Guidelines for WNEP Nutrition Educators - Your Performance Review (FY07)

February, 2007

It is hoped that the performance review experience can be a positive one, building mutual trust and enhancing personal growth and development. The process should challenge you as a nutrition educator to work up to your potential within the program's operational guidelines.

This process will:

• Prompt the Nutrition Educator and County Coordinator to look back at the Nutrition Educator's performance and progress during the previous year;
• Prompt the Nutrition Educator to ask for, and consider the implications of, feedback about his/her performance;
• Provide an opportunity for the Nutrition Educator and County Coordinator to jointly set goals for the Nutrition Educator to work toward during the coming year;
• Determine individual Nutrition Educator needs for orientation, training and other professional development;
• Support accountability requirements for the UW-Extension;
• Provide one of the sources of information that must be submitted with a Title Review Request. (For more information about this process, see Academic Staff Promotions at: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/hr/titleforms.cfm)

NOTE: For Nutrition Educators who have been hired within the last year, the conversation during the Performance Review process should focus on the overall progress being made by the new Nutrition Educator, because it is likely that no goals have been set. But, it is important that the Performance Review conversation take place, even with new Educators. Goals should be agreed upon and noted for the coming year.

A Nutrition Educator has Important Roles in the Performance Review Process

Each Nutrition Educator is responsible for important contributions to his/her own Performance Review process.

The Performance Review process includes these key components:

• Celebrate and document accomplishments (goals met, success story, etc)
• Feedback to facilitate continuous improvement
• Setting goals
• Plans for professional development

Celebrate Accomplishments during the past year

Look back at goals set the previous year. Review each of those goals and think about progress you have made during the year.

Success Story: All Cooperative Extension colleagues, including Nutrition Educators, are encouraged to write a Success Story each year. A Success Story is a brief description of a particularly successful or compelling educational experience or event. Cooperative Extension has some good resources about writing Success Stories. Go to:  http://www.uwex.edu/ces/techservices/prs/docs/FAQs_about_team_impact_st.doc
During some budget years, there may be funds available for additional compensation associated with merit review. In order to be considered for a possible Merit Compensation salary increase a Nutrition Educator must submit a Success Story to his/her Coordinator by December 1, 2007. (If funds are available, merit increases would take effect in July 2008.)

Ask for Feedback about your Work

All Cooperative Extension colleagues are encouraged to regularly seek input and comments from others about their work. Sometimes this practice of asking others to give feedback is called “360 Degree Feedback.” More details about 360 Feedback and suggestions for how it can work in Cooperative Extension are available at: www.uwex.edu/ces/admin/360.pdf and http://www.uwex.edu/ces/admin/siprfeedback.htm

Feedback from Extension office colleagues: Nutrition Educators could solicit feedback from any or all of the following: other Nutrition Educators in your county or other counties, county Department Head(s), Family Living Agent/Educator(s), and others.

Feedback from colleagues from a few partner agencies: A Nutrition Educator could ask for feedback from staff at agencies where you do a significant amount of teaching. Comments/Feedback can be designed to be quick and easy for the respondent. You may decide to ask 1 or 2 open-ended questions such as, “What is one thing that I could do to be a better teacher when I come to your site or agency?” Or, a team of Nutrition Educators in an office may decide to work together to design a short, simple form which partners could complete. See examples of questions and formats at: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/admin/siprcreating.htm
It will be wise to plan together as an office team about asking for Feedback from agency partners to avoid over-burdening particular persons with requests each year.

Teaching Observations: Another valuable and important source of Feedback for Nutrition Educators is through regular Teaching Observations. In most counties, the County Coordinator observes at least one teaching event by each Nutrition Educator every year and completes a Teaching Observation form which is found at:  http://www.uwex.edu/ces/wnep/files/obsnts98.pdf . You may also want to ask any of the following colleagues to observe your teaching: another Nutrition Educator, a state specialist, a colleague from a partner agency. The completed Teaching Observation form(s) can be a useful part of the Nutrition Educator Performance Review process and conversation.

Set Goals for the Coming Year

Refer to the document entitled, “Nutrition Educators’ Tasks and Duties” at: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/wnep/train/neduties.cfm for a comprehensive detailed description of the usual components of the WNEP Nutrition Educator position.

Consider completing the “Self-Evaluation of Tasks and Duties” which is available at: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/wnep/files/selfeval.pdf

Explore Trainings or Professional Development Opportunities for the Coming Year

All Cooperative Extension colleagues are encouraged to continually develop their skills and competencies related to their positions. Links to many sources of information about trainings and professional development opportunities are available at: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/wnep/train/index.cfm

You may find it useful to talk with colleagues in your office or in similar positions around the state to find out about trainings or professional development opportunities that may be helpful to you. Chat with your County Coordinator about funding that is available for WNEP colleagues to attend training.

