What is the purpose of the Everyone Belongs Survey?

We want to gain a better understanding of the backgrounds and identities of students and staff in TVDSB so that we can support them. Specifically, the goals of the Everyone Belongs Staff Survey are to understand and support the diversity of staff, eliminate barriers, align teaching, learning, and engagement opportunities with the living experiences of TVDSB students and staff, and inform system policies, procedures, and practices.

How is the survey connected to student and staff success?

The data we collect from the survey will inform important decisions that will allow us to support more inclusive learning and working environments for students and staff. By understanding TVDSB staff and students, we can offer teaching, learning, and engagement opportunities that align with their living experiences. When opportunities in school and work align with experiences and identities, students and staff are in a better position to engage and achieve success.

What types of questions are included in the staff survey?

Specific areas of focus include ethnicities, racial identities, Indigenous identities, languages, newcomers, religions, gender identities, sexual orientations, and disabilities.  The survey is publicly available on this webpage for anyone who would like to review the survey questions.

Who was involved in the survey planning and development?

The survey is based primarily on questions that were provided in a template from the Ministry of Education. The survey was further developed by the research team in response to feedback from TVDSB students, families, community members and external organizations, staff, and representatives from employee associations and federations. Several resources were accessed in the planning and development of the survey, including, the Data Standards for the Identification and Monitoring of Systemic Racism, the Ontario Human Rights Code, Ontario’s Education Equity Action Plan, Ontario’s 3-Year Anti-Racism Strategic Plan, the Canada Census, and student surveys conducted by other school boards in Ontario.

Is the survey mandatory?

No. The survey is completely voluntary. Staff are given the option to complete the survey. We encourage participation to ensure that the results most closely represent TVDSB staff. With a high completion rate, we will be able to use the information more effectively for program planning and important decision-making.

Who is invited to complete the survey?

All TVDSB employees from all roles and locations are invited to complete the survey about their own identity. Parents/caregivers of students in kindergarten to grade 6 and students in grade 7 to 12 are also invited to complete the student survey. Click here for additional information about the student survey. 

When are staff invited to complete the survey?

Staff were invited to complete the survey during the 2018-2019 and 2023-2024 school years.. The survey will be offered again in upcoming school years. Staff  are invited to complete their survey during their regular work hours. Staff also have the option to complete the survey from home or any other location that they choose.

How do staff access the survey?

Staff access an anonymous link to the survey that  is provided on this webpage. Access to the survey for staff does not involve logging in to the TVDSB system or entering any identifying information. The same link is used by everyone, so we cannot determine who provided which answers. The survey  is online and can be completed on any type of device (e.g., desktop computer, tablet, mobile phone). We encourage all participants to complete the survey online if possible, but other formats are available (see question below).

Are there other ways to complete the survey if a participant is not able to do it online?

For those who are unable to complete the survey online, paper copies and an option to complete the survey over the phone are available. If you are a staff member and you require a paper copy to complete your survey, please contact the research team at EveryoneBelongs@tvdsb.ca.

How long does it take to complete the survey?

The survey takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. Staff are permitted to use work hours to complete the survey.

Do respondents need to answer every question on the survey?

No. Participants can leave any question blank for any reason. If a participant chooses to skip a question, their answers will still be included for all other questions for which they provided responses.

Do respondents have the option to save their responses and resume the online survey at a later time?

It is best to complete the online survey at one time. However, the full survey is available on the website to view and download prior to completing the survey, if you would like to consider the questions ahead of time.

Can the survey be completed in a language other than English?

Yes. The survey includes the option to read and complete the survey in several different languages using Google Translate. For most devices, you will see the language options in a drop-down box in the top right corner of the page. If you require a language that is not already listed, please contact us at EveryoneBelongs@tvdsb.ca to request translation.

Does the survey comply with the law?

The information is collected under the legal authority of the Education Act in compliance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act [MFIPPA] and is consistent with the Ontario Human Rights Code. The information is collected for educational, research, and program and policy development purposes only. The information will be used, disclosed, and retained in accordance with MFIPPA.

How is the privacy of staff protected?

The staff survey is completely anonymous and confidential. Staff  are not asked to provide their first or last name, employee number, date of birth, school name, or IP address. If staff log into a TVDSB computer or other TVDSB device to complete the survey, their login information  is not linked to or saved with their survey responses. Staff also have the option to complete the survey on their own personal device without using their TVDSB login. Responses  are stored on encrypted third party servers and kept confidential. Direct access to the data  is restricted to the research team. Reports and communication materials  only include summary information. We  do not report any results that are based on a small number of responses that could potentially identify an individual staff member.

How will the results be shared?

The overall results will be compiled into a summary report that will include frequency results for identity groups that are included on the survey. Any identity group with a small enough number of respondents that could make it possible to identify an individual will not be shared. Reports will be shared with TVDSB staff and will also be made publicly available on the TVDSB website. All results will be presented in such a way that no individual staff member could be identified.

How will staff identities be protected in the sharing of the survey results?

Any information that could identify an individual staff member will not be shared. Reports of the survey findings only include summary data with numbers that are large enough to ensure that an individual cannot be identified.

Will individual survey answers be shared with anyone (e.g., a staff member’s supervisor)?

The staff survey is entirely anonymous so no one will know who provided each response.

How will the results be used?

This work is a central priority of the board with specific connections to both our Strategic Priorities and our Operational Plan. We are committed to ensuring that identities, living experiences, and abilities are integrated into teaching, learning, and working experiences, as outlined in our Operational Plan. These results inform us about the diversity in TVDSB and the need to support and affirm all identities. As a board, we plan to use what we have learned about identities to continue to build equity and focus our work on anti-racism and anti-oppression in Thames Valley. The information from this survey will help us to build and support a workforce that reflects, understands, and responds to our diverse population. 

Have other school boards collected identity data from staff?

All Ontario school boards are engaged in this work and most have already collected identity data from staff. Several Ontario school boards have now collected this type of data multiple times (e.g., Toronto District School Board, Peel District School Board, Durham District School Board).

What if I have questions about the survey?

We welcome any thoughts and/or questions that you may have at any time. Please contact us by email at EveryoneBelongs@tvdsb.ca or by phone at 519-452-2000 extension 20496.