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Category: High Schools

Published on

DATE:
September 24, 2026

TO: 
Principals and Assistant Principals

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Buddy Alger, Director of Student Services
Michelle Reyes, CARE Team Specialist

SUBJECT:
Panorama Student Feedback Survey Dates, Opt-In Report & Survey Coordinator Resources

The Panorama Social-Emotional Wellness survey may only be administered to students whose parents have opted-in. Parents are asked to opt-in to the student feedback survey during the yearly school registration process. When the online registration process closes on Oct. 1 schools will need to manually enter the opt-in consent received after that date into Skyward. Attached is a digital copy of the parent opt-in consent from the online registration information.

2026-27 Panorama Survey Windows:

  • Fall- October 5, 2026-November 6, 2026
  • Winter- January 22, 2027 – February 19, 2027
  • Spring- April 19, 2027 – May 11, 2027

Action for Schools

  • School Panorama Survey Coordinators should print out the list of students who have opted-in and provide teachers administering the survey with the list of students in their classes that have opted-in. The student opt-in list can be accessed through Skyward using this data mining report.
    • Most secondary schools use the advisory period teachers to administer the survey and post the link panoramaed.com/utahjordan in Canvas or Google Classroom
    • Most elementary schools share the link panoramaed.com/utahjordan in Canvas or Google Classroom and use grade level teachers to administer the survey

The following information is provided to inform and assist you as you administer student surveys:

  • The list of students who may take the survey (opted-in) will be provided to Panorama before and at mid-window during the administration of the survey by Student Services. Only opted-in students will be able to log in and take the survey. If students are unable to login to take the survey, it is likely that they have not been opted-in. Teachers should refer to the list.
    • If there are students who are on the opted-in list, but are having log-in issues, the school survey coordinator should contact Panorama directly for assistance at support+utahjordan@panoramaed.com. Student Services does not have the ability to manage access to surveys.
  • Survey coordinators and administrators should view the Administering Panorama Survey presentation for information, instructions, and guidance regarding the student feedback surveys.
  • The updated Panorama Dashboard with your school data will be available 7 days after the survey window closes.

Questions? Contact Buddy Alger (buddy.alger@jordandistrict.org) or Michelle Reyes (michelle.reyes@jordandistrict.org) at 801-567-8183.

Published on

TO:
Administrators

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Jared Covili, Innovative Coaching, Teaching & Learning

Innovative Coaching wants to help your teachers become Big Six certified this year. Nominate ONE teacher (preferably someone where technology is an area of growth) to participate this year. Our program includes stipends as teachers complete various steps in working with Big Six tools in their classrooms. As they complete each step in order, your teacher will receive that stipend.

Click on the attached PDF for more information.

Published on

TO:
Administrators and Administrative Assistant/ All Staff

FROM:
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Sarah Palmer, Director of Payroll

With the beginning of the new school year comes new pay rates along with new deductions. All employees are encouraged to log in to Skyward Employee Access and review the following:

Salary placement and Hours Per Day (FTE)
• ASSIGNMENTS tile - make sure you are in the 2026-2027 (Current) year at the top of the screen
• Open the assignment by clicking the arrow to view the assignment details

Paycheck - insurance premiums, deductions, name, address, phone, tax exemptions (from your Form W4)
• PAYROLL CHECK HISTORY tile

Paychecks that are not direct deposit will be held in Human Resources for pickup. You can sign up for direct deposit through Employee Access (DIRECT DEPOSIT PRIMARY ACCOUNT tile).

