes, why? If not, why?

Yes – 8

Collaborative representation

Yes, advocacy of teacher issues

Yes, hopefully to help rectify the whole social security issue

Yes, solidarity

Yes, because I believe in unions (always have) but my reasons become less concrete after that

Yes, it’s the right thing to do

Believe in concept

Yes, it’s worth it

Yes, I love unions – I’m a red at heart – seriously, I feel I am protected and supported

I am not sure but I think not. I did not know about this association

No, I was hired for a one-year-only position and would like to wait until I have a more stable position

No - $$$

No – financial

No, haven’t been contacted by building rep or other PEA person and I haven’t pursued it – too busy!!

No, I want to, was never approached. Hired as a part-time – the dues were high – now I would like to