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TO:
Principals
Special Education Teachers (Preschool and School-Age)
Speech-Language Pathologists

FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Brian King, Director of Special Education


This year, the state has allocated 6 additional days available to work two weeks before or after your contract days. Please read the attached memo for instructions on when the days can be worked and how to submit them correctly. The link for submitting the days is included in the attached memo.

DATE:
Thursday, July 23, 2026

TO:
All School Administrators and District Department Directors/Consultants

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

SUBJECT:
2026-27 Required Testing Ethics Professional Development Procedures for Licensed Educator and ESP Employees


For the 2026-27 school year, administrators will need to conduct a training on the state’s testing ethics policy for all licensed educators as well as any education support professionals (ESPs) who will assist with district-, state- or federally-mandated testing. All licensed educators will need to be trained on the policy. Administrators will want to consider including computer lab assistants who function as the school’s test coordinator, any classroom aides that assist with testing, literacy aides who assist with Acadience Reading testing or progress monitoring, or any office staff that assist test coordinators with district-, state- or federally-mandated testing.

The three required procedures for completing this testing ethics professional development are listed on the “2026-27 Principal’s Testing Ethics Checklist for Licensed Educators and ESPs” form, which is due to Assessment, Research & Accountability by Friday, September 18, 2026.

As has been done in the past, administrators may provide the testing ethics training themselves using the Google slide deck linked in this memo. Alternatively, administrators may show the YouTube video linked below to school personnel. The video provides the same information as the slide deck. Once school personnel have been trained, either by a school administrator or using the video, they are required to sign the “2026-27 Standard Test Administration and Testing Ethics Policy Training Signature Form.” Administrators are asked to keep these signed forms on file at the school.

There are several materials attached with this memo for your use:

Please contact Ben Jameson or Heather Knecht in Assessment, Research & Accountability with any questions.

TO:
All Administrators

FROM:Jordan School District Cabinet Members


The District-wide Professional Development Day on Aug. 11, 2026 is just around the corner. If you haven't already, pleasechoose from available keynote speakers using the link below. All keynotes begin at 8:30 AM on Tuesday, Aug. 11. The topics and location information for each keynote speaker are included in the registration information. You will receive a confirmation of your keynote choice and location to remind you of your selection.

Register for Your PD Day Keynote Speaker

You must attend both a morning and afternoon keynote of your choice. Be sure to register for an AM and PM session.

2026 District-wide Professional Development Day Schedule Flyer

TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants

FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources
Rebecca Eastman, HR Generalist


If you are a contracted employee and need to take Annual/Personal Leave on a Critical Day before/after Labor Day for any reason not listed in policy DP335NEG or DP335B, you must submit a request as follows:  

How to Request
During the window, the employee must send the request through email. Please include your name, school, position, and the date you are requesting the leave. Requests left on voicemail or over the phone will NOT be accepted.

Licensed employees submit their request to licensedpersonalleave@jordandistrict.org

Education Support Professionals submit their request to classifiedpersonalleave@jordandistrict.org

The employee will receive an email confirmation within two working days after submitting the request. If the employee does not receive a confirmation email, then Human Resources has NOT received your request and your leave will not be approved.

School Holiday Date of Holiday Critical Days* Window
Labor Day Sept 7, 2026 Sept. 4 and Sept 8 July 24-Aug. 3, 2026

*Critical Days are the first student attendance days before or after a school holiday. If a non-student attendance day falls before or after a school holiday, the Critical Day is the day before or after that non-student attendance day when students are in attendance.

Licensed
Licensed Annual/Personal Leave Taken on a Critical Day 26-27

ESP
ESP Annual/Personal Leave Taken on a Critical Day 26-27

TO: 
Administrators

FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources
Jane Olsen, HR Administrator, Head of Talent Acquisition
Mike Trimmell, Assistant Director of HR, Talent Development


Dear Administrators,
We ask our students to become curious thinkers, responsible teammates, and engaged citizens — and our new educators are the ones who will help them get there. Welcoming them well is our first chance to show what a Culture of Belonging looks like in Jordan School District.

