Following the June release of the 2026 Tennessee Educator Survey results, the Tennessee Education Research Alliance (TERA) at Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development is publishing a series of briefs and snapshots throughout late summer and fall exploring what Tennessee educators said about some of the most pressing issues facing schools.
New infographics, for example, share perspectives from teachers and school leaders on artificial intelligence in the classroom.
The survey has elevated the perspectives of Tennessee educators since 2012, with tens of thousands of teachers, school leaders and other educators participating each year. That sustained participation provides state leaders with a window into Tennessee schools while giving districts and schools reliable local data to inform decisions.
"For nearly 15 years, Tennessee educators have taken the time to tell us what they are experiencing and what they need," said Amy Owen, executive director of TERA and lecturer of leadership, policy and organizations at Peabody. "Our partnership with the Tennessee Department of Education and education organizations across the state helps us ask questions that matter and put the results into the hands of people making decisions at the state, district and school levels."
TERA's three research briefs and eight one-page data snapshots examine topics including teacher retention and early-career teachers, emergency teacher certification, artificial intelligence, student interventions, military readiness, and school leaders' use of time and professional learning needs.
The series comes as TERA celebrates its 10th anniversary this fall, building on earlier Vanderbilt education research partnerships that helped launch the survey with the Tennessee Department of Education in 2012.
"The Tennessee Educator Survey is an unusually valuable research resource because of its scale, longevity and consistently strong participation," said Jason Grissom, TERA faculty director and Patricia and Rodes Hart Professor of Public Policy and Education at Peabody. "We use TES data across many research projects because they help us understand not just what is happening in Tennessee schools, but why."
TERA develops the survey in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Education and with input from education organizations across the state, including members of TERA's Advisory Council.
Full 2026 survey data, including statewide results and district- and school-level results where response rates support reliable reporting, are available at educatorsurvey.tnk12.gov. TERA's briefs and snapshots are available at tnedresearch.org/publications/, with additional publications forthcoming this fall.
