Jordan School District
TO:
Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Jared Covili, Consultant in Teaching & Learning
Check out the links below for the latest updates from Teaching & Learning for March. Learn tips and tricks, sign up for upcoming PD, and learn about important updates from the T & L team.
TO:
Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Jared Covili, Consultant in Teaching & Learning
The USBE Digital Teaching and Learning (DTL) Grant provides opportunities and tools for teachers in Jordan School District to address and close student achievement gaps through the use of high quality instruction that integrates technology. This survey will help us determine technology training and hardware/software needs for the 2025-2026 school year. Use the links below to complete the end of year DTL Survey from USBE. Survey is due April 9, 2025.
Admin Link for Survey - https://www.metirisurveys.com/se/601EA2D53C7D99AC
Teacher Link for Survey - https://www.metirisurveys.com/se/601EA2D57A84FAFE
TO:
Elementary Principals
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Amanda Bollinger, Associate Administrator, Teaching & Learning
Consider sending your P.E. teacher/ESP to the SHAPE Conference, where they can attend numerous breakout sessions specific to their content. Examples of sessions include: games, behavior management, adaptive strategies, ML Support and more. You can sign up your teacher by completing the form, and the district will pay for their registration. The school will be responsible for covering classes and hourly pay.
The Shape Conference is a full day event on March 10, 2025. You can sign up your teacher by completing this form.
SHAPE Utah Website: https://www.shapeutah.org/
TO:
High School Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Amanda Bollinger, Associate Administrator, Teaching & Learning
Consider sending at least one P.E. teacher to represent your school for a professional development day dedicated to enhancing assessment practices in physical education. This session will focus on developing consistent and reliable assessment tools that align with shared learning objectives and standards. Participants will collaborate to create assessments that accurately measure student progress and performance. By unifying our assessment approaches, we aim to ensure fairness and clarity in evaluating student achievement, ultimately supporting improved outcomes in physical education. The district will provide funding for a substitute for ONE P.E. teacher per school, but all high school P.E. teachers are welcome. Please share this information with your P.E. teachers.
TO:
Secondary Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Amanda Bollinger, Associate Administrator, Teaching & Learning
On April 10, 2025, Middle School and High School Health teachers will work collaboratively on vertical alignment, pacing, and instructional strategies in Health. The district will provide funding for a substitute for ONE Health teacher per school, but all secondary Health teachers are welcome. Please share this information with your Health teachers.
DATE:
March 3, 2025
TO:
Applicable School Principals and Administrative Assistants
All Area Administrators of Schools and Administrative Assistants
FROM:
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Daniel Ellis, Director of Accounting, Budgets and Audits
Natalie Grange, Accounting Administrator
SUBJECT:
School External Auditor Visits March 17-24, 2025
The external auditors (Squire & Company, PC) will be visiting the following schools on the dates indicated. They will be reviewing school fees (appropriate amount charged, waivers, etc.) and financial information. Once finished, the auditors will want a few minutes with the Principal. If the Principal is unavailable, an Assistant Principal may meet with them. The auditors are planning on coming to the schools in the order listed. Exact times of arrival will vary depending on length of stay at earlier schools and travel time. If you have any questions or if your administrative assistant will not be available, please call Natalie Grange at (801) 567-8312.
TO:
Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Jared Covili, Consultant in Teaching & Learning
Need help with Canvas and Mastery Connect as you assess students in your classroom? Digital Teaching and Learning would like to invite you to attend an optional PD training to help you use Canvas and Mastery Connect to its fullest potential.
Please bring your device and your questions to learn along with DTL and Instructure.
What: Assessing Students with Canvas and Mastery Connect: Optional PD Training
When: 1 - 3 p.m. on Mar. 14
Where: Herriman High Tech Atrium
Who: All Teachers Interested in Canvas/Mastery Connect
RSVP: https://forms.gle/W1zgDaUuN69kwex39
TO:
All Administrators
FROM:
Scott Thomas, Administrator of Auxiliary Services
Brandon Conti, Risk Management Coordinator
All chemicals used at work, even “household” chemicals, should be considered potentially hazardous. Always understand the hazards of any chemical that you are using.
See the flyer below for more information.
DATE:
Thursday, March 6, 2025
TO:
Middle and High School Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Assessment, Research and Accountability
SUBJECT:
REMINDER: Summative Testing Changes for 2024-25
With the change in the ELA core approved by the Utah State Board of Education in recent months, the state’s summative assessments will now reflect those changes. The changes to RISE and the Utah Aspire Plus are highlighted below:
Utah Aspire Plus:
Please see the attached Utah Aspire Plus updates document released by USBE for more information.
RISE:
Please see the attached RISE updates document released by USBE for more information.
For questions about these changes, please contact Ben Jameson in Assessment, Research & Accountability.
DATE:
Thursday, March 6, 2025
TO:
Elementary School Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Assessment, Research and Accountability
SUBJECT:
Elementary Summative Testing Changes for 2024-25
With the change in the ELA core approved by the Utah State Board of Education in recent months, the state’s summative assessments will now reflect those changes. The changes to RISE are highlighted below:
RISE:
Please see the attached RISE updates document released by USBE for more information.
For questions about these changes, please contact Ben Jameson in Assessment, Research & Accountability.
DATE:
Thursday, March 6, 2025
TO:
All School Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Assessment, Research and Accountability
SUBJECT:
State Testing Reminders
The following are friendly reminders from the state’s testing ethics policy:
The following additional guidance may help address specific questions that arise from the part of the state’s testing ethics policy quoted above:
Please contact Ben Jameson in Assessment, Research & Accountability with questions.