Join us for the “Clap-In,” and “Clap-Out” the joyful, high-energy tradition that kicks off New Educator Induction and officially welcomes the newest members of the Jordan School District family. If you’ve been before, you know: it’s loud, it’s happy, and it sets the tone for the entire year.

Event Details
• Date: Friday, August 7th
• Time: Clap-In: 7:45–8:30 a.m. (estimated 8:30 a.m. departure)
Clap-Out: 2:30-3:30 p.m. (estimated 3:30 p.m. departure)
• Location: Bingham High School, Main Entrance (South side)

What to Expect
This is more than a warm welcome — it’s Jordan’s spirited community on full display, and our first chance to show new educators why JSD is the district of choice. Let’s make it unforgettable.

How to Bring the Spirit
• Dress to Impress: Wear your school or JSD gear with pride — show them the team they’re joining.
• Mascot Magic: Bring your school mascot to spread the cheer.
• Capture the Moment: Snap a selfie with a new educator at one of our two selfie booths — empathetic communicators say cheese!
• Cheerful Welcome Lines: Join the welcome lines and cheer our new colleagues in like the champions they are.

One friendly note: our new educators will already be loaded up with swag and takeaways, so please hold off on gifts of any kind during the Clap-In. Your presence and enthusiasm are the presents!

Show Your Support
Bring your team! If your school has new educators, aim to have two to three staff members there to offer a personal cheer. Nothing says “you belong here” like familiar faces from your own building on day one.

Parking Reminder
Please gather at the South (front) entrance of Bingham High beginning at 7:30 a.m. To keep the best parking open for our new educators, consider carpooling and use the North side student parking lot and walk through the North (back) entrance.

Our new educators chose Jordan — now let’s show them why that was the best decision they’ve made. Together, we’ll welcome the educators who will shape the next generation of JSD graduates.
We can’t wait to see you there as we clap-in an exciting new academic year!

Thank you,
Jane Olsen, HR Administrator, Head of Talent Acquisition
Mike Trimmell, Assistant Director of HR, Talent Development
April Gaydosh, Administrator of HR

TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants
Employees on 242- and 245-Day Contracts

FROM:
Brittany Bauer, HR Administrator, Data and Operations
April Gaydosh, Administrator of HR

2026–2027 Calendar Change for 242 and 245 Contracts


Please be aware of a change to the 2026–2027 calendar for employees on a 242 or 245 contract. The non-contract days originally scheduled for Thursday, April 1, and Friday, April 2, 2027, will move to Monday, March 29, and Tuesday, March 30, 2027.

The student calendar and critical dates will not change.

Updated calendars can be found here:
242: 2026-27 ESP Admin 242D7H8H.pdf
245: 2026-27 ESP 245 D7H8H.pdf

If you have additional questions regarding assignments or special calendars, please contact Brittany Bauer, HR Administrator, Data and Operations, at brittany.bauer@jordandistrict.org.

For questions regarding leave days, critical days or impact on scheduled FMLA days, please contact Rebecca Eastman, HR Specialist, Leaves, at rebecca.eastman@jordandistrict.org.

TO:
Administrators
Directors
Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Bonnie Brennan, Director of Insurance Services


Protect Your Child with Student Accident Insurance 2026-27

Health Special Risk, Inc. is offering two options for supplemental accident insurance, at-school coverage and 24-hour coverage. See attached flyer (English & Spanish) for additional information.  Please consider including the information in your school packets.

This information can be found on the Insurance Services website.

DATE:
July 9, 2026

TO:
All Administrators

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

SUBJECT:
Annual Crucial Policies


Each year, all employees are required to complete a review of crucial policies. This year, crucial policies will be completed through a new platform called Vector. You will receive an email from Vector with login instructions.

Crucial policies will be available starting July 15, 2026.

The deadline for completing crucial policies is September 15, 2026.

