TDOE & TERA Launch 2026 Tennessee Educator Survey  

Grant Opportunities Available for Schools with Over 90% Participation  

Nashville, TN—Today, the Tennessee Department of Education and the Tennessee Education Research Alliance (TERA) at Vanderbilt University launched the 2026 Tennessee Educator Survey. All educators, administrators, and certified school staff in Tennessee are invited to participate in the survey. Sharing perspectives and expertise on issues affecting classrooms and schools will help shape strategies and goals at the state, district, and local levels. 

Tennessee educators should receive an email with a personalized survey invitation link to participate by the end of this week. The survey is voluntary, confidential, and will remain open from February 23 through April 10th. Through a lottery, six schools with a participation rate of over 90% will be eligible for a $5,000 staff appreciation grant. 

“The Tennessee Educator Survey elevates educator voices who serve Tennessee students every day,” said Lizzette Reynolds, Commissioner of Education. “I strongly encourage participation from all our Tennessee educators to provide the state with actionable insights to best inform Pre-K–12 policies and highlight classroom successes.”

Now in its 15th year, the survey tracks key topics that district and school leaders review annually, including school climate, educator evaluations, ELA and math instruction, professional learning, and student readiness. Last year, more than 51% of Tennessee educators completed the survey, providing important insights on technology, curriculum and instruction, teacher satisfaction and retention, and more.

"As a former Tennessee public school teacher, I know how important it is for educators’ experiences to be heard," said Amy Owen, Executive Director of TERA. "I’ve also seen firsthand how data from the Tennessee Educator Survey can inform meaningful research and guide education policy decisions. We’re grateful to the educators who share their voices through this survey and help ensure that decisions at the state level are grounded in the realities of Tennessee classrooms." 

Districts and schools with at least a 45% participation rate will receive aggregate survey results to inform decisions at the local level.

For more information about the Tennessee Educator Survey, visit the department's TES webpage. For assistance accessing the individual survey link, please visit the TES Survey Webpage.

For Tennessee Department of Education media inquiries, contact Edu.MediaInquiries@tn.gov. 

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