Written by Whitney Stovall, M.S., NCC, lead partnership specialist, Catholic schools, Friendzy, [email protected]
As Catholic school leaders, we are called to nurture the whole person, not just in our students but also in our teachers and staff. Just as we nurture faith, wisdom and character in young minds, we must also invest in our educators, making sure they feel supported, valued and empowered in their vocation.
One of the most powerful ways we can do this is through consistent, meaningful feedback. All too often, performance reviews are reduced to a once-a-year formality rather than embraced as genuine opportunities for growth. By prioritizing regular communication and intentional check-ins, we remove the fear and stress of a high-stakes annual review. If we want our educators to thrive, we must move beyond isolated evaluations and create a culture of ongoing feedback—one that builds trust, strengthens accountability and fuels professional growth.
The Power of Frequent Feedback
Think about how we form and guide our students. We wouldn’t wait an entire year before assessing their progress or helping them grow in faith and knowledge. They need timely feedback to succeed—so why would we treat our teachers and staff any differently?
The Church teaches that Catholic schools are communities of formation, where educators must have the opportunity to reflect on their work and grow in their calling (Congregation for Catholic Education, 2007). When check-ins are infrequent, growth opportunities are missed, misalignment occurs and small challenges turn into major frustrations before they are addressed.
Additionally, delayed feedback can leave teachers feeling disconnected or uncertain about expectations. Even informal conversations—though valuable—often lack follow-through and accountability without a structured system in place. If we want our Catholic schools to be thriving communities of faith and learning, we must shift from a culture of evaluation to a culture of continuous growth.
A Simple Shift: Monthly Check-Ins That Make a Difference
Moving to monthly check-ins doesn’t mean more paperwork or added stress. Instead, it creates a rhythm of mentorship and encouragement that strengthens the relationships between principals, administrators and their teams. The key is keeping the process simple, intentional and effective.
Here’s how:
- Short, meaningful conversations — These are not full evaluations, but focused discussions on progress, challenges and goals.
- A simple tracking system — Use a lightweight tech tool (Google Forms, a shared document or a performance-tracking app) to keep check-ins organized and visible without overwhelming staff.
- Increased engagement and alignment — Regular check-ins keep teachers and staff connected to their goals and ensure they feel supported, seen and encouraged.
A Model for Transformational Feedback
One way to ensure feedback is clear and constructive is by using the BID feedback model (Scott, 2021). BID stands for:
- Behavior: Describe the action or behavior you observed.
- Impact: Explain how it affected the students, team or school community.
- Dialogue: Open a two-way conversation about the next steps and growth.
For example, instead of saying, “You need to improve student engagement,” a principal could use BID:
- Behavior: “I noticed that during class discussions, only a few students were actively participating.”
- Impact: “This may limit deeper engagement and learning opportunities for the whole class.”
- Dialogue: “What strategies have you tried? Let’s explore some new ways to encourage broader participation.”
This method keeps feedback specific, supportive and focused on solutions, rather than criticism. It also empowers teachers to take ownership of their growth, aligning with the Catholic tradition of lifelong learning and formation. When we invite educators into the dialogue, we foster a culture of collaboration that strengthens our schools and deepens our shared mission.
The Impact: Strengthening Catholic School Communities
By shifting from annual evaluations to ongoing check-ins, we create schools where:
- Feedback fuels growth — Regular conversations provide guidance, affirmation and encouragement.
- Alignment strengthens mission — Monthly check-ins help educators stay focused on their goals and their calling.
- Trust and ownership increase — Teachers and staff feel valued, heard and motivated to grow, rather than seeing evaluations as a bureaucratic requirement.
A Call to Catholic School Leaders: Make the Shift Today
Pope Francis, in Evangelii Gaudium (2013), calls us to embrace the “art of accompaniment”—to walk alongside others with patience, compassion and purpose. As Catholic school leaders, this means more than just managing staff—it means forming and encouraging our teachers as missionary disciples. It’s about helping them become the fullest version of who God created them to be.
You don’t need to overhaul your evaluation system overnight. Start small. Schedule a 15-minute check-in with one teacher this month. Use the BID model. See how it transforms the conversation.
Shifting to regular, structured feedback isn’t about adding more work—it’s about removing uncertainty and deepening relationships. It’s about helping every teacher grow in their mission so that together, we can educate, inspire and form the next generation in faith and wisdom.
Let’s lead with faith, intentionality and a commitment to growth—because when we invest in our people, everyone benefits.
Join us at NCEA 2025 in Orlando at our session, Mastering the Art of Difficult Conversations, on Thursday, April 24, from 9:45-11:00 AM to learn more.
References
Armstrong, S., & Mitchell, B. (2019). The essential HR handbook: A quick and handy resource for any manager or HR professional (10th ed.). Career Press.
Congregation for Catholic Education. (2007). Educating together in Catholic schools: A shared mission between consecrated persons and the lay faithful. Vatican Press.
Scott, K. (2021). Radical candor: Be a kickass boss without losing your humanity. St. Martin’s Press.
Pulver, C. (2021). I love it here: How great leaders create organizations their people never want to leave. Page Two.
Pope Francis. (2013). Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel). Vatican Press.
