ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
1
2
3
Employee Comments Report 2023
4
Prepared for: Gorham School Department
5
6
What does this organization do that makes it a place where people would want to work?
7
- competitive pay - like-minded colleagues; team-focused environment - flexibility
8
Admin strongly supports teachers, clear DEBI goals, strong community
9
Amazing community involvement and always striving for the best interest of all students and staff.
10
Belives that everyone is doing there best
11
Belonging is an important word to all people and I feel that the place I work creates a strong and positive culture where everyone can feel they belong.
12
Building wise I love Gorham. The middle school administration is wonderful. They listen and care about us and listen to our needs/issues. Follow through when it involves change/larger staff changes is lacking. It is almost like they are afraid to upset anyone so we end up changing my nothing, even if it is for the overall benefit to students or staff majority. I feel comfortable going to administration expressing concerns, I just wish there was more change implemented. Any issues with parents/students we are fully supported and heard, which is wonderful. We are given the trust and freedom to choose our curriculum materials and lessons. Students are well supported by administration as well.
13
Clear communication and vision. Very positive leadership with students' best interests at the forefront.
14
Colleagues treat one another like family. They go out of their way to help, encourage and carry the load. I've never worked somewhere quite like this.
15
Community involvement
16
Do you have a voice and flexibility
17
Elementary schools have a great relationship with staff and admin. Superintendent is very focused on younger grades/schools.
18
Employees and staff are treated with respect and trust. Communication is clear and leadership is strong.
19
Employees are respected and I feel my voice is heard. The benefit package is very good. I enjoy my work and would recommend working with the district.
20
Encourages comaraderie among staff. Administration supports reasonable amounts of autonomy (read: doesn't micromanage).
21
Everyone is respectful and welcoming so students and colleagues.
22
Excellent communication from administration of all levels.
23
Flexible hours and time off the clock.
24
Fosters a great sense of community and has worked to increase value placed on social-emotional learning and overall wellbeing among students and staff.
25
Friendly environment for all
26
Friendly staff and administration. Departments take good care of their members. When a personal matter arises, administration is very accommodating.
27
From arrival to departure, our school environment is friendly, supportive and focused on doing what is best for students. Those with the same students or student groups are able to communicate so that we know so much more about each to better teach and guide them.
28
Generally people feel respected by those in supervisory positions. Pay and benefits are good, for those in higher positions, though improvements are needed for others. There is much talk about this and other differences in break rooms etc. creating “invisible” divisions in the staff.
29
Good contract-college connections-
30
good contratc, support, communication
31
good insurance and pay decent hours
32
Gorham Schools are a wonderful district to work for. The leadership truly cares for their employees and students and always goes above and beyond to make sure that it is a safe and accepting environment.
33
Gorham schools provide incredible services for students and families and they support their teachers in both compensation and support to do their jobs.
34
Gorham Schools show they value their staff and that it is a team organization. The medical benefits are strong and is a strong component for attracting and maintaining staff.
35
Gorham Schools supports their employees because the leaders understand when educators feel respected and empowered, they create a learning environment where students are nurtured and challenged.
36
Great community
37
Great morale in my school. Pay and benefits are better than many surrounding schools.
38
Hires good teachers and empowers us to do our best.
39
Honest and caring administrators. Positive environment.
40
Honest communication, care from supervisors, and kind employees!
41
I believe the administrators from the superintendent on down are very transparent with what is going on, and follow the philosophy to the best of their ability that their job is to do everything they can to support the frontline workers (teacher and staff) to do theirs.
42
I feel immensely supported by my immediate supervisor and reasonably supported by my district supervisor and school committee. I really enjoy the people I work with. I feel that leadership is responsive, celebrates achievements, is well-intentioned and effective within their abilities give time and budget constraints. I feel that the leadership is caring and supports my work but also me as a person, and values mental health. I appreciate the attempts that the district has made to pursue DEI work, though the work still needs to continue. I appreciate the bravery shown by leadership and staff members in the face of community harassment.
43
I feel supported and I have good peers to work with.
44
I feel very supported by admin and my coworkers. Finding a place where this occurs is hard and I feel like I finally found my forever home.
45
I get to work in my area of study , in an area I’m highly qualified for, they try to place people in positions that fit them and work with them to make it successful. They care that you succeed
46
I think both the opportunity for me to grow given to me as well as the comradery with the workers is excellent.
47
It is a very positive work environment. People are happy to come to work
48
It makes every position feel just as important as the other
49
Leadership shows that they care about the teachers.
50
Local administrators really do their best, as hard as that can be sometimes, to try and make everyone happy.
51
My boss makes me feel that his door is always open to me. I had an incident last year that I thought was very positive and was time sensitive. As I approached his office door and asked to speak to him, he said he was busy and couldn’t talk with me at that moment. I told him it was important and could I have 2 minutes of his time. He said yes. I told him about the incident. He smiled, thanked me and said,”thank you so much. I really needed that right now.” At the end of the day, he spoke to me again, explained why he had been busy earlier, thanked me for realizing that my information was important and said he was grateful that I had interrupted him and thanked me for bringing him a positive message, and to keep up the good work. We are made to feel like we are members of a family and we value/support/take care of each other. I am told by multiple people that I spread positivity throughout the building. I always say, “that’s part of my job and I give back as good as I get.” People care about you as an individual, and as part of the team. They welcome new staff, celebrate weddings/babies/birthdays, uplift you when you have troubles, offer to help. That makes for a great work environment when we truly care about each other.
