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Category: Elementary Action Required

Published on

DATE:
August 13, 2026 

TO:
Principals
Administrative Assistants
Attendance Secretaries
Registrars 

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Buddy Alger, Director of Student Services
Caleb Olson, Consultant, Planning & Enrollment 

SUBJECT:
2026-27 Reporting Completion of 10-Day Accounting

Students who are registered to a District school and have not attended (or been marked absent with a valid excuse) for ten consecutive school days at any point in the school year must be withdrawn from membership. This is particularly important during the first ten days of the school year so that our enrollment calculations and reporting is accurate. 

Accurate enrollment counts are used to generate future projections. Projection totals are needed very soon after ten-day adjustments are completed. To assist in preparing projections, we are asking all schools to report the completion of their 10-day drops on a Google Sheet as soon as these drops are processed. Only the staff member responsible for processing the drops should indicate completion status. The Google Sheet is available at this link and will be emailed to attendance staff again close to the 10th day of school. 

10 day drops for high schools may be processed at the end of the day on September 1, 2026.  Elementary (Grades K-6) and middle school may process drops at the end of the day on  September 2, 2026.  

Guidelines for how to process these drops are available at the links below: • No-Show Guidelines 

Published on

DATE:
Thursday, August 13, 2026

TO:
Elementary Administrators

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

SUBJECT:
Acadience Reading Training Options

Any school personnel that will be involved in administering the Acadience Reading benchmarks in grades 4-6 and/or progress monitoring probes in K-6 should be trained in test administration procedures on an annual basis.  There are several training options depending on the employee’s work assignment.

Classroom Teachers and Instructional Coaches
Teachers and coaches need complete only one of the following options:

  • Training Option 1: In-person training – Please sign up using this link.  The in-person course is a half day.  Schools will need to cover the cost of a sub if sending a classroom teacher.
  • Training Option 2: JSD Acadience Training

ESP Employees
ESP employees should complete one of the following options as part of their regular contract time:

  • Training Option 1: In-person training – Please sign up using this link.  The in-person course is a half day.  Schools will need to cover the cost of a sub if sending a classroom teacher.
  • Training Option 2: JSD Acadience Training
  • Please note that ALO account access will be granted once ESP employees successfully complete one of the two training options listed above.

If any employee needs one-on-one mentoring or extra support for administering Acadience Reading benchmarks or progress monitoring probes, time with the district’s Acadience Mentor can be requested here.

In addition, training resources, testing practice materials, how-to instructions, and printable student materials may all be found on the Acadience Reading Resource Hub.

For questions about Acadience Reading training, please contact Janice Sperry in Assessment, Research & Accountability.

Published on

TO:
Directors, Administrators, Administrative Assistants

FROM:
McKinley Withers, HR Administrator

Tagline: Exciting updates on employee wellness initiatives!

Jordan’s Employee Wellness Initiative is taking a new form. As of July 2026, Employee Wellness is now a part of the Human Resources Team! This will expand Jordan’s ability to serve employees and meet their needs. Our mission is to empower employees to sustain their well-being. 

Administrators can expect to receive regular updates about program offerings throughout the year. Here are two exciting updates to be aware of as we kick off the school year:

  • The Employee Wellness Representative Program is being revised based on feedback from prior years. This will create opportunities for more employees to get involved. Please note the following changes:
    • During the 2026-27 school year, ANY employee can become an Employee Wellness Champion as a “Connector.” A form will go out in JEM that will invite employees to apply to become a connector. These employees will receive the latest updates and spread information about wellness offers. The goal is to create a network of Employee Wellness Champions who support a happier, healthier workplace in Jordan District. 
    • School and department leaders will select a Worksite Wellness Advocate who will attend three trainings (one in person and two virtual) and who will host a wellness initiative at your worksite with District support. Please nominate your Worksite Wellness Advocate using this link by September 4th. 
  • Our top priority as we kick off this new program is hearing from YOU. Please share your ideas and interests with us. We will be connecting with you to schedule a time to spend a few hours at your school to hear from employees who have something to share about their experience and well-being. We will be visiting all worksites in JSD throughout the Fall and will connect with administrators to arrange an appropriate time. 

