Skip to main content

How to Use the Staff Portal

Learn how to access and utilize the Staff Portal to see all of your evaluation documents in one place.

Maxwell Bass avatar
Written by Maxwell Bass
Updated this week

The Staff Portal is your personal hub for viewing and managing your professional growth documents in Lebra. This guide will walk you through accessing the portal and completing tasks assigned by your evaluator.


What Is the Staff Portal?

The Staff Portal, also called the Ascend Dashboard, is where you can:

  • View your evaluation milestones and due dates

  • See a timeline of all your professional growth activities

  • Download documents like observations, self-evaluations, and summative reports

  • Complete tasks your evaluator has requested, such as reflections or signatures

Think of it as your one-stop view into everything related to your professional evaluations.


How to Access the Staff Portal

You can access the Staff Portal through a secure email link.

  1. Go to the Staff Portal access page at the bottom of lebrahq.com

  2. Enter your work email in the "Work email" field

  3. Click Send Access to Portal

  4. Check your inbox for an email from Lebra with a secure link

  5. Click the link in the email to open your Staff Portal

The access link is valid for 7 days. If it expires, simply request a new link.


What You'll See in the Staff Portal

When you open the Staff Portal, you'll see the Ascend Dashboard with three main sections:

Milestones

This section shows your professional growth and evaluation milestones for the school year. Each milestone represents an evaluation activity, such as:

Observation

Evidence gathered from a classroom visit

Summative Report

A final review based on all collected evidence

Self-Evaluation

A teacher's reflection on their practice

Growth Plan

Initial self-assessment of teaching practices and goals

Each milestone shows:

  • Status badge: Completed (green), Overdue (red), or Due today/tomorrow/in X days

  • Due date: when the milestone is expected to be completed

If you see "Your evaluation milestones haven't been set yet," this means your evaluator has not yet assigned your pathway or due dates.

Timeline

The Timeline section shows your professional growth and evaluation history. As activities are completed, they appear here in chronological order.

For each item, you'll see:

  • The type of activity (observation, self-evaluation, PDP, or summative report)

  • Who conducted it (for observations) or when it was completed

  • A Download button to save a PDF copy

If you have many items, click Show all to view your complete history.

Evaluator Information

On the right side of the page, you'll see who is assigned as your evaluator:

  • Primary Evaluator: Your main evaluator

  • Reviewers: Any additional reviewers

You can click their email address to contact them directly if you have questions.

Download Combined Report

At the top of the page, you'll find a Download Combined Report button. This creates a single PDF containing all your timeline items. This is useful if you want everything in one document for your records.


Completing Tasks in the Staff Portal

Your evaluator may request that you complete certain tasks, such as:

  • Writing a reflection on an observation

  • Completing a self-evaluation

  • Submitting a Growth Plan (PDP)

  • Updating progress on your Growth Plan

  • Signing a summative report

When your evaluator makes a request for any of these, you'll receive an email with a link to complete the task.

Observation Reflection

After your evaluator completes a classroom observation, they may ask you to add your reflection.

What you'll do:

  1. Click the link in the email you received

  2. Review the observer's feedback, including strengths noted and action steps

  3. In the Employee Reflection section, write your reflection answering: "What are you proud of from this coaching cycle?"

  4. Once finished, type your full name in the Employee Signature field

  5. Click Submit my Reflection

Your changes save automatically as you type, so you won't lose your work.

Self-Evaluation

Your evaluator may request a self-evaluation where you rate yourself against professional standards.

What you'll do:

  1. Click the link in the email you received

  2. For each domain and component, add your comments and select a rating

  3. Upload any Artifacts (such as lesson plans, student work, or certifications) to support your self-evaluation

  4. Click Save as draft if you need to return later, or Submit when you're finished

Artifacts you've already uploaded appear in the Uploaded Artifacts section.

Growth Plans

Some schools call this a PDP, IPLP, or another name. Your evaluator will request this when it's time to set your professional growth goals.

What you'll do:

  1. Click the link in the email you received

  2. Select the focus standards/components for your plan

  3. Complete each section:

    • Growth goals

    • Action steps you'll take

    • Support needed from your school

    • (Optional) Student growth targets

  4. Once complete, type your full name in the Employee Signature field

  5. Click on Submit

Growth Plan Progress Update

Later in the year, your evaluator may request an update on your progress.

What you'll do:

  1. Click the link in the email you received

  2. Update your progress for each goal

  3. Upload any artifacts that demonstrate your growth

  4. Click Update

Summative Report Reflection

At the end of the evaluation cycle, you'll receive your summative report with final ratings and feedback.

What you'll do:

  1. Click the link in the email you received

  2. Review the evaluator's summary, including key strengths and areas for growth

  3. Write your Employee Reflection responding to the feedback

  4. Once complete, type your full name in the Employee Signature field

  5. Click Submit my Reflection


How the Staff Portal Fits Into Your Evaluation

Here's what to expect from your evaluator versus what you're responsible for:

Your Evaluator Will:

  • Set up your evaluation pathway and milestones

  • Conduct observations and enter their notes

  • Request tasks from you (reflections, self-evaluations, growth plans)

  • Complete and share your summative report

You will:

  • Complete tasks when requested (via email links)

  • Write reflections and sign documents

  • Submit your Growth Plans and progress updates

  • Upload supporting artifacts when relevant

You do not need to create evaluation documents from scratch; your evaluator initiates each step.


Helpful Tips

Your Work Saves Automatically

When completing reflections, self-evaluations, or Growth Plans, your work saves automatically as you type. You'll see "Saving..." appear briefly. If you need to step away, your progress will be there when you return.

AI Writing Assistance

Some text fields include an AI assistant that can help you expand your writing. Look for the sparkle icon to get suggestions based on what you've already written and the context of your evaluation.

What If a Link Expires?

Access links expire after 7 days. If your link no longer works:

  • For task links: contact your evaluator to request a new link

  • For Staff Portal access: Go to the access link and enter your email again

Can't Find an Email?

Check your spam folder. Emails come from Lebra and may include "Staff Portal" or "evaluation" in the subject line.

Something Looks Wrong or Incomplete?

If milestones are missing or evaluator information is blank, your evaluator may not have finished setting up your pathway. Reach out to them for clarification.

Need More Help?

Contact [email protected] if you experience technical issues or have questions about using Lebra.

Did this answer your question?