52
My building has a very supportive, collaborative community. We work together to benefit the students.
53
My coworkers and leaders are kind, professional, and truly care about students and staff. People are always looking for feedback about how to improve and better serve our students. Pay and benefits are great. My boss is easy to talk to, cares, and is flexible. My principal values feedback and works to improve conditions for staff and students.
54
My favorite places to work are places you feel valued, feel support, and are in an environment that is positive and you can grow… that is exactly what I experience at Gorham Schools.
55
My school has a friendly and supportive environment. The principal is awesome.
56
Offers a good benefit package.
57
Open collegial atmosphere combined with relaxed leadership style that still expects meeting high standards.
58
Organization surrounds itself with a high amount of good people, good employers/employees and an overall fun organization to work for.
59
Our is student centered and work together as a team to make the best decisions for them
60
Our leadership at the top level is incredible. I feel like we are heard and spoken to very honestly. I am so supportive of this school district that I have recommended that my own family apply to work in Gorham. Honestly, the teachers, support staff, and administration have big hearts and admirable skills on a day-to-day “business” level as well. I feel safe in my position and believe that the vast majority of us have the welfare of our students at heart.
61
Our organizations starts by building strong personal relationships with the staff and our community. There is collaboration, a shared vision, honesty and presence among staff and our leaders. Leaders are observant of staff needs and attitudes. They have maintained a strong role as a progressive organization in changing times. They welcome diversity. They are prepared to have uncomfortable conversations and acknowledge where areas of change may need to take place in order for our working community to grow professionally and personally. And they celebrate our personal achievements with enthusiasm and respect. They honor the work we do with sincere care.
62
Our school culture is wonderful ... I love working for the Gorham Schools!
63
Our school environment is so much fun! There is a genuine climate of care and respect. We help each other and truly care about each other. The administration is supportive, enthusiastic and compassionate. I have worked for other schools and there is no school like this one!
64
Our school is a welcoming place where students enjoy spending their days. Families are very supportive as well.
65
Our superintendent is superb and supports us in everything we do. We are student centered and work towards helping students achieve.
66
Our supervisor makes sure that when we have a meeting there is a reason behind it, we don't just meet because it is on the schedule. We are encouraged to take time for our own wellness and the wellness of our students.
67
Overall positive and growth mindset
68
Pay and benefits
69
Pay is not as bad as some. Benefits are not bad.
70
pays fairly well compared to other districts, good benefits, decent schedule
71
Positive work environment. Always there to support the students and staff.
72
Pride in our work and what we accomplish
73
Primarily my co-workers and students make it a positive place to work. My department is supportive and I enjoy my work.
74
Principals at organization are extremely supportive in the day to day operations.
75
Provides autonomy and creativity opportunities
76
Provides resources
77
Respect and honor their employees.
78
specifically the leadership at the highest levels ( superintendent and assistant superintendent. Staff are solid and most love to work here
79
Staff are supportive of one another.
80
Staff fees like family. We support each other and create an environment where everyone is comfortable.
81
summers off
82
Superintendent and assistant Superintendent are fabulous.
83
Supportive leadership
84
Teachers are compensated well, benefits are good. Support staff are overwhelmed with almost daily changes to schedules and expectations.
85
Teachers are respected by the administration team and have been respected by the community. The community support does seem to be changing in a negative way
86
Teachers are seen as professionals and given a large amount of autonomy in our work.
87
Teachers are treated with respect, there is an emphasis on safety, there is a strong sense of community, and it is accepting of people from all backgrounds
88
Teachers support one another. Good communication to staff and feedback solicited.
89
Teamwork, clear goals, passion
90
The best interests of students are the cornerstone of all decision making practices.
91
The communication between the union and leadership is communicative, respectful and focused on success for all which is amazing!
92
The culture in my school is positive, supportive and fun. I feel valued.
93
The direct leaders in my school are supportive of me. The top administrators belittle some staff in the way they address organization wide communication By using language that labels some negatively. They also visit spaces in our buildings and don’t address the employees present there.
94
The district supports teachers do their jobs in addition to helping us out when conflicts arise.
95
The environment is friendly, welcoming, and gives a sense of security.
96
The Gorham School Department is exemplary in the creative autonomy it gives its staff. For that reason, staff put in extra time and energy needed to create an excellent educational experience for students.
97
The Gorham Schools are an incredible place to work and hence why I have been here for over two decades. It provides a safe, collaborative culture where we are all working toward the common goal of providing a safe, welcoming, and nurturing space for all of students and staff members to grow. The sense of collective ownership for all students and high value for the hard work that all staff members do on behalf of their students provide the crucial framework for Gorham's success. Administrators encourage staff members to take risks and celebrate staff success. Building and sustaining relationships at all levels are the cornerstone of our work together. Administrators care deeply for staff members and all of the children in their charge. Parents are highly engaged in and supportive of the school community. Students enjoy coming to school and the school is responsive to their needs through various support networks and using a wraparound approach to meet each child's needs. Data is used to calibrate work at all levels, as well as decisions that drive instruction, policies, and procedural decisions. Gorham continues to adhere to a 5-Year Strategic Growth Plan, as well as individual Comprehensive School Plans, all of which guide the key focus areas of work. These are aligned with a shared mission statement and vision. Overall, Gorham is a place where all people are valued and encouraged to rise to their full potential.
98
The immediate people I work with, makes coming to work enjoyable.
99
The leadership in my building is visible and accessible. We work as a team.
100
The moment you walk in your welcomed and feel like a part of the family