"According to the TELL Kentucky Survey results, providing teachers effective and meaningful professional development was a concern for all of our schools.  To address this issue, our schools have identified the professional development they need to be able to implement rigorous, engaging instruction in the classroom.  The district's role is to provide the support required to arrange this quality professional development.  I'm excited about the professional development that will take place this summer to support our teachers' growth." - Lisa Stone, Director of School Improvement

"Far too often, we have attended 'one size fits all' professional development.  This is not only frustrating, but also an ineffective use of time and money.  We are really excited about the options available to us through our PD plan.  Additionally, we will have the opportunity to effectively plan for implementation over the summer, rather than be asked to implement initiatives with only one day's notice!"  - Dawn Justice, Teacher

"One of the items identified as a growth area for our school centered around effective and meaningful professional development.  As we began developing our professional development plan, we surveyed staff for input, identified curriculum needs, and provided a menu of options including: curriculum mapping, assessment writing, standards-based unit development, implementing standards-based grading, guided reading, and SMARTboard training.  From these options, we believe we have excellent PD options that will meet our staff's needs."  - Larry Dixon, Principal

“We have used the TELL Survey along with KEA representatives sharing with the Knox County Board and going over the results and encouraging each school to look at their results.  Mr. Hullet, Superintendent of Knox County, met with them specifically Knox Central High School being a PLA school and using that report to make informed decisions pertaining to curriculum and culture across the board.” - Marion Sowders, Assistant Superintendent, Knox County

“The TELL survey results can lead to meaningful change for students in Kentucky schools, because it is the voice of the teachers expressing their concerns about their working conditions.  Their working conditions are the students’ learning conditions.  You can’t separate them.”  He added, “We need to work together on this.  We are all education professionals – administrators, teachers, counselors, and ESPs.  Why are there walls between us?  The only ones that suffer from the invisible walls, which nobody wants to admit exist, are the students.  We are going to use the TELL survey results to tear down those walls and improve education for all our students.” - Darren Mills, Knox Central High School

View a KEA News article about districts using the TELL data and citing Knox County as an example.

"Last year our school was not a cohesive, supportive environment.  There were many good things happening, but there were also a lot of negatives.  When the TELL KENTUCKY survey results came out, our former principal, and to a degree I, felt angry and hurt by the responses of our staff.   For me, this negative feeling turned quickly into a positive opportunity for growth.  As soon as our school year ended, our Youth Service Center Coordinator, Kathy Riley, and I spent an entire week breaking down every question and response.  We really looked deeply at the data and started formulating positive changes for our staff and our building as a whole.  I can honestly tell you Bellevue High School would not be the positive learning environment it is today without the TELL KENTUCKY survey.  This is a tool to make real changes that inspire true positive results." - Dave Eckstein, Bellevue High School Principal