TK Teachers Need Principals to Be Mentors, Not Just Cheerleaders. Data Snapshot

Abstract

In Spring 2024, the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment (CSCCE) asked a small sample of transitional kindergarten (TK) teachers: "When your supervisor visits your classroom, what kind of feedback or suggestions do they give? What do they comment on?" One respondent wrote, "She will give feedback on how my lessons went according to what she saw. She has also supported me by allowing me to visit other preschool/TK classrooms." By contrast, another teacher merely stated, "They say how cute the kids are." These two responses hint at a looming challenge for California's elementary schools: as TK becomes a universal grade level in Fall 2025, are principals ready to serve as supervisors and mentors to the growing body of TK teachers? While the first quote shows there are principals who are rolling up their sleeves, the second doesn't inspire confidence. This snapshot shares survey data collected from TK teachers in Spring 2024 as part of the California Early Care and Education Workforce Study.