Survey of Principals Lists Their 'Most Effective Strategies' to Boost Teacher Morale

Taking Things off Teachers' Plates Ranks First; Just 16% Listed Pay Raise as a Solution

  • By Kristal Kuykendall
  • 05/02/22

A survey of 557 K–12 principals across the United States revealed the “most effective strategies” administrators are using to boost teacher morale — putting this week’s National Teacher Appreciation Week theme into focus.

The research was conducted during the first quarter of 2022 by Unruly Studios, the Boston-based creator of coding-and-play technology instruction. No respondents were known customers of Unruly Studios, the company said.

Key Findings of the Survey

  • 70% of principals responding to the survey said their top concern was teacher shortages.
  • 58% said their No. 2 concern was teacher morale.
  • 68% said their most effective strategy to boosting teacher morale was “taking things off their plate.”
  • 45% listed “teacher shout-outs/praise” as their most effective strategy for boosting teacher morale.
  • Strategies listed as third-, fourth-, and fifth-most mentioned were “teacher treats” (44%), ensuring teachers feel seen and heard through implementing their suggestions (41%), and team bonding activities (20%), respectively.
  • Only 16% of respondents listed increasing teacher pay as an effective strategy to boost teacher morale.
  • 58% of respondents agreed that using the right technology in the classroom can limit teacher stress.

“This survey confirms many of the trends we hear every day from school leaders: Principals are concerned about staffing shortages and getting creative to boost teacher morale,” Unruly Studios CEO Bryanne Leeming told THE Journal. “Educators are overwhelmed by a prolonged period of uncertainty and high stress. Principals agree that the most effective way to support teachers at this time is to help them narrow in on what’s important so that teachers can do what they do best: teach and inspire learners.”

Download the full survey report at the Unruly Studios website.

About the Author

Kristal Kuykendall is editor, 1105 Media Education Group. She can be reached at [email protected].


Featured

  • AI-powered individual working calmly on one side and a burnt-out person slumped over a laptop on the other

    AI's Productivity Gains Come at a Cost

    A recent academic study found that as companies adopt AI tools, they're not just streamlining workflows — they're piling on new demands. Researchers determined that "AI technostress" is driving burnout and disrupting personal lives, even as organizations hail productivity gains.

  • AI microchip under cybersecurity attack, surrounded by symbols of threats like a skull, spider, lock, and warning shield

    Report Finds Agentic AI Protocol Vulnerable to Cyber Attacks

    A new report from Backslash Security has identified significant security vulnerabilities in the Model Context Protocol (MCP), technology introduced by Anthropic in November 2024 to facilitate communication between AI agents and external tools.

  • laptop displaying a red padlock icon sits on a wooden desk with a digital network interface background

    Reports Point to Domain Controllers as Prime Ransomware Targets

    A recent report from Microsoft reinforces warns of the critical role Active Directory (AD) domain controllers play in large-scale ransomware attacks, aligning with U.S. government advisories on the persistent threat of AD compromise.

  • educators seated at a table with a laptop and tablet, against a backdrop of muted geometric shapes

    HMH Forms Educator Council to Inform AI Tool Development

    Adaptive learning company HMH has established an AI Educator Council that brings together teachers, instructional coaches and leaders from school district across the country to help shape its AI solutions.