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TO:
Administrators

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Amy Lloyd, K-12 Math Consultant of Teaching & Learning

Open Up Math training for teachers who have not yet been trained in Open Up or Illustrative Mathematics will continue during the 2026–27 school year. The training schedule is linked below. These dates were communicated during the previous school year, shared with math teachers at summer trainings, and emailed to participating teachers.

The trainings are facilitated by Open Up presenters and strategically scheduled before teachers begin each unit. During each session, teachers engage in a deep dive into the curriculum by completing instructional tasks, examining the mathematics, and identifying potential challenges or misconceptions students may encounter. One training will be offered before each unit taught by our math teachers.

Important Notes:
The district will cover the cost of substitutes for all attendees. Please have your administrative assistant reference the Sub Code Document to obtain the appropriate code.

Thank you for your support in reminding teachers of these training opportunities and ensuring that teachers attend the sessions relevant to their instructional assignments.

Math 7 and Math 8 Training Dates
Secondary Math 1 Training Dates

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TO:
Elementary Administrators
Coaches
K-3rd Grade Teachers

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Jessica Stowe, Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning
Mandy Thurman, Elementary Literacy Consultant of Teaching and Learning

UFLI Refresher Class
September 18
ASB-Auditorium
1:30-3:30

Please see the attached flyer for more information.

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TO:
School Administrators

FROM:
Brad Sorensen, Administrator of Schools
Cody Curtis, Administrator of Schools
Odette Desmarais, Administrator of Schools
Meredith McPhail, Administrator of Schools
Becky Gerber, Administrator of Schools
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools

The Principal Meeting will be held in person at the Jordan Learning Center (JLC), located at 3706 W. 9800 S., South Jordan.

Beverage service will be available beginning at 7:30 a.m., and lunch will be provided.

We look forward to seeing you there!

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TO:
Assistant Principals

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent

The September Assistant Principal meetings will be held on the following dates:

  • Thursday, September 3 | 8:00–11:00 a.m.
  • Tuesday, September 8 | 8:00–11:00 a.m.

Both meetings will be held in person at the Jordan Learning Center. All assistant principals and intern assistant principals are invited to attend. Beverage service will be available beginning at 7:30 a.m. each day.

As a reminder, you only need to attend one of the two sessions, as the same information will be presented at both meetings.

Please sign up for the session you plan to attend.

If you have any questions, please contact Shannel Hooper at 801-567-8204 (ext. 88204).

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Published on

DATE:
 August 20, 2026

TO:
Teaching & Learning Consultants
Secondary & Elementary Assistant
Principals            

FROM:
 Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Buddy Alger, Director of Student Services
Sharon Jensen, Student Support Administrator

SUBJECT:
Safe School Hearing Committee 2026-2027

Your assignment: It's time to check the schedule and see when you're officially "on stage" with the Safe School Committee. Please take a look at the schedule below and mark your assigned day/days on your calendar. Thanks for helping us make thoughtful decisions that keep our schools and students safe and supported.

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TO:
Elementary, Middle & High School Administration

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Brandon Larsen, Consultant, Performing & Fine Arts

We have established a centralized master calendar to provide a clear, comprehensive view of all major school and district events across Jordan School District.

Key Information & Updates:

  • Live Access: The live master calendar is now available here: CLICK HERE
  • Annual Calendar Rollover: To keep information accurate for long-term planning, updated dates for the upcoming academic year will be added to this calendar at the end of every school year.
  • Board Communication: Information regarding this calendar resource and its annual update cycle has also been shared with the Board of Education.

Please save or bookmark the link for easy reference when planning activities and reviewing district-wide schedules. If you have any questions or need to submit new dates, please reach out to Brandon Larsen, Performing & Fine Arts Consultant.

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TO:
Directors, Administrators, Administrative Assistants

FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources
Mike Trimmell, Ed.D., Assistant Director Talent Development

 SUBJECT:
Crucial Policies Due September 15, 2026

As a reminder, crucial policies completion is due by September 15, 2026. 

Please log in to your Vector account https://jordansd-ut.safeschools.com/ and complete the assigned crucial policies by September 15, 2026.  