Your actual paycheck is available to view up to two (2) days prior to payday each month in the PAYROLL CHECK HISTORY tile. If you have questions, please contact the following:

Help Desk: 801-567-8737 (Employee Access login & password assistance)
Payroll: 801-567-8154 or email payroll@jordandistrict.org
Insurance: 801-567-8146 or email insurance@jordandistrict.org
Human Resources: 801-567-8150 or email hr@jordandistrict.org

** This information and tutorials can also be found on Payroll’s website at payroll.jordandistrict.org/employee.

• Name Changes (EMPLOYEE NAME CHANGE REQUEST FORM tile)
• Address Changes (EMPLOYEE PROFILE tile - ’Edit by Online Form’ next to
EMPLOYEE DETAILS- CONTACT INFORMATION UPDATE tile)
• View W4 Tax Information (MENU/PAYROLL/TAX INFORMATION)

 

Published on

TO:
School and District Administrators

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Michelle Love-Day, Director LCS

Please enjoy the September Language and Culture Newsletter. In this edition you will find:

Dates for administrator compliance workshops (link)
ELLevation strategies (flyer attached)
Information about our ML Family night (flyer attached)

Published on

TO:
New Administrators & Interns
New School or Department personnel
Administrative Assistants

FROM:
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Lisa LeStarge, Administrative Assistant

Training will be provided by the Business and Auxiliary Services Departments on October 15, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. to noon at the Auxiliary Services Building Presentation Room. This training opportunity is for new administrators and interns; and new school or department personnel including principals, assistant principals, administrative assistants, clerks, aides or others with responsibilities correlating with the Business or Auxiliary Services Departments. The draft agenda is attached.

If you would like to participate in this session, please send an email to Lisa LeStarge, at lisa.lestarge@jordandistrict.org. The total number of participants in this session will be capped at 60 (plus presenters). Attendees will be provided with a link to hand-outs provided by the presenters so they can be viewed during the training or downloaded for future use.

Published on

TO:
Administrators

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

Administrators,

On October 2nd, from 1:00 - 3:00, we will be hosting a professional learning session: “The Power of Being: Shifting the Order of Operations in your Math Class.” This session will be held at the ASB in PDC 113.

Many teachers use the same resources but see very different results. Instead of piling on new tools or strategies, this session will invite teachers to rethink the order of operations by focusing on internal shifts that drive real impact. They will discover how leading from the inside out can transform their practice.

Secondary math teachers have received invitations via email, and the information is also available in JEM.

Here is a link to registration information.

Thank you for your support in reminding teachers of this opportunity!

Published on

DATE:
September 24, 2026

TO:
Principals and Assistant Principals

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Buddy Alger, Director of Student Services
Fulvia Franco, Administrator of School Psychology
Stacee Worthen, Administrator of School Counseling
Annie Larson, School Based Therapy Specialist

SUBJECT:
Parent Square Communications and School Mental Health Team Follow-Up

September is National Suicide Awareness Month. Attached you will find a copy of the communications that were sent via Parent Square to all families on 9/22/26. These announcements highlight mental health teams in schools and offer free family resources available throughout Jordan School District, including services through the Jordan Family Education Center and the Cook Center for Human Connection. 

Elementary and Secondary Communication

Action Requested for Schools

Send a Personalized School Follow-Up Letter: Administrators and school leaders are encouraged to send a follow-up letter to families. Attached you will find a sample letter. While district communications outline overall resources, families respond best when they know the specific individuals supporting their children at the school.

This letter would introduce School Mental Health Team Members to your families. You may choose to use the attached sample letter to introduce your School Mental Health Team members by name and job title (e.g., School Counselor, School Psychologist, and School-Based Therapist). or write your own letter so families know how to seek support at your school. 

Sample School Follow-Up Letter

Subject: Meet Your School's Mental Health Support Team

Dear [School Name] Families,

As shared in our recent district communication for National Suicide Awareness Month, safety, connection, and emotional well-being are top priorities at [School Name]. We want to ensure every family knows who is here to support your child and how to reach out whenever help is needed.

Each school in Jordan School District has a dedicated School Mental Health Team ready to assist students with navigating friendships, managing stress, adjusting to routines, or working through challenges.