Please note that the employee wellness team is available to offer professional development or resources tailored to your needs; please reach out if you are interested. Reach out to McKinley Withers (mckinley.withers@jordandistrict.org, cell: 801-448-1404) to schedule PD for your staff. 

Published on

TO:
Principals

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

We are pleased to announce the launch of our New Educator Cohorts. These dynamic support systems are designed to facilitate the growth and success of our newest general education team members.

Eligibility and Registration

  • These cohorts are specifically for general education teachers.
  • The following staff members do NOT need to register, as they receive specialized training through their respective departments: Special education teachers, SLPs, SPTs, psychologists, media specialists, and OT/PTs.

Program Benefits

  • Accelerated confidence and meaningful support for new hires.
  • Enhanced district-wide collaboration and professional networking.
  • A safe, constructive space for educators to share experiences and grow collectively.

Action Required

  • Principals, please encourage your new general education staff to participate and share the New Educator Cohort Flyer with them. The registration deadline is Aug. 28th.

Let’s create a launchpad for our new educators—because when they thrive, our whole district shines!

Published on

DATE:
August 6, 2026   

TO:
Principals
All Special Educators and Service Providers

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

SUBJECT:
SCRAM for 2026-27 School Year - October 1 Count

Special Education Team Leaders will be receiving a SCRAM report via District Mail of all students who should be receiving services through your school’s special education program(s) at the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. Please read this Memo carefully as several items have been modified/updated to include procedures implemented with our Embrace program. Once you have read through the memo, use the process you have in place at your school to include all service providers to share the report and make the necessary corrections. It is important to verify every student on the report. Each team member must initial the report confirming they reviewed it.
SCRAM reports with corrections are due no later than Friday, September 4, 2026. Please work together as a team and only return one copy of the report with all corrections for each school.

Published on

DATE:
Thursday, August 6, 2026

TO:
Elementary School Administrators

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

SUBJECT:
Elementary Fall Assessment Updates

Acadience Math

The state’s contract with Acadience Learning for the Acadience Math assessment expired on June 30, 2026. During the 2026 Legislative session, the Legislature chose not to allocate funding for the new Acadience Math contract, which would have begun on July 1, 2026. As a result, the Utah State Board of Education chose to suspend the requirement to administer Acadience Math to students in kindergarten through 3rd grade. Thus, for the 2026-27 school year, Jordan School District will not have access in ALO to administer Acadience Math benchmarks or progress monitoring. An early numeracy assessment is still required by law, pending Legislative appropriation. It is likely that there will be a state-mandated early numeracy assessment at some point after the 2026-27 school year.

Acadience Reading

The state’s contract with Acadience Learning for Acadience Reading is separate from their contract for Acadience Math. Thus, the state requirement to administer the Acadience Reading benchmarks in K-3 and the district requirement to administer the benchmarks in grades 4-6 remain in effect.

School administrators should have already received their Acadience Reading testing dates for the 2026-27 school year. Administrators may have noticed that there are separate testing dates for K-1 students and grades 2-3 students for some schools. The logistics for this change in testing will be addressed in the August principal meeting. Administrators may refer to this slide deck for more information.

This change in testing schedule comes as a result of some pilot testing done during the 2025-26 school year in which 23 schools participated. The results from the pilot were successful. For more information about the outcome data, please see this infographic.

For questions about any of these changes, please contact Ben Jameson in Assessment, Research & Accountability.

Published on

TO:
All Administrators
 All Administrative Assistants

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

 SUBJECT:
New Frontline Volunteer Application Process

Beginning with the 2026–27 school year,  Jordan School District will transition to a new online volunteer application process through Frontline. This new process replaces the current paper application and will streamline volunteer approvals for both schools and Human Resources.

What's Changing?

Volunteers will now complete their application online through Frontline each school year. During the application, volunteers will:

  • Complete the annual volunteer application. Tutorial / Flyer
  • Select the school(s) where they would like to volunteer.
  • Submit the application electronically.