To help with timely completion, you will receive a weekly email reminder and supervisors will receive a weekly completion report.

If you have any questions, or need help completing crucial policies, please reach out to your supervisor. If you need support logging in or using the Vector system, please reach out to Mike Trimmell in Human Resources at michael.trimmell@jordandistrict.org.

TO:
Principals
Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Katie Bastian, Director of Nutrition Services


Included is a new meal prices flyer for next school year. You are welcome to use this flyer to share the information with your school community. New meal prices have been updated in the registration materials and on the Nutrition Services Website.

TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Steffany Ellsworth, Support Services Manager, Information Systems


Upcoming July Workshops! Please note the location change on July 28, 2026.

Drop in anytime between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM to:
● Get answers to your specific Qmlativ questions.
● Walk through complex processes with hands-on help.
● Set up and customize your personal list screens.

No appointments are needed—just bring your laptop and stop by when it's convenient for you!

Upcoming Workshop Dates:
● Tuesday, June 30th: District Office, Rm 129
● Thursday, July 9th: ASB, PDC 101
● Monday, July 13th: District Office, Rm 129
● Monday, July 20th: District Office, Rm 129
● Tuesday, July 28th: District Office, Conference Rm 100 (Please note the location change)

TO:
Elementary Principals

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Brandon Larsen, Consultant of Teaching & Learning


Principals,

To support elementary instructional assistants who cover rotations, the Teaching and Learning Department will be offering professional development sessions specifically for those teaching art, music, dance, or drama.

Those assistants who attend and complete the training can apply these hours toward a salary lane change using the new Education Support Professional (ESP) form.

To help our trainers prepare and set up an accurate hours-tracking system, please submit your assistant's details via this Google Form by July 20, 2026.

Thank you for your help in coordinating this support for your staff. 

TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Steffany Ellsworth, Assistant Director - Support Services, Information Systems


ParentSquare Pointers - End of Year Archive

📁 All ParentSquare posts for the 2025-26 school year will be archived on June 30th.

Why do we archive?
●Let’s start the 2026-27 school year with a clean slate.
●To avoid clutter and make it easier for parents to navigate through posts.

📁 What will be archived?
●All posts and any photos included in posts.
●Media and documents uploaded to the Photos, Videos, Files section.
●Posts sent to Groups.

What will NOT be archived?
●Post sent on or after June 30th.
●Scheduled posts set to go out after June 30th.
●Posts tied to events happening after June 30th.
●Groups and group members.●Direct Messages.

📦 Access to Archived Posts
●You will still be able to access archived posts through the Advanced Search.

Should you have any questions or need assistance accessing archived posts, contact the Information Systems help desk at (801) 567-8737, or ext. 88737.

TO:
Principals

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


Principals,
Please invite your newly hired K–6 teachers to an Open Up training on July 28, 2026. Open Up representatives will be on site to facilitate a demo lesson, introduce assessments, present centers as the practice component, and familiarize teachers with the curriculum.

K–3 Session
Date: July 28, 2026
Time: 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Room 101, ASB
Participants will receive a stipend for attending.

4–6 Session
Date: July 28, 2026
Time: 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Room 102, ASB
Participants will receive a stipend for attending.

Thank you for your support in ensuring our new teachers are informed and prepared.

DATE:
June 11, 2026

TO:
Principals Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent

SUBJECT:
Fee Waiver Materials 2026-27


Schools need to collect and maintain the following, which may be requested as part of the school fees monitoring visits:

  • Students given waivers
  • Students denied fee waivers
  • Students who worked in lieu of a waiver

All USBE School Fees Notices and School Fee Waiver Applications can be found by clicking HERE.

Forms can be found under Grades K-6 and Grades 7-12 in multiple languages. The Fee Waiver Application, for both elementary and secondary was revised April 2026. Use the current form when having parents fill out the application.