If you have questions regarding Crucial Policies, contact Mike Trimmell, Ed.D. in Human Resources:

Phone: 801-567-8462
Email: michael.trimmell@jordandistrict.org

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TO:
All Administrators

FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources
Mike Trimmell, Ed.D., Assistant Director Talent Development

 SUBJECT:
Crucial Policies for New Hires

With recent updates with Qmulativ and Vector, we are working through crucial policies for new hires. The Vector course new hires are assigned is based on the new hire sheet submission date. 

New Hire Sheet Submission Date Before 8/10/26: Crucial policies were completed as part of onboarding. The only course that must be completed after onboarding is the “Child Abuse Mandatory Reporting” course in Vector. This single course will be assigned in Vector. 

New Hire Sheet Submission Date After 8/10/26: Crucial policies will be completed through Vector after onboarding. This is for every employee hired after 8/10/26 moving forward.    

Also, please note that due to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employees should be given time to complete crucial policies while on the clock. 

If you have questions regarding Crucial Policies, contact Mike Trimmell, Ed.D. in Human Resources:

Phone: 801-567-8462
Email: michael.trimmell@jordandistrict.org

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TO:
Administrators & Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Dr. Mike Trimmel, Assistant Director of Talent Development

To access Vector reports. 

  1. Log in to your Vector account https://jordansd-ut.safeschools.com
  2. Navigate to the Reports tab on the left side of the screen.
  3. Click the links below for a tutorial on how to use Vector reports. Compliance by Employee Report: The Compliance by Employee report contains a variety of filter options, allowing you to customize the data that appears in the report. This report will provide you with a preview prior to exporting the data to excel.Completions by Employee: This report lists all completions, regardless of whether or not the assignment was mandatory.If you have questions regarding Crucial Policies, contact Mike Trimmell, Ed.D. in Human Resources:

    Phone: 801-567-8462
    Email: michael.trimmell@jordandistrict.org

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TO:
Directors, Administrator & Administrative Assistants

FROM:
McKinley Withers, Administrator of Employee Experience & Wellness

SUBJECT:
Support & Planning for Pregnant Employees: “Expecting Jordan” Consultations

Dear Employees, 

Navigating maternity leave, insurance changes, and sub coverage shouldn’t feel overwhelming. “Expecting Jordan,” is an initiative led by the Employee Experience and Wellness Team. One-on-one consultation sessions are offered to help pregnant district employees through their leave and transition process. 

What we cover in our consultation:

  • FMLA & Leave Applications
  • Substitute Coverage 
  • Insurance & Dependent Coverage
  • District Childcare & Benefits
  • Lactation Accommodations and Mental Health Resources
  • Other wellness needs and resources

If you are currently expecting and planning your leave, please sign up for a 1-on-1 consultation time with Paige Wightman using our online form. 

Congratulations on your growing family!

Link to flyer: 

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Published on

DATE:
August 20, 2026

TO:
All School Administrators

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Assessment, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT:
Research Project

The Research Review Committee has reviewed a research project in which your school has been asked to participate.

Project Title: Cooling Adequacy & Heat Preparedness in Utah Educational Infrastructure

Applicant: Stacia Ryder, Utah State University

The project has been approved by the District Research Review Committee. The applicant has been directed to contact you to discuss the extent of the project. Participation in the study is at your discretion. If you have questions or concerns relating to participation, please contact Ben Jameson at 801-567-8243.

Thank you for your assistance.

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TO:
Administrators

FROM:
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language & Culture Services

We want to provide you with one place to find the information to support the Language and Culture in your school. Here you will find:
1. Information on commgap
2. How to prepare for Title III compliance
3. Fall Family fair
4. Giraffe club, presentations and other school support.

 

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Published on

DATE:
August 20, 2026 

TO:
Principals and Assistant Principals 

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Buddy Alger, Director of Student Services
Jodee Packer, Student CARE Specialist 

SUBJECT:
Wellness Centers

As we prepare to support students in Wellness Centers around the district, student services is here to help train and support new and returning wellness room coordinators. 

This session will cover foundational operational standards, student privacy laws, mandatory reporting procedures, and data collection practices designed to measure student impact. 