Meet Your [School Name] Mental Health Team

  • [Staff Name] – School Counselor(s)
    • Contact: [Email Address] | [Phone Number / Extension]
    • Role: Supports academic planning, social-emotional skill building, individual check-ins, and small-group support.
  • [Staff Name] – School Psychologist
    • Contact: [Email Address] | [Phone Number / Extension]
    • Role: Provides cognitive and behavioral evaluations, targeted intervention plans, and specialized student support.
  • [Staff Name] – School-Based Therapist (Secondary Schools)
    • Contact: [Email Address] | [Phone Number / Extension]
    • Role: Offers therapeutic check-ins and mental health support for students needing individual care.

How to Access Support

These services are provided with parent or guardian permission. If you have questions about your child's social, emotional, or mental health needs, please do not hesitate to contact any member of our mental health team listed above, or reach out to your student’s classroom teachers or a principal.

[Principal / Administrative Team]

[School Name]

 

Published on

TO:
All Administrators

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Ami Shah, Jordan Education Access Committee

Date: January 21, 2027

Time: 4:00–7:00 PM

Location: West Jordan Middle

Licensed employees who attend the conference will receive a $175 stipend for their participation. Additional details about the keynote speaker and breakout sessions will be provided with registration information.

Please mark your calendar and watch for more information in the future. We look forward to seeing you there!

 

Published on

DATE:
September 18, 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:  “District-led principal leadership development in Utah: A multi-case study of principal development and support from the perspectives of district administrators and school principals”

Applicant: Momilani Tu’ua

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.

Published on

DATE:
September 24, 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: “The Hidden Engine of Achievement: Examining Central Office Systems and Interdepartmental Coordination”

Applicant: Emily Sutherland

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.

The researcher will contact you about participating in a 60-minute interview.

Thank you for your assistance.

 

Published on

DATE:
September 16, 2026

TO:
School Administrators

FROM:
Scott Thomas, Administrator of Auxiliary Services
Paul Bergera, Director of Transportation
Marcus Swainston, Transportation Coordinator

SUBJECT:
A Few Transportation Items for the 2026-27 School Year

There are a few items regarding Transportation that we would like to bring to your attention.

Safety at Bus Lane Entrances and Exits

As we enter into the second month of school, we would like your assistance in ensuring that the entrances and exits at our bus lanes are free and clear of vehicles staging and/or parking. Vehicles are required to provide at least ten feet of clearance at entrances and exits in order for buses to safely enter and exit the bus lane. If the curb at those areas on your campus are not painted red, please submit a request to Facility Services to have them painted or touched up. You may also consider using
cones to restrict vehicles from staging or parking near bus lane entrances and exits. If you do not currently have cones, they are available through the warehouse. Thank you for your support and assistance.

Mileage Reimbursement for Kindergarten Students (Elementary Schools Only):

Funding for mileage reimbursement is only offered to elementary schools that offer a choice of full-day or half-day kindergarten. Currently, there are only six schools that offer both a full-day and half-day kindergarten program. Therefore, if your school does not offer a half-day kindergarten program, mileage reimbursement for parents is not an option.

Published on

TO:
Teachers, Administrators, School Staff

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language & Culture Services

Students that achieved English proficiency will be invited to receive their medal and certificate during our ML family night. We encourage staff, teachers, and administrators to attend to celebrate with our families on Thurs. Oct. 8th from 6-8 p.m. at Mountain Ridge High School.

Published on

DATE:
September 17, 2026

TO:
All Jordan School District Principals (with bus route students)

FROM:
Scott Thomas, Administrator of Auxiliary Services
Paul Bergera, Director of Transportation
Kathy Jones, Transportation Trainer/Risk Coordinator

SUBJECT:
 State Required Bus Evacuations and School Bus Safety 2026-2027

State required semi-annual school bus evacuations have been scheduled for this fall. This applies to those students that ride the bus daily to and from school.

