11.19: Staff Performance Reviews

Staff Performance Reviews

Effective staff performance reviews for early childhood teachers should be constructive, regular, and focused on professional growth rather than just discipline. Annual reviews are important to maintain and reviews should be connected to the position’s job description, the center’s mission and philosophy statement, and center’s values. Key tips include implementing self-evaluations, setting clear, measurable goals, and providing specific, evidence-based feedback to support teacher development.

The method of evaluation should be consistent for all staff. Self-evaluations are very helpful as you may see a staff member rate themselves proficient in an area you feel they need to improve. This can be pivotal for Administrators to address specific areas for improvement. It is also important to maintain performance reviews and notations. Have staff sign and acknowledge the date of the performance review meeting. It is not required that staff agree with the Administrator’s review - only the acknowledgement of the meeting and review. Requiring signatures confirms that the review was received, discussed, and understood, rather than signaling total agreement with all feedback. It creates a documented paper trail for personnel files.

Just like observations are essential to each child’s development, observations and performance reviews are also beneficial to your staff and their professional development. This is a perfect opportunity to identify professional development needs for your staff member. During this review you can, together, plan opportunities for professional development opportunities.

Celebrate Improvements and Strengths

Recognition goes a long way in boosting morale. Celebrate skills and areas where the staff have improved from their last performance evaluation and, of course, continue to acknowledge their strengths. Recognition not only makes staff feel appreciated and valued, but can also motivate others. Also, too much recognition is not a thing -- Even if you have positive feedback written down, it always feels good to hear it directly and personally.

Key Areas of Evaluation

• Interactions with Children: Assess warmth, engagement (e.g., being on the floor with children), and ability to promote independence and self-esteem.
• Classroom Management: Evaluate safety protocols, behavior management techniques, and cleanliness of the learning environment.
• Curriculum & Instruction: Measure the implementation of developmentally appropriate activities and alignment with program learning objectives.
• Family Engagement: Evaluate the ability to build positive, professional relationships with parents and communicate effectively.
• Professionalism: Review attendance, punctuality, teamwork, and adherence to the center’s policies. [1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 9]

Tips for Effective Reviews

• Use Self-Evaluations: Allow staff to fill out the evaluation form first to encourage reflection and identify gaps in perception.
• Be Specific and Objective: Base feedback on specific examples rather than generalities to ensure fairness.
• Provide Continuous Feedback: Avoid relying only on annual reviews; offer regular, informal check-ins and praise throughout the year.
• Set Actionable Goals: Collaboratively establish goals for the next review period..
• Focus on Development: Frame areas of improvement as growth opportunities rather than criticisms. [2, 4, 6, 10, 11]

Common Evaluation Rating Scales

• 5-Point Scale: 1 (Never meets expectations) to 5 (Always meets expectations).
• Descriptive Scale: Always, Frequently, Occasionally, Rarely, Never. [1, 2]

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• "Surprise" Evaluations: Evaluations should not be the first time a staff member hears about a performance issue.
• Unclear Standards: Ensure staff know exactly what they are being evaluated on from the start. [1, 10, 12]

Attachment: Staff Evaluation Sample.pdf

Attributions:

[1] Child Care Evaluations [mybrightwheel.com]

[2] Positive Guidance [www.virtuallabschool.org]

[3] Self-Care Evaluations [www.lillio.com]

[4] Preschool Evaluation Forms [info.mybrightwheel.com]

[5] Ready to Evaluate Child Care Staff [www.procaresoftware.com]

[6] Preschool Teacher Evaluations [www.preschool-plan-it.com]

[7] Assessment tips [www.procaresoftware.com]

[8] Center Staff Evaluations [www.revtrak.com]

[9] Measuring Success [childcare-administration.com]

[10] Effective Child Care Staff Assessments [www.famly.co]

[11] YouTube Short on Staff Evaluations [www.youtube.com]

[12] Performance Review Tips [www.radicalcandor.com]