Spring Evaluation Cycle
What month will the Spring Evaluation Cycle launch??
April
What is one characteristic of a strong coaching plan?
(Answer: Simple, aligned, explicit, co-created, etc.)
Jordan from the People Experience Team sends out an email to all school principals about a new teacher evaluation process in Trinet. The email is full of jargon and assumes that principals are already familiar with the reason for the changes. When principals start reaching out with confused questions, Jordan realizes that they didn’t provide enough background or clear next steps. This causes delays in implementation and frustration among school leaders. After receiving feedback, Jordan revises the communication to include a plain-language explanation, a short FAQ section, and an invitation to an informational webinar.
Communication
What is one core value that managers should uphold when engaging their teams?
(Answer: Community, Collaboration, Empathy & Excellence.)
What are three ways a manager can ensure a meaningful and fair evaluation process?
Answer: Regular feedback, data-driven decisions, aligning coaching plans with KPIs, open communication, self-reflection, etc.
Name one key area managers should confirm alignment with before evaluations
Answer: KPIs, CMO Survey, Fall evaluation strengths/growth areas)
What’s the first step when updating a coaching plan?
(Answer: Assessing performance and alignment.)
Alex, from the Academics Team, is tasked with rolling out a new literacy initiative across multiple schools. Instead of simply sending out materials and expecting schools to implement them, Alex works closely with principals and teachers to understand their needs. They schedule listening sessions, provide differentiated professional development, and adapt resources based on feedback. When some teachers express concerns about the workload, Alex collaborates with school leaders to find ways to integrate the new initiative into existing structures. As a result, the rollout goes smoothly, and teachers feel supported rather than overwhelmed.
Disciplined and Rigorous Decision Making
What is one way managers can ensure they speak with “one voice” to schools?
(Answer: Aligning internally, collaborating, and ensuring clear messaging.)
What is one way managers can begin gathering evidence for evaluations now
Checking meeting notes, feedback logs, performance tracking, etc
Why is it important to give feedback regularly, not just during evaluations?
(Answer: To promote growth, correct course, and affirm strengths.)
aylor, from the Marketing and Communications team, is responsible for increasing family engagement with school events. They notice that school newsletters have low open rates, so they decide to redesign them with a more modern look. However, after launching the new format, engagement numbers don’t improve. After reviewing data and talking with families, Taylor realizes that the real issue isn’t the design but the timing and method of communication—most families prefer text message updates rather than emails. They start brainstorming ideas for how to integrate this feedback before their next check-in with their manager.
Interrogates Reality
What’s a key consideration when solving workplace challenges?
(Answer: Solve for the root cause, not just the symptoms.)
True or False – The Spring Evaluation Cycle is the first time managers should be evaluating performance.
(Answer: False – It should be ongoing.)
True or False – Good intent always matches impact in feedback conversations.
(Answer: False – Intent does not always equal impact.)
Jordan from the People Experience Team keeps receiving complaints from multiple schools about teacher burnout and dissatisfaction with their schedules. Teachers keep telling Jordan that their school needs more teachers in order to function successfully. After reviewing master schedules from several schools with the Academics and Operations Teams and speaking with principals and teachers, Jordan discovers that the real problem isn’t a lack of staff—it’s how classes and planning periods are being scheduled. Some teachers have multiple back-to-back classes without a break, while others have only partial planning periods split awkwardly throughout the day with other duties, making it difficult to complete lesson prep. The CMO Team works together alongside Principals to redesign master schedules in a way that balances workloads more equitably.
Teamwork, Interrogates Reality
What’s one reason to normalize sharing feedback within a team?
(Answer: Encourages growth, builds trust, strengthens performance.)
True or False – If a manager disagrees with an employee’s self-evaluation, they should avoid discussing it.
(Answer: False – Differences should be discussed transparently.)
What is the primary purpose of the Spring Evaluation Cycle?
(Answer: To assess performance, align coaching plans, and support professional growth.)
What’s one way managers can ensure feedback is received well?
(Answer: Framing it constructively, ensuring clarity, making it actionable, etc.)
Alex, from the Academics Team, is responsible for creating a network-wide professional development guide for teachers. They focus on including high-quality content and engaging activities but overlook small details—some PD dates are incorrect, links to key resources are broken, and an important deadline is missing. When teachers start reaching out with confusion, Alex's manager has to send multiple correction emails, causing frustration.
Get it Done
True or False – Team alignment is only important during evaluation season.
(Answer: False – It should be ongoing to ensure consistency and support.)
What’s one way managers can affirm their strongest team members?
(Answer: Direct acknowledgment, public recognition, performance-based rewards, etc.)