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Category: Elementary Info

Published on

DATE: 
March 12, 2026

TO:  
Principals and Assistant Principals

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health & Wellness Consultant
Michelle Reyes, Attendance/Prevention Specialist, Health & Wellness

SUBJECT: 
Reversing the Spring Slide: Proactive Attendance Strategies & the Spring 2026 Attendance Newsletter

As we move into spring, we are keeping a close eye on a trend known as the “Spring Slide.” Recent research and data from EveryDay Labs highlight that student attendance often begins to dip in February and March—a critical period when academic rigor increases as we prepare for end-of-year assessments.

Interestingly, a student’s attendance patterns right now are a major predictor of whether they will end the year chronically absent. To prevent a late-year attendance crisis, early, targeted intervention today is the most effective way to keep students on track.

What we can do now to prevent worse attendance later:

  • Surface Tier 2 Trends Early: Don’t wait for students to become severely chronically absent. Focus on “Tier 2” students—those missing 10–19% of school (roughly 2–3 days a month). These students are often "under the radar" but are the most likely to respond to early outreach.
  • Identify "Weekend Extenders": Look for patterns of absences on Mondays and Fridays. Proactively reaching out to these families 2–3 weeks before upcoming breaks can prevent these single days from snowballing into long-term habits.
  • Launch a "Spring Slide" Campaign: Just as we do for Back-to-School, use this month to refresh your attendance messaging. Highlighting upcoming school events, student showcases, or classroom competitions can rebuild the "must-be-there" culture.
  • Focus on Barrier Removal: Instead of punitive measures, use this time to conduct brief "barrier assessments." Often, a simple shift in transportation support or an encouraging phone call home can resolve the underlying issues causing spring absences.

By acting now, we can ensure our students finish the year strong and don't lose the valuable progress they’ve made since the fall.

Also, the attached spring attendance newsletter contains resources for upcoming Attendance Works webinars, a short video clip about addressing tier 2 attendance, an article about attendance messaging, and a resource to help parents know when sick is too sick to attend school.

Questions? Contact Michelle Reyes at michelle.reyes@jordandistrict.org or 801-567-8205.

Published on

DATE:
Thursday, March 12, 2026

TO:  
Administrators

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

SUBJECT:
SPRING Mentor Training: Enrollment Now Open

SPRING Mentor Training will be available online via Canvas from March 27 to April 26. 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 Spring 2026 Mentor Training Request 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 March 27 at 3:00 PM.

Published on

DATE:
Thursday, March 12, 2026

TO:  
All School Administrators

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

SUBJECT:
RISE Alert Papers

Cambium (CAI), the RISE testing vendor, alerts USBE whenever a student puts certain terms in their benchmark or summative writing assessments or the global notes attached to other benchmark, interim, or summative assessments. The certain terms may include topics like death, suicide, murder, etc.

When USBE receives these alerts from CAI, they will forward them to Ben Jameson in Assessment, Research & Accountability who will take the following actions:

  • An email will be sent to the administration of the school at which the student attends notifying them of the RISE alert paper and asking that someone meet with the student.
  • A secure email will be sent via MoveIT that contains the student’s information, including the language that was flagged by CAI.

When school administrators receive a notification of a RISE alert paper, they should complete the following steps:

  • Meet with the student as soon as possible the same school day the notification is received to determine if there is a concern.
  • If there is a concern, the school administrator should follow the recommended CSTAG procedures to ensure the student receives the requisite help and support.
  • Regardless of whether there is a credible concern or the student was joking, parents should also be notified.
  • Then be sure to notify Ben Jameson within 24 hours of the notification that you have met with the student and that the issue is being addressed so that he can report back to USBE.
  • Log the event and the actions taken in Skyward, even if there is no concern.

For questions about RISE alert papers, please contact Ben Jameson in Assessment, Research & Accountability. For questions about CSTAG procedures and protocols, please contact Angie Rasmussen in Student Services.

Published on

DATE:  
Thursday, March 12, 2026

TO: 
Elementary School Administrators

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

SUBJECT:  
Spring 2026 Testing Bulletin

School administrators may view the most up-to-date testing bulletin, complete with test administration and survey administration windows, by clicking on ‘Elementary School’ under the heading Testing Bulletins on the front page of the website for Assessment, Research & Accountability:

 

You may also access the elementary school testing bulletin here or attached with this memo.

For questions about any of the federal, state or district assessments or surveys, please contact Ben Jameson in Assessment, Research & Accountability.

Published on

TO:
Elementary K-3 teachers and Instructional Coaches

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Michelle Lovell, Elementary Consultant of Teaching & Learning

We would like to invite teachers and coaches to a special UFLI implementation training that will be taught by trainers directly from UFLI. This is a unique opportunity to have implementation training directly from UFLI. This training is on a first-come, first-served basis. See the attached flyer for details. Teachers and coaches who have already had the training are welcome and will receive a stipend.

