Wissahickon School Board creates anonymous feedback system for student athletes

When you have a student athlete in the family, it can be tough. You’re helping your child balance school, sports, and of course the challenges of both. From logistics like practice times and rides to and from the field, to required equipment, playtime, and off-season trainings, it seems the “seasons” never end. And all this must coincide with their education, too!

The Wissahickon School District’s Board of Directors are aware of the multitude of priorities a student athlete must juggle. Some have been players themselves. Others have children in various sports programs now. At the end of the day, one of the best ways to coordinate all of the facets of athletic programs can come down to one word: communication.

With a goal to improve that very thing, the directors noted last year that they’d like to create a clear and sensible process for those involved in sports to be able to freely share their feedback. Of particular importance was an ability to do so without fear of retribution or isolation.

Superintendent Dr. James Crisfield, Ed.D., said that the concept has been put into motion for the 2024-25 school year for the first time. During the directors’ August meeting, the superintendent outlined the process for district athletes.

“As you recall in this forum, we’ve discussed a desire to provide a mechanism to gather that feedback anonymously so that it can be shared in a way that is not threatening so that there is no fear of retaliation or anything like that,” said Crisfield. “And then [that feedback] used in a way that make that program better.”

Crisfield said that the feedback gathered would be aimed at improving coaching performance, overall program policies, or flagging necessary adjustments that may need to be made in coming seasons.

“I’m pleased to say we do have a process in place,” said the superintendent.

Crisfield said that the district observed surrounding schools’ policies on the matter, and adapted a program for Wissahickon that combined the features others had reached success with in the past.

“After the season, students will be invited, not required, invited to fill out an anonymous Google Form,” said Crisfield. “There’s no way we would be able to track who is filling it out, so the answers can be frank.”

Following the receipt of the forms, the school’s athletic director will handle the responses and share them as appropriate with the coach.

“It is an environment that is intended to make the program better,” said Crisfield. “I’m sure that all of the professionals involved will be interested in that.”

The survey responses will not be used to evaluate the coach’s individual performance. Each coach is subject to an annual evaluation as a part of human resources protocol. The feedback would not be included in this more formal setting, but instead to have conversations to improve overall programs within Wissahickon Athletics.

“It will be used to improve the program from year-to-year,” said the superintendent of the Google Form submissions.

Board Director Deanne Morris thanked the superintendent for putting such a process into action.

“This is something that is very important to me,” said Morris. “I think having the student athlete feedback for the betterment of our athletic programs will be really invaluable.”

She said, in the end, this is for the students of the district, to enable and empower them to speak up about any concerns or ideas they may have regarding a sports team or program.

“I hope the student athletes also appreciate the chance to give the feedback this year without fear of any loss of playing time or anything they might fear in that regard,” said Morris. “I’m really happy that we were able to do that this year. I think it’s going to be a really important tool for our programs.”

Crisfield added that, while this program is now an outlet for end-of-season feedback and overall views of the individual sports team, coaches, and programs, and not an acute, immediate space for in-season complications.

“During the season, if a student athlete has any immediate concerns, they shouldn’t wait for the end-of-the-year survey,” he said. “They are absolutely encouraged to go to an adult in the building if they’re not comfortable bringing it up to coaches themselves for whatever reason.”

Crisfield said that an open-door policy with any adult staff is an avenue that “has always been in place,” and will continue to be for any student in any situation they feel needs to be brought to the attention of staff.

“I don’t want it to seem like we are waiting to the end of the year to address any concerns,” he said. “It’s just that individual, specific, acute, immediate problems? Absolutely address immediately. Programmatic things that can get the team, the program better in the future will be part of this feedback process.”

 Morris echoed the importance of understanding a continual open door for any complications, questions, or concerns.

“Oftentimes people don’t know where to go with their concerns, and so, if I’m hearing you correctly, it’s going to be Coach, or if you don’t feel comfortable or can’t do that, Athletic Director, Building Principal,” said Morris, stacking her hands to show a sort of “hierarchy” of authority students or parents can feel they have access to at any given time.

Crisfield agreed.

“I would encourage any one parent or student that has immediate concerns to follow that chain of command so that any concerns can be documented and addressed,” said Morris. “That’s really important for all of our staff and kids here to protect them.”

Director Zeffy Karagiannakis added that she too looked forward to the feedback from student athletes this year.

“I echo everything Deanne [Morris] has said,” said Karagiannakis. “I am very grateful to see this come to fruition.”

Karagiannakis did clarify that the feedback would be gathered at each season’s end, and not the entire school year, and Crisfield said that it would be seasonal to each sport. Google Forms will be sent out for voluntary feedback to all players.

Karagiannakis also encouraged the district to remind parents and students of the access all have to discuss any concerns throughout a year, including the method of escalation should it be necessary.

“I know some kids have already started their seasons,” she said. “But it [should be] reiterated in some other fashion so that it starts becoming a common knowledge that this how we would like you to approach this.”

In terms of athletic concerns, questions, or feedback, parents or students may first go to the particular sport’s coach, then to the building’s athletic director, and if necessary then to the building’s principal.