Superintendent: Culture at Duval County schools is improving

Duval County school officials discussed the results of a teacher survey and how to improve school culture at a first-ever symposium on Tuesday.

Tables at the first-ever School Culture Symposium were filled with district leaders, principals and teachers.

Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti spoke about a survey given to teachers that evaluated the district's education system.

Nearly 90 percent of teachers in the district responded to the survey, which asked about a wide range of questions related to school culture, retention and recruiting.

Vitti said the data shows the district is improving culture and helping the district focus resources for further improvement.

“We are trying to create the culture in our schools that our teachers feel supported, and that they are growing professionally and it’s a place they want to work,” Vitti said.

Vitti and school leaders also discussed areas that still need improvement and ways to ensure teachers are able to perform in the classroom to the best of their abilities.

Some of the subjects Vitti discussed included cultivating strong relationships between management and teachers, recruiting and retaining passionate teachers and learning how to increase student engagement.

“I think it needs to be said that teachers deserve higher pay and they deserve better working conditions – some of that we own, and some of that we work through a budget that is provided to us,” Vitti said.

There was also a panel discussion during which principals talked about how they were able to implement new positive approaches to improve school culture.

Cox Media Group