DATE:
March 6, 2025
TO:
Principals
Administrative Assistants
FROM:
Odette Desmarais, Administrator of Schools
Meredith Doleac, Administrator of Schools
Becky Gerber, Administrator of Schools
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
SUBJECT:
Parking Lot Duty Guidelines for Elementary Schools 2024-25
Through the 2018-19 negotiations process, the Board allocated funds to pay each elementary teacher $400 for parking lot duty each year. The stipend will be paid out on April paychecks. The following are additional details and clarifications for the implementation of this payment.
A Google sheet will be shared with elementary administrative assistants and principals in March. Please complete the payroll sheet by April 2, 2025, so that teachers can be paid the stipend on their April 25th check. The elementary AOS administrative assistants will verify the payroll sheet and submit it to payroll. Please list each educator in your building and beside each name indicate the dollar amount ($0, $200, $400, or increments of $400, or $800) the teacher should be paid.
The budget code for Parking Lot Stipends is 10 E XXX 0050 1024 131
Please contact your Administrator of Schools with any questions.
DATE:
February 19, 2025
TO:
All Principals
FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education
Brian King, Ph.D., Assistant Director of Special Education
Mike Trimmell, Ed.D., Special Education Administrator
SUBJECT:
Professional Development Opportunities for March, April, and May
See the attached memo for a listing of all the professional development opportunities for Special Education Licensed Staff for March, April, and May. A link to sign up for each training will be sent to all Special Education Licensed Staff Members.
TO:
All Licensed Educators
FROM:
Ami Shah, Jordan Native American Program
Jordan Native Program invites you to attend a PD on 'Exploring Native American History: Lessons Beyond Textbooks' by Darren Parry, on March 27th, from 4-5:30 PM, at JATC South.
Darren Parry is the former Chairman of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation. Darren serves on the Board of Directors for Utah Humanities and the PBS Utah. He attended the University of Utah and Weber State University and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Education. In 2024, he received an Honorary PhD in Education from Utah State University. Darren is the author of “The Bear River Massacre, A Shoshone History” and teaches in the Environmental Humanities department at the University of Utah. He lectures around the country on Native American issues surrounding history and Indigenous views related to sustainability.
TO:
Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Jared Covili, Consultant in Teaching & Learning
Administrators, please share this information with your teachers.
Many of your teachers are pursuing a STEM endorsement (see our EIP website for a full list of endorsements). USBE WILL REIMBURSE THEM FOR THEIR COLLEGE CLASSES! This is called the STEM Endorsement Incentive Program (EIP) and it has been funded again for the 2024-25 school year. See the attached flyer and link to our EIP website for more information.
Applications for reimbursement are now being accepted for teachers who completed STEM courses after June 1, 2024. The next round of reimbursement applications is due February 27, 2025, for teachers who completed STEM courses in Fall/Winter 2024.
If you have any questions, please reach out to the content consultant. We would love to talk to you!
TO:
All Administrators
FROM:
Jason Skidmore, Director of CTE
The CTE Work Based Learning team has been tasked with helping students discover and explore careers at an earlier age. In response, we have created nine 30-minute Career Exploration lessons that coincide with the CTE Career Spotlight posters located near each elementary school's lunch room.
Each lesson plan includes a slide deck with videos for class discussion and an activity that can be presented by school counselors, teachers, or aides during rotations. Lessons can be accessed at cte.jordandistrict.org under the Educators tab and will be updated each year with additional careers. Please reach out to jennifer.price2@jordandistirct.org if you need help with implementing these lessons or with career readiness activities at the elementary level, we are happy to help.
DATE:
February 20, 2025
TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
McKinney Vento Aides
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Sharon Jensen, Consultant, Student Support Services
SUBJECT:
McKinney Vento Aides- Spring Training
McKinney Vento Spring Training will be held on Monday, March 3, from 10:00 am-11:30 am in the ASB Presentation Room, Entrance C.
Please remind your McKinney Vento aides about this required training. Assistant Principals, interns, & administrators are welcome but not required to attend. Please coordinate with your team on meeting attendance.
TO:
Building Principals
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Scott Festin, Planning Consultant, Planning & Enrollment
Caleb Olson, Consultant, Planning & Enrollment
See the 2025-26 FTE Authorization and Enrollment Forecast by grade for all schools using the link.
TO:
Elementary Principals
Elementary Administrative Assistants
FROM:
Odette Desmarais, Administrator of Schools
Meredith Doleac, Administrator of Schools
Becky Gerber, Administrator of Schools
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Please find your school tab in this Google sheet and complete the Elementary Parent/Teacher Conference Reporting Form within two weeks of your conferences. If you have any questions, please contact Shannel Hooper.
DATE:
Thursday, December 19, 2024
TO:
All School Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Assessment, Research and Accountability
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language & Culture Services
SUBJECT:
WIDA ACCESS 2.0 Test Administration Training for Schools
School administrators are asked to pass this information on to anyone who will be proctoring or coordinating the WIDA Access testing in your school this year.
As part of a federal requirement and the state’s accountability system, districts are required to administer the WIDA Access 2.0 annually to all ML students who have earned a Language Proficiency Level (LPL) of less than 4.2 and a Speaking score of less than 3.5. The 2024-25 WIDA test administration window begins on January 7 and ends on March 7, 2025.
All school personnel who will assist with WIDA Access test administration are asked to attend a mandatory test administration training. Participants may choose to attend any one of six training sessions, including one online training. Training participants will need to bring a device. Please note that if schools choose to send a classroom teacher, principals will need to cover the cost of the substitute teacher. Test pool hours may also be used for this.
Those who are to be trained to administer the WIDA should register in Canvas Catalog so that we may create their accounts in the testing and training platforms prior to their selected training date. Please see the dates and times in the attached memo.
Please contact Ben Jameson or JoLynn Snelgrove in Assessment, Research & Accountability with questions about the WIDA Access test administration and training.
