Student survey: Teachers set tone for campus community

Manteca High principal Megan Peterson encourages students who feel disrespected by staff to visit her office. She wants a campus community woven together by respect.

By MARIAH RAMIREZ & DANIEL GARCIA 
The Tower 

Manteca High School’s campus community is notably different from the rest with an array of programs, clubs, and resources. Several programs include Give Every Child A Chance (GECAC), HOSA, HYLC, Black Student Union, and counselor guidance. 

These elements offer students numerous opportunities for leadership, personal growth, and extra academic support, creating an environment where students and staff of all backgrounds can connect and succeed.  

The sense of unity is further strengthened by the active involvement of the student body, which generally shapes the school’s culture and works toward mutual goals. 

However, as with any campus community, success depends not only on the efforts of the students but also on the active and supportive role played by staff and administration. While many staff members and teachers strive to create a positive and comfortable environment for students, challenges still persevere. 

Some students on campus may have felt disconnected or unsupported by certain staff, which can create barriers to achieving their full potential. This disconnect highlights an important question for Manteca High: How can the campus continue to promote a safe, inclusive space for all, ensuring that every individual, whether student, staff, or administrator feels valued and heard? 

In an increasingly diverse and interconnected school, finding ways to bridge these gaps is essential to creating a stronger, more unified environment where everyone is empowered to succeed. 

It's important for students to see school staff engaging with them beyond the classroom. When teachers attend games, performances, and events outside of school hours, it shows students that they’re supported not just academically, but personally.

Manteca High’s photography teacher, Carol Creighton, shared with The Tower, “If teachers are invested and are showing interest in participating in things like dress up days and assemblies. … If they’re going to extracurricular activities like games and stuff … builds a very big sense of community and makes our students feel like we really care about them.”  

Students often shape the energy of a school, but it’s the teachers and staff who set the tone from the beginning to the end. From how respected students feel to how connected they are to the campus culture; the actions and attitudes of staff members play a major role.  

In a formal survey conducted by The Tower, many students shared their thoughts on the conduct of teachers and staff members on campus.  

Over 78 percent of students emphasized the importance of being respected by staff, yet nearly half felt that staff only occasionally contribute to creating a welcoming school environment. Nearly 60 percent of students reported feeling neither comfortable nor uncomfortable when speaking with a teacher or staff member. Alarmingly, 61 percent of students said they had witnessed a teacher or staff member being disrespectful to a student at least once. When asked about reporting unfair or disrespectful behavior, 49 percent of students said they would only do so if they were confident action would be taken. Meanwhile, 7% admitted they would avoid reporting due to fear of getting in trouble.  

Principal Megan Peterson of Manteca High School emphasized her openness to student concerns, stating, “But I want the message to students to be that if you feel disrespected, my door is always open. And I don’t always believe the adult…” 

While students may lead the campus community, it all begins with the staff on campus. When asked what she could change to improve campus environment, Creighton said “…my biggest thing would be to get everybody involved in all of our like spirit days and stuff I think that the whole atmosphere changes — and I speak from experience on that because when I first started teaching 12 years ago, everybody dressed up like there were less kids not dressed up then there were dressed.”  

Teachers play the biggest role in setting the tone for the campus community, especially during a student’s beginning year in high school. If teachers aren’t actively encouraging involvement, students are far less likely to care or participate, making it harder to build a connected, spirited school culture.