Attention: Students who previously showed verification of eligibility do not need to resubmit documentation. It may be necessary for the principal (or designee) to contact the previous school of transferring students for verification of fee waiver status. Kindergarten students coming into the school, new students to the District, and students with extenuating circumstances will still be required to submit documentation.

TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
Other Administrators

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Caleb Olsen, Enrollment Consultant


As announced in a previous JAM, a discipline training for new administrators and administrative interns will be held on July 28, 2026, at the ASB Presentation Room from 8 AM to noon. Approximately 30 seats are available for current administrators who would like a discipline refresher.

See the previous JAM for details on the training.

Sign up for the training here.

DATE:
Thursday, June 18, 2026

TO:
All Administrators

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

SUBJECT:
2025-26 Assessment Results Now in Tableau


All state assessment results for the 2025-26 school year are now available in Tableau.  Viewers will be able to see results for the district, schools and individual students.  Where relevant, viewers may also see results by classroom teachers (except with the ACT, Utah Aspire Plus, and the WIDA Access, which are not connected to classroom teachers).  The links below will help administrators navigate directly to the updated results for each assessment:

STAMP for DLI

Acadience Math

Acadience Reading

ACT 11th grade administration

6th grade CogAT

RISE (growth scores will be available in the fall)

Star Reading

Utah Aspire Plus (growth scores will be available in the fall)

WIDA Access (growth targets will be available in the fall)

AP exam results will be available in Tableau by the end of July (pending a release date from the College Board of July 10th).  The state will release DLM results for students with significant cognitive disabilities sometime in the fall.

For questions about these dashboards, please contact Ben Jameson in Assessment, Research & Accountability.  To request additional data or to see these results in another way, please contact the district’s data scientist, Brooke Anderson, in Assessment, Research & Accountability.

TO:
Elementary Administrators
Elementary Administrative Assistants

FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources
Brent Burge, Assistant Director, Human Resources


With the implementation of the new Rotation Assistant (RA) position in elementary schools for the 2026-2027 school year, the following information outlines the requirements and the process to move or hire employees who are teaching a rotation for STEM, PE, Fine Arts, etc.

Requirements

    1. RAs must be paid for through a school budget only.  “0050” may not be used.
    2. The maximum number of hours per week is 25.
    3. The RA assignment may only be used for STEM, PE, and Fine Arts.  Media or other assistants do not qualify for the RA assignment.
    4. To qualify for an RA assignment, the employee must meet the following qualifications:
      1. Requires one (1) year of experience working in a classroom setting; AND
      2. Must be “highly qualified-HQ” which includes one of the following:
        1. An Associate’s degree; or
        2. 48 semester hours from an accredited college; or
        3. Passed the ParaPro assessment ($80); or
        4. Project Para Title I ($15)

For information about becoming highly qualified, click here.

5. RAs are hired at lane three (3) unless they are a current or former licensed teacher.  The non-licensed RA may be eligible to advance to lane four (4) upon completion of one year as an RA and upon completion of a training program provided by Teaching and Learning.  Upon completion of the requirements, submit the Rotation Assistant salary change form to Teaching and Learning.

Procedures

  1. For current classroom assistants who taught a rotation in 2025-26, the school must submit a change form in Qmlativ to modify the employee(s) title, budget, FTE, etc.  You must include the subject they are teaching in the notes.  These employees will be allowed to continue, even if they do not meet the HQ status.
  2. If you are interested in moving a current part-time employee at your school into an RA position, you must first ensure they meet the HQ requirements.  The school will need to submit a change form in Qmlativ. Please note: If the employee does not meet the HQ standard, the employee will not be eligible to be hired, and the change form will be denied.
  3. To hire someone from outside your school into an available position for which they qualify, the school will need to submit a requisition in Frontline to post.  Please use the Rotation Assistant template.   The school will need to conduct interviews and references.  Before a hire sheet is submitted in Frontline, you must verify that they meet the HQ requirements.

If you have any questions on the process, please contact Human Resources.  For questions about the training, please contact Teaching and Learning.