After submission, the school will review the application and determine whether the volunteer will have:

  • Supervised Access – The volunteer will always be supervised by a district employee.
  • Unsupervised Access – The volunteer may be alone with students or supervise students without a district employee present.

School Responsibilities

Administrative Assistants or Administrators will:

  • Review volunteer applications in Frontline. (TUTORIAL)
  • Send Custody of Child Survey to employer (if applicable).
  • Determine whether the volunteer requires supervised or unsupervised access.
  • Move the application to the appropriate pipeline stage.

If unsupervised access is selected, Human Resources will ensure the volunteer:

  • Completes the Code of Conduct training.
  • Electronically signs the Code of Conduct acknowledgment.
  • Completes fingerprinting if a background check is required.

Human Resources Responsibilities

Human Resources will:

  • Verify existing background check status.
  • Notify volunteers if fingerprinting is required.
  • Process fingerprint results.
  • Notify both the volunteer and the school when the volunteer has been approved.

Benefits of the New Process

This new process will:

  • Eliminate paper volunteer applications.
  • Reduce unnecessary fingerprinting appointments.
  • Reduce duplicate background checks.
  • Improve communication between schools and human resources.
  • Allow volunteers to apply from a phone, tablet, or computer.
  • Allow parents to volunteer at multiple schools with one annual application.
  • Provide schools with real-time visibility of volunteer status through Frontline.

Annual Application Requirement

All volunteers must complete a new volunteer application each school year, even if they volunteered previously. This ensures volunteer information, school preferences, and district acknowledgments remain current.

School Volunteer Flyer

Questions

If you have questions regarding the new volunteer process, please contact Human Resources:

Phone: 801-567-8150
Email: backgrounds@jordandistrict.org

Thank you for your support as we implement this improved process. We appreciate your partnership in providing a safe and efficient volunteer experience for our students, families, and schools.

Published on

TO:
Administrators

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Brandee Bergum, Secondary ELA and Library/Media Consultant, Teaching & Learning

To maintain high standards and consistency across our school library programs, we have scheduled four essential training sessions for the 2026-27 school year.

Attendance & Logistics:

  • Expectation: Both elementary library assistants from each school are expected to attend
  • Scheduling: These sessions should be included within the assistants’ standard 17-hour weekly work schedule

  • Timing: Except for the first meeting in August, all sessions will take place on Fridays

Meeting Schedule 2026-27

  • August 18, 2026: ASB Auditorium, 9:00-11:00
  • October 16, 2026: Viridian Center, 8:30-10:30
  • January 8, 2027: JLC Quad, 8:30-10:30

  • April 23, 2027: Location TBD, 8:30-10:30

Please ensure this information is shared with your school’s elementary media assistants. For any additional details or clarification, feel free to contact Brandee Bergum at 801-567-8152. Thank you for your continued support of our library media programs.

Published on

TO:
All Administrators

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Michael Heaps, Director Information Systems

Due to recent changes in state law, schools are now required to post a notice regarding Jordan School District Policy AA445 - Student Information Network Acceptable Use Policy in a conspicuous location within each school.

To ensure compliance with this requirement, please post the attached flyer in a prominent, publicly visible location in your school as soon as possible.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this requirement and for helping ensure the District remains in compliance with state law.

Published on

DATE:
 Thursday, July 30, 2026

TO:
Administrators

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Jared Covili, Consultant of Digital Teaching & Learning

SUBJECT:
Fall 2026 Access Your Mentor List & Mentor Training Registration by Admin Invite

FALL Mentor List Updates and Mentor Contract

As the year ramps up, we know you may want to begin preparing your school’s mentor assignments for this year. To access your school’s mentor spreadsheet, please go to the Mentor Hub. If you have issues opening your list, please reach out to Tricia Ricks at patricia.ricks@jordandistrict.org.  

The mentor contract is available for you to print for your educators to sign. Administrators need to keep these contracts on file for up to three years for evidence of mentoring during an educators provisional time. Access the mentor contract at this link.