The evacuations will be conducted during the week of: 

Monday, September 21 through Thursday, September 24, 2026

Your school’s regular bus drivers will perform this evacuation procedure as they drop your students off in the morning, one day during that week. The procedure will take place at your school and within the students’ regular bus drop off/pick up zone. All professional school bus drivers that transport students are required to perform evacuation procedures in case of an emergency. Bus evacuation will be through the rear door, side door, front door or any combination of the three. Students will then, under the direction and supervision of the bus driver, evacuate and meet in a safe place approximately 100 feet away from the bus.

Your assistance is welcome but not mandatory to complete this required evacuation procedure quickly, safely and effectively.

We appreciate all you do to help us safely transport your students.

Published on

TO:
Administrators

FROM:
McKinnley Withers, HR Administrator

Administrators, 

The HR Employee Experience and Wellness Team will be offering “Stress Less” workshops on both upcoming PD days (9/25 for Elementary and 10/2 for Secondary).

We are inviting ALL employees to participate in these workshops. These efforts are directly aligned to our district Strategic Plan indicator that focuses on a reduction in stress for Jordan District students and staff (pasted below). 

AM sessions will be specifically for Education Support Professionals (ESPs). Any ESP working that day is invited to optionally attend one of the two days during their contract time if there are no scheduled conflicts at their worksite. ESPs who are off-contract on those Fridays or are part-time and not scheduled to work those days are also invited to attend but should not adjust their work schedules to reduce availability for their regular job duties. In other words, part-time or off-contract employees are invited and encouraged to attend but will not be paid for this time. 

PM Sessions are available for any employees who are able and wish to participate, including ESPs and licensed staff. 

The attached flyer will be shared through JEM, and supervisors are expected and encouraged to allow employees, both ESPs and licensed staff, to attend, provided there are no major scheduling conflicts at the school.

Thank you for your support as we grow opportunities for all employees in our district. 

Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions/concerns or ideas for future offerings. 

McKinley Withers
mckinley.withers@jordandistrict.org
801-567-8245
cell 801-448-1404

Published on

TO:
Principals, Instructional Coaches, and Teachers

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Curtis Jenson, Assistant Director of Teaching & Learning
Jessica Stowe, Assistant Director of Teaching & Learning
Brandee Bergum, Teaching & Learning Consultant
Jared Covili, Teaching & Learning Consultant

We recently learned that Utah Compose is gone, and the USBE is replacing it with Scrible. If you’ve used Scrible, it’s not really the same thing as Utah Compose, although we’ve been told that there are plans to add more of the writing and feedback components found in Utah Compose in the future. 

In the meantime, we want to give you a quick overview of the options you have going forward as it stands right now. This is an evolving process, and we’ll let you know if there are new developments.

SCRIBLE
Scrible is the official replacement for Utah Compose, but has historically functioned more as a citation and research tool than as a tool to help students compose writing and get feedback. However, Scrible plans to add more writing features sometime this fall (richer feedback tools, a sharper Outline Editor, automated scoring for argumentative essays, and more), so just because it can’t do something now doesn’t mean it won’t be able to in the near future. Regardless, it’s free to us, which makes it worth exploring.

If building-level coaches are interested in training from Scrible in order to help train others in your building, here are two sets of options:

Session 1: September Release Deep Dive
This session explores Rubrics and Reviews, the updated Outline Editor, Bibliography tools, and administrative settings.

Session 2: October Release Deep Dive (Incoming features to replace Utah Compose)
Covers automated essay scoring, targeted student feedback, and the expanded prompt repository for grades 3-12.

All presentations will be archived alongside a companion guide for building-level professional development.

These sessions are designed specifically for instructional leaders and coaches rather than classroom teachers. Scrible is coordinating with USBE to schedule general educator webinars later this fall, so stay tuned for additional updates.

SCHOOLAI
With some initial setup, the Spaces feature of SchoolAI offers some of the features of Utah Compose - primarily immediate, customized feedback on writing, and is also available immediately and at no additional cost to JSD teachers and students. 