Published on

DATE:  
March 5, 2026

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 2025-26

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.

  • Although parking lot duty requirements will vary from school to school, the payment is the same districtwide.
  • Administrators are encouraged to reduce parking lot duty for teachers as much as possible while maintaining necessary coverage.
  • All full-time K-6 licensed educators districtwide who are responsible for parking lot duty are eligible for the $400 stipend. Half-time educators are eligible for a $200 stipend.
  • All elementary school Special Education cluster teachers and preschool teachers are eligible for an $800 stipend.
  • Licensed educators (psychologists, BTS teachers, etc.) who have not previously been assigned parking lot duty may choose to participate and be paid a stipend, but should not be required to do so.
  • Administrators and classified staff are not eligible for a stipend.
  • The stipend will be paid out on April paychecks.
  • Teachers are required to complete parking lot duty unless they coordinate with the principal to give their assignment and stipend to another willing teacher.
  • Teachers can take on as many parking lot duty assignments (and stipends) from other teachers as will fit in the calendar.
  • Teachers can only give up their parking lot duty assignment and stipend or accept an additional assignment and stipend in coordination with the principal.
  • Teachers can only give up or accept an entire assignment and an entire stipend.
  • Principals should adjust the parking lot duty schedule as necessary to allow as many teachers to take on as many extra assignments as needed.
  • Special Education cluster teachers and preschool teachers cannot give up their parking lot duty assignment.
  • Stipends for parking lot duty are included in retirement pay calculations.

A Google sheet has been shared with elementary administrative assistants and principals and is available on your Quick Links. Please complete the payroll sheet by April 6, 2026, so that teachers can receive their stipend on their April 25th check. The elementary AOS administrative assistant 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.

Published on

TO:
Administrators

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

Starting Monday, all students will have access to the SchoolAI Student Portal at student.schoolai.com. The portal gives students a simple, centralized place to see and access all of their teacher-created, launched Spaces. Teachers can continue launching Spaces through Canvas as usual; the portal is simply an additional, easy way for students to find and open their Spaces.

Secondary Schools: Optional Pilot Features

Secondary schools have the opportunity to opt in to two additional Student Product features:
- Portal Sidekick — A secure, curated SchoolAI Sidekick available directly on the student portal. Students can access it whenever they need support.
- Canvas Sidekick — A SchoolAI Sidekick embedded directly into Canvas, specifically designed to help students with study skills, navigating Canvas, and executive functioning.

🎥 Want to see both features in action? Check out this video of a student using the Portal Sidekick and Canvas Sidekick.

If your secondary school would like to opt in to these additional features, please fill out this form. Additionally, please reach out to Jared Covili with any questions.

Published on

DATE:
March 5, 2026

TO:
All School Administrators 

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness

SUBJECT:
 2026-2027 Wellness & Prevention Planning Sessions

It is required that school prevention plans be updated annually. 

This year, to streamline school workload and braid together funding streams and prevention efforts, school teams are invited to a new and improved Wellness & Prevention Planning Session. These planning sessions will have the same familiar wellness feel that you love, with new and improved outcomes!

During these planning sessions, school teams can anticipate the following:

  • Guidance on available grant funds
  • Brief education about suicide, bullying, and violence prevention
  • Resources for attendance and student engagement planning
  • Planning time for school teams in attendance
  • Leave with a completed School Wellness Plan that meets State prevention requirements

For Secondary Schools:
Our first two Wellness and Prevention Planning Sessions for Secondary Schools will be on March 17th at the ASB Auditorium from 8:00-10:30 and 12:30-3:00. School teams can choose a session to attend. South Valley’s famous mixed soda drinks will be provided. Bring your team! Up to two substitutes per school can be paid for using the program number 5671!

Please RSVP using this brief form, and we will send out a reminder. 

For Elementary Schools:
Wellness & Prevention Planning Sessions will be held during the previously scheduled March 26th MTSS training for cohorts who are in years one and three of MTSS. 

For schools in year two of the MTSS cohort, a planning session will be held in the morning prior to the previously scheduled afternoon MTSS training. This planning session will be held from 8:30-11:00 on April 16th at the ASB. 