FALL Mentor Training: Enrollment Now Open

FALL Mentor Training will be available online via Canvas from August 3 to September 7 at midnight. This training is specifically for new mentors recommended by their administrators.

Stipend: Teachers will receive a $150 stipend upon successful completion of the Canvas course.

Important Requirements

Before submitting the Google Form for a potential mentor, please confirm:

  • The mentor has not previously completed this training.
  • The mentor has agreed to participate and complete the requirements.

Registration Details

Please complete the Google Form for each mentor you wish to enroll.

  • Availability: Seats are limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Deadline: This form will close on August 7 at 3:00 PM.

Published on

TO:
All Schools and Departments

FROM:
Kurt Prusse, Director of Purchasing
Kris Wishart, Administrative Assistant in Purchasing

During the 2025/26 year-end rollover in Skyward, all existing open purchase orders, regardless of when they were entered, had to be closed and are no longer available for payments.

If you have open purchase orders that were entered in any previous year, besides the most current year, please create a new Open PO and select the Blanket box under the Purchase Order Details and submit them as soon as possible so accounting can pay your vendors in a timely manner. Failure to select the Blanket box under Purchase Order Details will only allow a single payment to be applied to the PO, when multiple throughout the year are needed.

We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause but we appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we all work together through this new finance system.

Sincerely,
Purchasing Department

Published on

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.

Published on

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.

Published on

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.

Published on

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. 

Published on

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.

Published on

DATE:
June 8, 2026

TO:
Principals

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Matt Alvernaz, School Safety Coordinator

SUBJECT:
School Safety Specialist List Update/Confirmation

Beginning the 2026-2027 school year, the School Safety Specialist must be an administrator. The School Safety Specialist also attends, completes, and participates in the following:

  • All trainings required by USBE for School Safety Specialists (dates and times will be shared by USBE later this summer)
  • Monthly safety/SRP trainings (held on the first Wednesday of each month) provided by the District’s School Safety Coordinator, Matt Alvernaz (specific dates and times will be shared in an upcoming JAM).
  • SRO trainings are held annually and each quarter (a future JAM will provide dates, times, and locations).
  • Standard Response Protocols, Incident Command, and other duties as outlined here.

Please complete the spreadsheet linked below for the 2026-2027 school year on or before Friday, August 14, 2026. The information entered needs to be accurate for them to receive communications from the District and the USBE, as well as getting enrolled in the USBE Canvas course.

2026-2027 School-Based Safety Specialists

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to:

Matt Alvernaz
School Safety Coordinator
Matt.alvernaz@jordandistrict.org
(801)567-8623

Published on

DATE:
June 5, 2026

TO:
Administrators

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Amanda Bollinger, Associate Administrator, Teaching & Learning
Jared Covili, Administrator of Digital Teaching & Learning

SUBJECT:
Fall 2026 Access Your Mentor List & Mentor Training Registration by Admin Invite

FALL Mentor List Updates and Mentor Contract
As the year wraps up, we know you may want to begin preparing your school’s mentor assignments for next year. To access your school’s mentor spreadsheet, please go to the Mentor Hub. If you have issues opening your list, please reach out to Amy Wood at amy.wood@jordandistrict.org

The mentor contract is available for you to print for your educators to sign. Administrators need to keep these contracts on file for up to three years for evidence of mentoring during an educators provisional time. Access the mentor contract attached in the memo.

FALL Mentor Training: Enrollment Now Open
FALL Mentor Training will be available online via Canvas from August 3 to September 7 at midnight. This training is specifically for new mentors recommended by their administrators.

Stipend: Teachers will receive a $150 stipend upon successful completion of the Canvas course.

Important Requirements
Before submitting the Google Form for a potential mentor, please confirm:
• The mentor has not previously completed this training.
• The mentor has agreed to participate and complete the requirements.

Registration Details
Please complete the Google Form in the attached memo for each mentor you wish to enroll.
• Availability: Seats are limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Deadline: This form will close on August 7 at 3:00 PM.