Spring Branch ISD Featured News

SBISD is grateful for the support and cooperation of our families as we launched the 2020-21 school year for both in-person and distance learners. As a way to gather feedback on the first nine weeks experience for our students and families, the First Nine Weeks Family Survey was open from Oct. 23, 2020 until Nov. 1, 2020.

At the Nov. 16 Board of Trustees regular meeting, Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Blaine shared results and feedback from the survey with board members and those in attendance. “The survey results had very constructive feedback,” she said. “This was confirmation that there are things we need to work on.

“Overall, I’m really proud of all of our staff, particularly at the campus level. This has been a challenge and they’ve done a really great job despite the challenges. Now, we will continue to work on processes that will help instructional delivery be smoother,” Dr. Blaine added.

Approximately 5,000 families responded to the survey. The results show that 75% of the SBISD families who completed the survey indicated their child’s overall experience was ‘good’ or ‘very good’ during the first nine weeks of school.

The survey gathered data on whether students were in-person or distance learners, as well as their grade level and home campus.

The survey then asked families to provide comments for two open-ended prompts - please share something that worked well during the first nine weeks of school and please share something that needs improvement.

The first prompt (please share something that worked well) had 4,350 responses that were categorized into emergent themes including:

• Teachers: Responses from families indicated that “teachers have done a very good job of managing online and in person classes.” Some of the words used to describe teachers included amazing, dedicated, engaging, supportive, and flexible.
• In-Person: Families shared that being back in person and having some sense of normalcy was what worked well during the first nine weeks of school. Families were pleased to have the option to return to in-person.
• Communication: Families shared that communication from the district, school, and teachers worked well during the first nine weeks of school.
• Virtual: Responses from families referenced feeling safe, flexibility of completing assignments, committed teachers, and less distractions as reasons why virtual learning worked well.
• Safety Protocols: Families shared that the safety protocols put in place have worked well to keep students and staff healthy.

The second prompt (please share something that needs improvement) received 4,091 responses that were categorized into emergent themes including:

• Nothing Wrong/Everything is Good: From a question looking for areas of improvement, families shared that there was nothing wrong or that the plan was working for their child(ren).
• Simultaneous In-person and Virtual Class Challenges: Families shared that it is challenging for teachers to balance teaching distance learners and in-person learners, at the same time.
• Communication: Families shared that clear communication, between both teachers and students and teachers and parents could be improved. This category also includes communications regarding COVID-19 exposures at the campus.
• Internet/Technology: Families shared that there were difficulties with internet connectivity as well as the online tools used by the students.
• Masks: Families expressed the importance of wearing masks in school and their concern that students wear their masked properly.

View more detailed results and the full list of emergent themes here. 

The information and results gathered from this survey will help SBISD continue to learn, refine and adjust, where feasible, amidst this unusual school year.