Leader memo_April 2026
2025-2026 Performance Appraisal
Non contracted employees only
April 2026
To: All Leaders of non-contracted employees:
Annual performance appraisals, while currently not mandatory, are strongly encouraged as a valuable tool for strengthening communication, supporting employee development, and improving overall workplace productivity. These conversations provide an opportunity to reinforce our Catholic identity and mission, recognize achievements, clarify expectations, and identify growth opportunities for the year ahead.
Regular reviews help employees feel supported and aligned with organizational goals, which can lead to higher morale and better retention. They also give employers a structured moment to address concerns early and ensure teams remain focused and motivated.
Direct Supervisor Actions:
- Direct supervisors notify their employees to first complete the employee portion of Section A of the Employee Performance Appraisal form and then forward it back to them.
- Direct supervisors discuss employees’ contribution to the mission vision and values of the organization. (Focus on employees who are returning next school year or have continuous employment).
- Evaluate employees’ progress against current year’s goals and document key outcomes.
- Recognize achievements and identify areas for development.
- Ensure goals and evaluations are fair, consistent, and aligned with the parish/school/Curia Catholic mission and overall goals and objectives.
- Set SMART goals for the upcoming 2026-2027 fiscal year. (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time Bound).
- Document each employee discussion by completing the Performance Appraisal Form by June 30, 2026.
- Retain a copy of the completed appraisal onsite in the leader’s personnel file to ensure documentation of employee development, support, and accountability. This onsite maintenance is important for historical reference, consistency, and verification, if needed.
- Please find the Performance Appraisal template available on the Human Resources website under the Compliance tab or through this link-Performance Appraisal Template
The annual performance appraisal tool supports employee growth, engagement and mission alignment and encourages a more engaged, transparent, and high‑performing workplace.
Moving forward, the performance appraisal and goal-setting process will continue to evolve with potential enhancements to templates, timelines, and guidance for leaders. If you have any feedback on the process which will help advance future improvements, please let us know.
Questions or Assistance: Please reach out to AskHR@archstl.org, and our HR team will gladly provide guidance and support.