 

The Nutrition Educator Prepares Summary Documents for his/her Performance Review

Each Nutrition Educator, in consultation with his/her County Coordinator, selects either Option 1 or Option 2, described below, for preparation of paperwork and documents necessary to complete the formal Performance Review process.

OPTION 1. Use of WNEP Nutrition Educator Performance Review Form

This Option uses documentation that is similar to forms used in past years for WNEP Nutrition Educators. A complete packet of information ready for the Performance Review would include:

1. The form entitled “Nutrition Educator Performance Review—Goals and Progress (FY07),” [available at: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/wnep/train/index.cfm] with comments section completed by the Nutrition Educator.
2. Teaching Observation form(s) [available at: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/wnep/train/index.cfm] as completed by any colleague(s) who observed teaching activities during the year
3. Summary of 360 degree feedback received along with a brief statement about what you learned. This summary of feedback could be included as part of your comments related to the progress toward your goals, or it can be a separate document, if you wish.
4. Goals for the coming year. Base your goals on the Tasks & Duties of a Nutrition Educator, feedback you have received, and projects & accomplishments started during the past year. Write your goals for the next year on the form “Nutrition Educator Performance Review—Goals and Progress (FY08),” [available at: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/wnep/train/index.cfm]. You will work toward these goals during the year and look back on them at the end of the next year to assess your progress.
5. A Success Story about your work during the past year (submitted to your County Coordinator by 12/1/07)  [Optional]
6. Ideas for training and workshops you would like to attend written on the form entitled “Professional Development Plan for WNEP Nutrition Educator” [available at: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/wnep/train/index.cfm]

OPTION 2. Use of County Self-Initiated Performance Review (SIPR) Forms and/or Procedures

This Option uses some documentation that is based on the forms and procedures that are used by all Cooperative Extension colleagues in a particular county office; other forms are specific to WNEP. A complete packet of information ready for the Performance Review would include:

1. A SIPR document prepared by the Nutrition Educator following the outline or guidelines used in their county.
2. Teaching Observation form(s) [available at: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/wnep/train/index.cfm] as completed by any colleague(s) who observed teaching activities during the year
3. Summary of 360 degree feedback you requested and received along with a brief statement about what you learned. This summary of feedback could be included as part of your SIPR summary document.
4. Goals for the coming year. Base your goals on the Tasks & Duties of a Nutrition Educator, feedback you have received, and projects & accomplishments started during the past year. Include your goals for the next year as part of the SIPR document you prepare. You will work toward these goals during the year and look back on them at the end of the next year to assess your progress.
5. A Success Story about your work during the past year (submitted to your County Coordinator by 12/1/07)  [Optional]
6. Ideas for training and workshops you would like to attend written on the form entitled “Professional Development Plan for WNEP Nutrition Educator” [available at: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/wnep/train/index.cfm]

 

Performance Review Conference between Nutrition Educator & County Coordinator

Each Nutrition Educator should have a Performance Review conference or meeting with his/her County Coordinator in the fall or winter of each year.

Before the Performance Review Conference

The Nutrition Educator should follow the Guidelines in this document to prepare for the conversation including preparation of the Documents listed above, according to either Option 1 or Option 2.

Written Input from County Coordinator

The County Coordinator provides comments and feedback to each nutrition educator about his or her work, progress made toward goals, successes and challenges.

• Progress toward Goals:  The County Coordinator provides specific comments related to progress toward goals set for the nutrition educator. These comments on progress can either be on the form “Nutrition Educator Performance Review—Goals and Progress” (if the Nutrition Educator is using Option 1) or as an attachment to the SIPR document prepared by the Nutrition Educator (if using Option 2).
• Teaching Observation:  The County Coordinator provides feedback to the Nutrition Educator using the Teaching Observation form, or something similar.
• Additional input from the County Coordinator can be provided as a separate document, as needed or desired.

Conversation between the Nutrition Educator and the County Coordinator

During the Performance Review Conference, the following things are accomplished:

• The Nutrition Educator shares his/her comments about progress made toward goals set the previous year
• The County Coordinator shares his/her comments about progress the Nutrition Educator has made toward goals set the previous year
• Training and Professional Development Plans for the Nutrition Educator are finalized
• The County Coordinator gives the Nutrition Educator an overall rating of either Successful or Unsuccessful and notes it on the form or SIPR document
• The Nutrition Educator and County Coordinator each sign and date the completed “Nutrition Educator Performance Review—Goals and Progress” form (if using Option 1) or in an appropriate location on the SIPR document (if using Option 2).
• The Nutrition Educator and County Coordinator agree on some new goals for the Nutrition Educator for the coming year. These goals are recorded on the document “Nutrition Educator Performance Review—Goals and Progress (FY08)” or as a separate page. These goals will be referred to during the Performance Review conversation the next year.

 

Submit Completed Performance Review form

The completed and signed Performance Review form or SIPR document is to be mailed to the state WNEP office by the March 15 of each year. Copies should be kept by the Nutrition Educator and the County Coordinator.