MI WRITE
MI Write is the direct successor to Utah Compose, and is built as a direct replacement. It is built on the foundation of Utah Compose, and uses the same workflows, technology, and functions. In terms of a seamless replacement, MI Write is essentially the same as Utah Compose. However, it is not free - which means that principals and teachers choosing to use MI should work closely together at the building level to evaluate the need and pricing.

Published on

TO:
Elementary & Secondary Principals

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

To maximize the impact of our district leadership time in 2026–2027, Principal PLCs are shifting to a specialized cohort model. This structure offers principals a dedicated forum to analyze comparative data and collaborate on challenges unique to their school profiles. Because the content is tailored specifically for principal peer networks, instructional coaches will remain in their buildings during these times. Thank you for briefing your coaching staff on this updated format as we work to make our PLC time as impactful as possible.

Published on

TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Nancy Bolduc, Administrative Assistant

Upcoming Deadline Information:

Please forward this memorandum directly to the administrative assistant or employee managing The Educator Directed 32 Hour Plan and Logs.

Action Items & Deadlines

● Verify Roster Accuracy: Cross-check your primary spreadsheet to ensure every employee eligible for payment is listed.
● Collect Employee Plans (Due September 30, 2026): Confirm that all eligible staff members turn in their completed Educator Directed 32 Hours Plan to school administration on or before September 30.
● Log Submissions (Due October 30, 2026): The designated project manager must log each plan and record the date received on the provided Google Sheet no later than October 30.

Here is the link to the original instructions:

Educator Directed 32 Hour Plan Instructions for 2026-2027

For questions or assistance with this process, contact Nancy Bolduc at
x88166 or nancy.bolduc@jordandistrict.org.

Published on

DATE:
September 17, 2026

TO:
Principals and Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Cody Curtis, Administrator of Schools
Brad Sorensen, Administrator of Schools

SUBJECT:
Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences for Secondary Schools

The dates for Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences for secondary schools are Wednesday, September 23, 2026 and Thursday, September 24, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.

Here is the schedule that the schools will follow:

● Middle Schools:
● Wednesday, September 23, 2026 - Virtual
● Thursday, September 24, 2026 - In Person

● High Schools:
● Wednesday, September 23, 2026 - In Person
● Thursday, September 24, 2026 - Virtual

Also, Spring Parent Teacher Conferences for secondary schools will be held:

● Middle Schools:
● Wednesday, February 10, 2027 - In Person
● Thursday, February 11, 2027 - Virtual

● High Schools:
● Wednesday, February 10, 2027 - Virtual
● Thursday, February 11, 2027 - In Person

Published on

DATE:
September 17, 2026

TO:
All Administrators

FROM:
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Michael Heaps, Director of Information Systems
Anthony Muto, Assistant Director Network & Telecommunications, Information Systems

SUBJECT:
iBoss Parent Portal App for Parents/Guardians

As we settle into the 2026-27 school year, Information Systems wants to remind you about a tool for our families: the iBoss Parent Portal App. This application is designed to give parents and guardians more control and visibility over their student’s internet use on their school-issued Chromebook. The application can be downloaded from either the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store by searching for “iBoss Parent Portal”.

The iBoss Parent Portal App will allow parents to guide their student’s internet use in two primary ways:

  1. View Browsing History: Parents will be able to review their student’s browsing history on the school Chromebook.
  2. Scheduling Internet Access Outside of School Hours: The app allows parents to set specific schedules to restrict internet access on the device during designated times. This feature is particularly useful for establishing “no-screen” time overnight.

Attached to this memo, you will find a copy of the iBoss Parent Portal Quick Start Guide. This guide will be sent to parents from the office of Communications in the coming weeks. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with this guide.

Should parents have questions, they should be instructed to contact the school directly. For any questions you are unable to answer, please contact the Information Systems help desk at (801) 567-8737 or extension 88737. You can also reach out to your school’s assigned tech for assistance with the app. We are here to support you in helping our families with this tool.