by Aksel S. and Joaquin E.

Each year, Dr. Guthrie helps to develop surveys to gather valuable feedback from students about their experiences at Alamo Heights Junior School. Administered both at home and in class, these surveys provide insight into the school environment and students’ relationships with their teachers, helping to shape future improvements.

“These surveys are really important, so it’s not just about what the principal thinks is best. It’s also about getting input from everyone,” he said. “The student surveys are essentially a series of questions that are posed in a consistent manner every year.”

The surveys are developed by the district’s central office and staff. Once the questions are made, they are sent to the principal for review. “As previously stated, the principal provides assistance with the questions. I have also provided assistance with the survey questions, which I believe will encourage students to consider these questions from a different perspective, distinct from that of the elementary or the high school students,” Dr. Guthrie explained.

The surveys are conducted in two parts: in the Fall, students answer questions about their school, and in the Spring, they provide feedback about their teachers. “They’re for two different reasons. In the Fall, kids can answer in general terms. For teachers, it’s better for them to have had more time with their teacher. In the Spring, we want to know how kids feel at this school and if they feel safe. We also want to know how their feedback affects school improvements,” Dr. Guthrie said.

In the Fall, students take the survey during their KICK Time class because it is about the school. In the Spring, they take the survey in each class because it is about every teacher.

“The principal helps with the questions. I think these will help students think about them differently than in elementary or high school,” he said.

The purpose of the student survey is to gather direct feedback from students. “The student survey is so we can hear straight from the students,” Dr. Guthrie said. The survey has been in place for about four years, with this being the most consistent period. “There are ways to boost scores, but that is not why we have the student survey. What we do have it for is to hear what the students want, how well they bond with their teachers, and if we listen to the students and do what they ask for the following year, the students will recognize what the school has done,” he explained. The surveys help the school see beyond just student-teacher connections and look at the bigger picture.

The Alamo Heights Independent School District (AHISD) has the pillars of learning: student learning and progress, student readiness, student well-being and safety, engaged, well-rounded students, community engagement, professional learning, and quality staff. These pillars guide the questions on the student survey and help define the life of a student while aiming to improve overall well-being.

The student survey consists of 26 questions related to relationships with teachers, safety at school, and bullying. These questions give the school insight into the lives of students. The goal is to gather a profile of learners and report back to the community on how well the school is doing in key areas.

Over the past four years, students have felt safer on campus and have made stronger connections with their teachers. While improving safety remains a challenge, the school has implemented strategies to help students feel safer, such as drills and the presence of a police officer on campus. “We are very firm with the rules of the drills, and if a student doesn’t follow these rules, they are sent to Dr. Guthrie to explain why these rules are crucial for everyone’s safety,” he said.

Regarding teacher connections, Dr. Guthrie noticed that when he first came to AHJS, the connection scores were low. To address this, he introduced after-school clubs and organizations. “With these clubs and organizations, our students have felt more connected with their teachers than ever,” he said.

The responses provided by students in these surveys will inform the future direction of Alamo Heights Junior School. The principal will consider these responses when making decisions for the future of the school.