Press Release
As the results of a recent survey came together, it became obvious that the teachers of the Emery School District, as a whole, were doing an outstanding job. This fact was acknowledged by the Utah Education Association, which recognized the Emery District teachers as doing a great job.
“We have remarkable educators in Emery School District,” Emery Education President Kim Player commented. “This survey has simply provided data showing a small part of what Emery educators do to make sure their students get all they need.”
The first finding of the survey is that, on average, over half of Emery district teachers spend more than $250 of their own money for school supplies and other school needs with the average amount spent per teacher at about $200, with some teachers spending as much as $1,000 on such needs. Beyond that, the survey found that the average teacher puts in between 10 and 15 hours extra, beyond their contract, each week.
The survey also found that Emery district teachers volunteer at a high rate, with teachers averaging between five and eight hours per week of community and church service. This includes everything from serving on community and government committees and councils to participating in church activities to voluntarily cleaning up streets in their towns.
Additionally, the survey discovered that these teachers put many miles on their cars in unpaid travel for school, spend a lot of time supervising and chaperoning school activities such as field trips, after-school clubs and activities, dances, activities and sporting events. Teachers also participate in a large amount of on-going training by taking college classes as well as attending seminars and conferences and going to other types of training.
The one concern expressed in the survey was that 67% of the Emery district teachers have “Seriously considered leaving the teaching profession during the last year. This is a fairly shocking statistic for a district with a veteran workforce like Emery’s,” Player said, “No one cares more about student success and the success of Emery School District than the educators employed here right now. They are always willing to share their ideas about how to make things better in our district. What a blow it would be to have any of them leave.”
Rick Pruitt, executive director of the High Desert UniServ of the Utah Education Association, congratulated the teachers on their dedication and commitment to go above and beyond their required duties and on their commitment to their communities.
“Emery has a very high level of professionalism in its schools,” Pruitt stated. “I would be a grave disservice to lose some of the very best and most dedicated teachers in the state.”
This recognition comes at the right time with Teacher Appreciation week this year falling on May 4-8.