The staff favorites survey: questions that actually get answered

Why favorites surveys work

Every parent group eventually discovers the same thing: appreciation that lands is specific. The right coffee order on a hard morning beats a generic mug every time. One of the highest-engagement posts we've ever seen in parent-group communities was a simple paper "paraprofessional favorites questionnaire" — thousands of reactions, and comment after comment from paras saying some version of "we're often not thought of. This would mean everything."

That's the whole case. The survey isn't admin work; it's the infrastructure for a year of appreciation that feels personal — birthdays, appreciation week, conference meals, random Tuesday pick-me-ups, end-of-year gifts.

The question set

Identity (the only required part)

• Name and role — with real role options: teacher, paraprofessional/aide, specials, front office, support staff, admin. If your form's role list is just "teacher," you've already told everyone else it isn't for them.
• Grade / room — so room parents can find their people.
• Birthday month + day (never the year) — powers birthday carts, monthly breakfast lists, and door signs.

The favorites

• Coffee/tea order, exactly as they'd order it — "grande oat-milk latte, no sugar" is actionable; "coffee" isn't.
• Cold drink — the sonic-drinks-and-dirty-soda economy is real.
• Salty snack, sweet treat, candy — three separate questions; they are not the same question.
• Lunch spot + usual order — for the days someone's grabbing lunch.
• Favorite restaurant and store — where gift cards actually get used.
• Favorite color, hobbies, shirt size — spirit wear, door decorating, gift baskets.

The practical section (the most valuable answers on the form)

• Allergies and dietary restrictions — check it before every catered meal. This question alone justifies the survey.
• "Please, no more…" — mugs, candles, lotion. Staff will tell you kindly here what they'd never say to a gifting parent, and it saves everyone money.
• Classroom wishlist link — many teachers maintain one; few ever get asked for it.
• "What makes you feel most appreciated?" — the sleeper question. Veteran staff will tell you the honest answer is often a covered duty, a handwritten note from a student, or simply time — not a gift at all. Let them say it.

The etiquette that gets responses

• Two minutes, everything skippable. Long mandatory forms get five responses out of seventy — we've watched it happen.
• Send it at back-to-school, when goodwill peaks, and route it through the principal or your teacher liaison — staff open what school leadership forwards.
• Include paras and support staff by name in the announcement. Not "teachers" — "teachers, paras, office team, specials, support staff."
• Say how it'll be used ("birthday treats, appreciation week, and so gifts don't miss") and who sees what.
• Visibility is personal. Some staff love a public page parents can check; others want board-only. Per-person choice, always.

Use it all year (this is where one-off forms die)

The survey isn't the deliverable — the living reference is. Boards that get value from favorites keep them where room parents can print cards, hospitality can check allergies before a meal, and families can look up a teacher before the holidays. And they don't rebuild it every fall: staff update their own card when the coffee order changes.

That's exactly what the free Staff Favorites Collector does: one share link for staff, per-person visibility control and self-serve editing, a live dashboard for your board, printable favorite cards, CSV export, and an optional public page. No logins, no fees — set it up in two minutes.

FAQ

What questions should a staff favorites survey ask?

Name, role, grade/room, birthday (month/day), shirt size, favorite color, coffee/tea order, cold drink, salty snack, sweet treat, candy, lunch spot, restaurant, store, hobbies, wishlist link, allergies, "please no more…", and what makes them feel appreciated. Only name and role required.

Should paras and support staff be included?

Yes, explicitly and by name in the announcement. They're the most-forgotten, most-appreciative respondents.

How do we get staff to fill it out?

Short, skippable, sent at back-to-school through the principal or liaison, with a clear "here's how we'll use it."

Should answers be visible to families?

Per-person choice via a visibility toggle. Never publish without it.

Do we redo it every year?

No — keep a living collection staff can edit, and prompt for updates each fall.