Published on

TO:
All Administrators

FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources
Rebecca Lee, HR Administrator, Evaluations

Evaluation Reminders and due dates:
All full evaluations due by March 31, 2026
All interims due by May 31, 2026
All ESP evaluations due by April 17th (due to Qmlativ rollover)

For any questions, please contact:
Rebecca Lee
(801) 567-8369
extensions:88369 and 10518
rebecca.lee@jordandistrict.org

Published on

DATE:
March 3, 2026

TO:
School Psychologists & School Psychology Interns

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Fulvia Franco, Program Specialist – Guidance

SUBJECT:
March School Psychologists & School Psychology Interns Meeting

A meeting for school psychologists and school psychology interns has been scheduled for Friday, March 13, 2026, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Auxiliary Services Building Auditorium (7905 South Redwood Road). Nicole Hawkins, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and CEO of Center for Change will provide us with a presentation on the influence of social media on mental health, body image, and eating disorders in adolescent girls.

Part-time Staff:  I would appreciate it if you could adjust your schedules in order to attend this meeting.

Published on

DATE:
March 5, 2026

TO:
All School Administrators 

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness

SUBJECT:
FREE Mental Health Education for Parents and Caregivers

Jordan District has partnered with the Cook Center for Human Connection to provide ongoing mental health education for parents and caregivers. This collaboration offers FREE access to live, virtual educational sessions covering various topics. Please share the following resources with your school community: 

  • A calendar for March’s Mental Health Series sessions is attached. Sessions are offered in both English and Spanish. Previously recorded seminars can be accessed through a comprehensive library of sessions and resources for each topic. You can access the library of recorded sessions at any time by visiting this site: https://parentguidance.org/mhsindex. 
  • Included in the mental health series is a "Watch Together Series" to highlight for families. While the Mental Health Series is designed for parents, these “Watch Together” events are for the whole family, especially teens and young adults. In this series, each month, you'll meet a new animated character facing real challenges that teens and young adults experience. Together, you and your family can watch their story and learn how to start meaningful conversations at home.
    • March Event: Together, teens and parents will watch the animated short “Is Anybody Out There?” This story follows a teen experiencing deep loneliness and wondering if anyone would notice if she disappeared. Families will explore the warning signs of depression and suicidal thoughts, how to respond when someone might be in crisis, and why even a single caring conversation can be life-saving. In this interactive session, parents and teens will leave prepared to check in with those they care about, ask direct questions, and connect friends or loved ones to help and hope.
    • Wednesday, March 11th at 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm MST  REGISTER NOW

Please share the attached flyers/resources with your school communities. Should you have any questions, please reach out to Angie Rasmussen at angie.rasmussen@jordandistrict.org.

Published on

TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants

FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources
Jane Olsen, Human Resources Specialist

JSD Job Fair Details-Action Required

The JSD Job Fair is MONDAY. If you have not already reserved your table please do so ASAP. The HR Recruiting team will be calling anyone who hasn’t responded to get a firm count for tables. All locations and departments with current open positions are expected to be in attendance.
Throughout the recruitment season we have been inviting potential employees. We anticipate strong attendance at this event.

The JSD Job Fair is scheduled for Monday, March 2nd from 6:00 to 8 PM at Riverton High School.

Step 1: Notify HR to reserve your table
Principals and Department Leaders, must notify us of your anticipated attendance by completing this Google Form. This will help us plan for tables and chairs to accommodate your team.

REMINDER
This event is for anyone seeking a position in Jordan School District-licensed or ESP. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Locations and Departments with current or anticipated openings-This event is intended for you.

Step 2: The Job Fair
Please park on the North side of Riverton High School and enter through the doors on the northeast side, near the gymnasium. Set up for locations and departments can begin as early as 5:15 PM. Early setup is encouraged.

Human Resources will be located in the center of this event, with computers readily available for applicants to apply at the event for open positions.

Step 3: Submitting Recommendation(s) for Hire/New Hire Form(s)
Once a candidate has applied, references must be completed. In some cases, like JSD student teachers and interns, references may have already been completed and the candidate is Recommendation for Hire/New Hire Form ready.

If the candidate requires a Recommendation for Hire, once you receive approval to hire you are ready to make an offer. When the offer is accepted, submit the applicable New Hire Form(s).

Attached is the flyer for the event. You are encouraged to print and share with anyone interested in working for Jordan School District in any capacity.

We are excited for this year’s JSD Job Fair and hope it fills gaps in our hiring and brings in quality candidates for you to consider.

Please contact Human Resources for any questions regarding this event.
April Gaydosh- april.gaydosh@jordandistrict.org
Jane Olsen- jane.olsen@jordandistrict.org

Published on

TO:
Administrators

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language & Cultural Services
LaTrill Loveridge, JEAC Chair

We invite you out to the Jordan Education Access Committee Community Night. All Parents, Guardians, Educators, Employees and Administrators are invited to join us on March 18th, 6:00-7:30. Get to know our middle school student leaders, learn about policy from our legislative session, and goals we want to achieve for all students in Jordan School District.