Training Details 

  • Date: August 28th 2006
  • Time: 2:00 pm
  • Location: District Office Training Room 129 (7387 S. Campus View Drive West Jordan, UT )
  • Target Audience: Wellness Center Coordinators
  • Agenda:
  1. FERPA & Student Data Privacy
    ○ Clear guidelines on maintaining student privacy compliance. 
  1. Mandatory Abuse & Neglect Reporting
    ○ Mandated reporter obligations, recognizing signs of child abuse/neglect, site-level reporting protocols, and documentation best practices. 
  1. Room & Environmental Standards
    ○ Physical safety, supervision protocols, creating a welcoming and trauma-informed space, and room capacity/sign-in procedures. 
  1. Data Collection & Best Practices
    ○ Tracking student visits, measuring outcomes, maintaining confidentiality in logbooks/software, and utilizing data to support school-wide wellness goals. 

Action Requested from Principals 

  • Confirm Attendance: Please ensure your Wellness Center staff are registered and scheduled to attend by clicking here.

For questions or additional details, please contact Jodee Packer 801-567-8193.

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TO:
Elementary Principals

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Jessica Stowe, Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning

Teaching & Learning is offering a UFLI training for classroom assistants who frequently sub for teachers. The training will take place on September 30th from 9:00-11:00 in the Presentation Room at the ASB (Entrance C). Employees attending this training will be able to log into TrueTime to receive compensation for their time. This training is by principal invitation, and employees can contact Brittney Eldredge to register.

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TO:
Elementary Administrators
Elementary Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Odette Desmarais, Administrator of Schools
Meredith McPhail, Administrator of Schools
Becky Gerber, Administrator of Schools
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools

We know that Utah schools work hard to increase financial literacy among students and their families, and my529, Utah’s 529 educational savings plan, appreciates your efforts. my529 looks forward to working with your school to help inform your parents and guardians about saving for their children’s future education expenses.

Under Utah law, elementary schools are required to provide information during school enrollment to parents or guardians of kindergarten students about saving for qualified education expenses, including details about my529 (see Utah Code Ann. § 53G-10-305) — and my529 is here to help.

Each year, my529 sends brochures to elementary school principals to fulfill this requirement. To help get the word out about saving for qualified education expenses, my529 will send enough brochures for each school’s entire student body. Please ensure they are distributed at the beginning of the school year. The brochure is also available in Spanish.

If you have questions about my529, the elementary school brochures, or if your school would like a PDF version of the brochure or Spanish-language brochures, please contact Taryn Owen, Marketing Specialist, at 801.456.7344 or email towen@my529.org.

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TO:
Elementary Administrators
Coaches
Kindergarten Teachers

FROM:
Carolyn Gough - Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Jessica Stowe - Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning
Mandy Thurman - Elementary Literacy Consultant of Teaching and Learning

Dear Kindergarten Teachers,

It’s so exciting to begin another school year and our second year of Planet Kindergarten and Letter Launch! Last year, our kindergarten students left kindergarten and began first grade in a stronger place than they have historically. That is something worth celebrating!

It was wonderful to see so many of you at our Letter Launch Workshop. Thank you to everyone who participated and especially to those who shared their expertise by teaching breakout sessions. I’ve heard so much positive feedback about the presentations! I’ve posted all of the resources shared by our presenters on the Letter Launch Workshop page of the K–2 Goals website.

We have one more Letter Launch class on September 11 at 1:30-3:30. This is a repeat of last year’s Letter Launch class and is designed for new teachers, those who were unable to attend previously, or anyone who would like a refresher.  Please register in Canvas.

Upcoming Dates & Kindergarten Goals

I’ll be sending newsletters throughout the year to help you stay up to date on data and give you a glimpse into some of the inspiring things happening across the district.

Kindergarten has two goals for the first quarter:

    • Students will be able to identify 43 first sounds on Acadience progress monitoring
    • Students will be able to name all letters and their corresponding sounds

Mastery Connect dates for letter and sound data:

  • September 4 — First optional progress monitoring opportunity in Mastery Connect 
  • October 2 — Second optional progress monitoring opportunity in Mastery Connect
  • November 6 — District benchmark for letters and sounds in Mastery Connect

These optional progress-monitoring dates are an opportunity not only to see your classroom data, but also to become familiar with Mastery Connect and the many features the platform has to offer. Larisa Nageli is over Mastery Connect and would be more than happy to talk through any questions or concerns you have. 

Most importantly, remember that you are not in this alone. If at any time you feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or simply aren’t sure what to do next, the literacy team is here to support you. When you share your questions or concerns with us, you help us better understand what teachers need and plan meaningful training and support.

Thank you for all that you do each day. Your work matters tremendously. There isn’t a day that goes by that our literacy department doesn’t recognize the dedication, creativity, and hard work you are putting into building strong readers across Jordan School District.

We are so excited to see what this year brings!

With gratitude,

Lori McCarty 

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Date:
August 20, 2026

To:
All Administrators
All Registrars

From:
Steffany Ellsworth, Assistant Director - Information Systems
Steven Harwood, Assistant Director - Information Systems

Subject:
 Dropout Cohort Cleanup Report

In an effort to improve our graduation and dropout statistics at the State Board of Education, it is important that we correctly account for each student’s enrollment. Each school’s current dropout cohort cleanup report will be provided to registrars by Friday, August 21st. The report will come from JSD Information Systems through MoveIT. This is a report of students who are currently counted as dropouts for your school for the 2025-26 Cohort. Registrars review each record on this report to determine whether or not an existing dropout exit code can be changed (thus lowering your dropout rate).

Please connect with your registrars to ensure they are working to enter the corrected information and return the report in the same electronic format as was sent via MoveIT to Carrie Norris (carrie.norris@jordandistrict.org) in Information Systems by September 28, 2026. They should also send a cc copy to Stacee Worthen in Student Services and Brooke Anderson in Assessment, Research and Accountability.

Information Systems will be providing training for registrars on September 15th at the Attendance/Registrar Admin Assistant meeting. This training will provide registrars with the information and tools needed to review the dropout cohort report and make changes as necessary. If your registrar is new to this report, or just needs a refresher, please ask them to attend this training. 

Feel free to contact the Information Systems Help Desk at (801) 567-8737 with any questions as you work through this process. The UTREx system is a great help in locating students. If your registrar doesn’t have access to UTREx, principals may request access for them by emailing a request to ishelpdesk@jordandistrict.org.

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TO:
Principals
Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Brad Sorensen, Administrator of Schools
Cody Curtis, Administrator of Schools
Odette Desmarais, Administrator of Schools
Meredith McPhail, Administrator of Schools
Becky Gerber, Administrator of Schools
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools

The following information is being provided for your awareness and to share with staff members as needed. While we are still finalizing some aspects of this rollout, please feel free to begin moving forward with these guidelines as you consider the needs of your students and programs. Lunchroom managers are already in compliance with food served in cafeterias.

Please make note of the exceptions to State Code included on the attached flyer. We've also included a template that you may share with teachers who would like to request permission from parents to provide food in the classroom. Principals should approve any permission slips as well as any personalized information about food usage in the classroom that is sent home by teachers. If your teachers have already incorporated this permission into their disclosures, there is no need to change their process at this time.

If you have further questions, please contact your AOS.

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Published on

DATE:
August 20, 2026    

TO:
All Administrators    

FROM:
Ian Roberts, Director of Facility Services   

SUBJECT:
2026-2027 Facility Services Contact Updates 

Facility Services has a number of updates to personnel for the 2026 – 2027 school year. You  will find the updated contact information and area responsibilities within the facilities department below. Refer to Facility Services web page for any additional information. Please  share these updates with your administrative assistants and custodians.

 

 

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TO:
Administrators and Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Sarah Palmer, Director of Payroll

Annual Leave During the Contract Days Before School Starts
All Licensed Employees

8/10/26-8/17/26
Licensed employees may not use annual/personal leave during the contract days before school starts. However, they may, through correlation with the principal, arrange to exchange one of these days for another non-contract day.

Annual or Personal Leave During the First Five Days of School
All Licensed and ESP Employees

8/19/26-8/25/26 Elementary Schools
8/18/26-8/24/26 Secondary Schools
8/18/26-8/24/26 District Offices Auxiliary Services

DP335NEG-Annual Leave-Licensed
DP335B-Annual Leave-Education Support Professionals

Per District policy, annual or personal leave days may not be used during the first five days of school, unless the leave reason is listed in policy as an exception. If any of the exceptions do apply, you must provide both the leave reason and the policy exception in the time off description. If the leave reason does not meet the policy exceptions, Licensed employees will be docked $170 and ESP employees will be docked 40% of their daily rate.

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