25 Principal Survey Questions for Teachers to Improve Leadership

Open-Ended Qualitative Insight Survey

Why & When to Use

Open-Ended Qualitative Insight Surveys capture nuanced feedback, context, and suggestions that closed questions might miss. Deploying these surveys after major initiatives or when numerical scores dip provides actionable details for improvement.

Sample Questions

1. "Describe one action the principal has taken this year that most supported your professional growth."

2. "What obstacles, if any, hinder effective communication with the principal?"

3. "Which leadership behaviors would you like to see the principal model more often?"

4. "Share an example of how the principal handled a challenging situation well—or poorly."

5. "List one change that would most improve the principal–teacher relationship."

Open-ended survey questions enable teachers to provide detailed, actionable feedback on evaluation systems, leading to significant improvements when their input is valued and acted upon. (aft.org)

Multiple-Choice School Climate Survey

Why & When to Use

Multiple-Choice School Climate Surveys offer quick pulse checks on specific leadership facets, making them easier for busy teachers to complete. They enable categorical analysis and are useful quarterly or after policy rollouts to gauge immediate reactions.

Sample Questions

1. "Which communication channel from the principal do you find most effective?
   a) Email
   b) Staff meetings
   c) Classroom drop-ins
   d) School app."

2. "How clear are the principal’s academic expectations?
   a) Very clear
   b) Somewhat clear
   c) Unclear
   d) Not communicated."

3. "When conflicts arise, the principal’s response is:
   a) Proactive
   b) Reactive
   c) Inconsistent
   d) Unsure."

4. "Professional development offered by the principal is:
   a) Highly relevant
   b) Moderately relevant
   c) Slightly relevant
   d) Not relevant."

5. "Overall, the principal’s visibility in classrooms is:
   a) High
   b) Moderate
   c) Low
   d) Very low."

Frequency-Based Behavior Tracking Survey

Why & When to Use

This survey measures how often specific leadership behaviors occur, which is vital for accountability. It's best used monthly or mid-semester to monitor ongoing initiatives, such as instructional rounds.

Sample Questions

1. "How often does the principal visit your classroom for non-evaluative walk-throughs?"

2. "How frequently does the principal provide timely follow-up after observations?"

3. "How often are staff meetings used to celebrate instructional successes?"

4. "How regularly does the principal solicit teacher input before making key decisions?"

5. "How often does the principal recognize student achievements publicly?"

Regular principal classroom visits and timely feedback significantly enhance teacher satisfaction and instructional quality. Source

Net Promoter Score (NPS) for Principal Performance

Why & When to Use

The NPS provides a single metric that captures overall loyalty and advocacy, allowing for benchmarking across schools. It's particularly useful district-wide or during leadership transitions to compare principals objectively.

Sample Questions

1. "On a scale of 0–10, how likely are you to recommend working at this school to a colleague, based on the principal’s leadership?"

2. "What is the primary reason for the score you just gave?"

3. "What one change would most increase your likelihood to recommend?"

4. "Which aspect of the principal’s leadership most influences your rating?
   a) Communication
   b) Support
   c) Vision
   d) Fairness."

5. "Have you encouraged another teacher to apply to this school in the past year?
   a) Yes
   b) No."

Ranking & Comparative Priority Survey

Why & When to Use

This survey reveals the relative importance of various leadership actions, guiding resource allocation. It's best used during strategic planning or budget cycles.

Sample Questions

1. "Rank the following leadership areas in order of where you need the most support:
   a) Classroom management
   b) Curriculum alignment
   c) Data analysis
   d) Parent communication
   e) Technology integration."

2. "Arrange these school-wide initiatives from most to least effective under the principal’s guidance:
   a) PBIS
   b) PLCs
   c) SEL programs
   d) STEM coaching."

3. "Rank the principal’s strengths:
   a) Vision
   b) Feedback
   c) Empathy
   d) Organization."

4. "Prioritize which professional-development formats the principal should offer next year:
   a) Workshops
   b) Coaching
   c) Peer observations
   d) Online modules."

5. "Order the factors that influence your job satisfaction:
   a) Leadership support
   b) Student behavior
   c) Resources
   d) Colleague collaboration."

Semantic Differential Attitudinal Survey

Why & When to Use

This survey captures subtle perceptions along bipolar scales, highlighting the tone and style of leadership. It's useful at the start and end of the school year to measure attitudinal shifts.

Sample Scales

1. "Decision-making:
   Impulsive 1–2–3–4–5 Deliberate."

2. "Vision clarity:
   Vague 1–2–3–4–5 Crystal clear."

3. "Communication style:
   One-way 1–2–3–4–5 Collaborative."

4. "Support level:
   Minimal 1–2–3–4–5 Extensive."

5. "Conflict resolution:
   Avoidant 1–2–3–4–5 Proactive."

Best Practices: Dos & Don’ts for Crafting Principal Survey Questions

Dos

• Align Questions with District Leadership Standards and Teacher Priorities: Ensure that survey questions reflect the values and goals of both the district and the teaching staff.

• **Ensure Anonymity to Encourage Honest