Published on

DATE:
Thursday, February 26, 2026

TO:
All School and District Administrators and Department Heads

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

SUBJECT:
2026 USBE Educator Engagement Survey Administration

53G-11-304. Educator Exit Survey and USBE board rule R277-325 require that school districts administer the Educator Engagement Survey every other year (last administered in the spring of 2023-24).

The survey will be distributed via Qualtrics by Assessment, Research & Accountability to all licensed school and district educators, which includes classroom teachers, licensed support personnel (i.e., instructional coaches, counselors, speech language pathologists, school psychologists, library media coordinators, etc.), school administrators, and district licensed educators and administrators.  The survey opens Monday, March 2nd and closes Tuesday, March 31st. USBE anticipates that the survey will take educators about 20-30 minutes to complete.  USBE hopes to gather information about educator’s engagement in education and their perspectives related to the quality of their job experiences.  The survey is confidential and the results will be reported in the aggregate.

School and district administrators don’t need to do anything to distribute the survey, but principals and department heads are encouraged to notify their faculty that the survey is coming.

Survey results will be published for each school in this Tableau dashboard after the survey closes.

If you would like to preview the survey questions, you may do so here or you may view this pdf copy.

Please contact Ben Jameson in Assessment, Research & Accountability with questions.

Published on

TO:
Administrators & Teachers

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Kaye Rizzuto, Social Studies Consultant

All teachers are invited to attend the Wasatch Front Regional Civics Training at Utah Valley University in Orem, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The event includes separate sessions for secondary teachers (June 8, 2026), elementary teachers (June 9, 2026), and an elementary follow-up (June 10, 2026), all from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Participants will receive 0.5 USBE credit, a $100 honorarium, paid substitute coverage, resource materials, lunch, snacks, and mileage reimbursement if traveling over 20 miles. The training is designed to provide engaging strategies, classroom-ready resources, and opportunities to collaborate with educators across the region. Registration details and contact information are included in the flyer.

Published on

TO:
Principals

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

The STEM Action Center Math Personalized Learning Grant has opened. This is an excellent opportunity to acquire digital math licenses for your students.

Please see attachment for additional information.

Published on

DATE:
February 26, 2026

TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
Panorama Survey Coordinators 

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services

SUBJECT:
**NEW** Enhanced Survey Reporting – Panorama Student Feedback Surveys

Enhanced Survey Reporting (ESR) is Panorama’s updated survey reporting experience. It gives schools faster, deeper insights into student feedback to support students more quickly, celebrate growth, and make confident, data-informed decisions. 

ESR is built to help school teams move from data to action with greater ease. Instead of spending time piecing together results, ESR brings everything into one place so schools can focus on planning and support. With ESR, schools can:

  • Explore results across students in a unified view to spot patterns and differences in how groups experience school.
  • Track changes and progress over time with refreshed benchmarks to measure the impact of initiatives and adjust strategies as needed.
  • Connect survey data directly to strategic goals to ensure every planning conversation is grounded in what matters most for students.

You may access deeper information, the guide book, and a video overview here. 

As a reminder:
• The Winter student feedback survey window (currently open) closes Friday, February 27, 2026.
• The Spring student feedback survey window is April 20-May 15, 2026.  

 

Published on

DATE: 
February 19, 2026

TO:
Elementary School Administrators
Middle School Administrators
High School Administrators

FROM: 
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Stacee Worthen, School Counselor Consultant

SUBJECT: 
March School Counselor Training and Professional Development

March School Counselor training and professional development opportunities. Please direct any questions to Stacee Worthen, School Counselor Consultant, at 801-567-8309.

Wednesday, Mar. 4, CSCP Steering & Budget Meeting, District Office, Room 129
All Secondary Lead Counselors and Counselors who assist with the CSCP budget
8:00 am - 12:30 pm

Thursday, Mar. 5, CSCP BRISC Training - Consult Call, Zoom
All New Counselors and Interns
10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Friday, Mar. 13, CSCP MAR SEC PLC, JATC-South, Auditorium
Secondary School Counselors
7:30 am - 9:00 am

Friday, Mar. 13, CSCP MAR ELEM PLC, JATC-South, Auditorium
Elementary School Counselors
1:30 pm - 3:00 pm

Wednesday, Mar. 18, CSCP New Counselor Training, District Office, Room 129
All New Counselors and Interns
8:00 am - 11:00 am

Wednesday, Mar. 25, CSCP Counselor Collaborative Committee, District Office, Room 129
Only School Counselors appointed to this committee
8:00 am - 11:30 am

Thursday, Mar. 26, Copper Hills Feeder Meeting, District Office, Room 129
Copper Hills Feeder Counselors K-12
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm