Jordan School District
TO:
School Principals
Administrators
FROM:
Katie Bastian, Director of Nutrition Services
When we say school nutrition professionals are heroes, we mean it! That's why we celebrate them every spring with the National School Lunch Hero Day. Join schools across the country that are recognizing the difference these team members make for every child who comes through their cafeteria.
DATE:
April 24, 2025
TO:
All Principals
Department Directors
School Administrative Assistants
FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources
SUBJECT:
Requests for 2025-2026 Special Calendars – Licensed Only
Your assistance is requested, as the Human Resource Department is preparing special calendars for the 2025-2026 academic year for licensed employees. Special calendars are essential to ensuring appropriate contract pay, time entry, emergency protocols and temporary employee tracking. Employees who meet certain criteria, as listed below, should have a special calendar on file with the Human Resource Department.
A list of licensed employees at your school/department location who are currently on a special calendar for the 2024-2025 contract year will be emailed to you for review on Monday, April 28, 2025. If needed, please make all appropriate additions, corrections, or other changes by submitting an online Hire/Change form in Skyward to the Human Resource Department. Please follow the additional instructions below.
Criteria for determining if an employee requires a special calendar:
If you have an employee you would like to review to determine if they may need a special calendar, you may contact the Human Resources Department, HR Assistant Seniors, for assistance. If a list is not included, there are currently no employees on a special calendar at this location. However, if you anticipate a special calendar for a licensed employee, please follow the instructions below.
Instructions for Special Calendar Requests:
Important Reminders:
Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter. Failure to follow these procedures may cause an employee to be paid incorrectly. Any questions about this procedure or completing a special calendar should be directed to Julie Sharp, HR Senior Asst Elementary, at (801) 567-8230 or Lisa Garner, HR Senior Asst Secondary, at (801) 567-8226.
AG/bb
TO:
Administrators
FROM:
Michelle Love-Day, Director, Language and Culture Services
WIDA Scores will be available in early May. As you are reviewing data and preparing to send home letters to families, consider the following resources:
If you have any questions, please reach out to your school’s Language Teacher Specialist - lcs.jordandistrict.org/language.
TO:
Administrators
Teachers
Counselors
FROM:
Michelle Love-Day, Director, Language and Culture Services
Language & Culture Services is providing a series of Professional Development throughout the summer, beginning in May!
May 19 & 20 - Addressing Discriminatory Language in Schools
For Administrators & Counselors only. Click on a date below to enroll.
Location: ASB Auditorium
June 17 & 20 - Family Engagement & Newcomer Support
For administrators/school leaders, teachers. Click on a date below to enroll.
Location: Juniper Elementary School
July 29 & 31 - Instructing Multilingual Learners - 0.5 USBE Credit Available
For educators and licensed staff working with & instructing MLs. Click on a date below to enroll.
Location: Juniper Elementary School
TO:
Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Chris Richards-Khong, Associate Administrator of Teaching and Learning
School-Based Associates Opportunity
The Jordan School District is excited to announce the School-Based Associates (SBA) program for the 25-26 school year. For many years, past CITES/ BYU Public School Partnership Associates participants have asked about bringing the powerful learning experiences within CITES/ BYU Public School Partnership Associates back to their colleagues in the classroom. JSD School-Based Associates will now make that desire a possibility!
The JSD School Based Associates mini grant awards will help schools nurture classroom teacher leaders (who are prior Associates alumni) as they facilitate cohort sessions for their school. The grant funds include a compensation stipend for teacher leaders. School cohorts explore ideas toward gaining a deeper understanding of education and the Partnership Commitments. Associates fosters collegial connections, exchange of viewpoints with one another, and builds lasting relationships.
The mini grant application process has been streamlined into a brief google form. Administrators or teachers can initiate this grant for a school. Use the application guide to help you keep things simple. Call Chris Richards-Khong with questions 801-567-8158.
Zoom Link Q & A Drop-in Sessions Available
April 29, 2025
11:00 - 12:50 PM
2:30 - 3:50 PM
April 30, 2025
8:00 - 8:30 AM
https://uetn-org.zoom.us/j/89348952593?pwd=1EfcVNujjKwKwWgzJbM2Djuy7Vikw0.1#success
ATTACHMENTS:
School Based Associates Flyer
DATE:
Thursday, April 24, 2025
TO:
All High School Administrators
High School Testing Coordinators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Assessment, Research and Accountability
SUBJECT:
11th Grade ACT Retests, Vouchers and UTC Sites
Over 7,000 vouchers were requested by LEAs across the state for students who want to retake the ACT because of the testing platform’s outages on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. As a result, all of the listed national testing sites that were available in June and July are full, which leaves the vast majority of students without a way to retake the ACT and use their vouchers to waive the registration fee.
Since the national testing centers are full, ACT will allow schools to set themselves up as an Unlisted Testing Center (UTC). Here is what it means to be a UTC according to USBE:
If your school is interested in becoming a UTC, please email the following information to Scott Roskelly (scott.roskelly@schools.utah.gov) at USBE by April 30, 2025:
For questions about this information, please contact Ben Jameson in Assessment, Research & Accountability or Scott Roskelly at USBE.
DATE:
April 22, 2025
TO:
School Psychologists and School Psychology Interns
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Fulvia Franco, Program Specialist – Guidance
SUBJECT:
May School Psychologist & School Psychology Interns Meeting
A meeting for school psychologists and school psychology interns has been scheduled for Friday, May 2, 2025, from 12:00 to 3:30 p.m. at the Jordan Applied Technology Center—South (JATC-South). The address is 12723 South Park Avenue (2080 West) in Riverton. We will start at 12:00 p.m. with a pot luck luncheon. Kristin Francis, M.D., Child and Adolescent psychiatrist at Huntsman Mental Health Institute, will provide us with a presentation on recognizing eating disorders in young people.
Part-time Staff: I would appreciate it if you could adjust your schedules in order to attend this meeting.
cc:
Principals
DATE:
April 24, 2025
TO:
All Administrators
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director, Student Services
Sharon Jensen, Consultant, Student Support Services
Caleb Olson, Enrollment Consultant, Student Services
SUBJECT:
Save the Date: Summer 2025 Discipline Trainings
See information in the attached memo on discipline training opportunities in the summer.
DATE:
April 22, 2025
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 2024-2025
State required semi-annual school bus evacuations have been scheduled for this spring. This applies to those students that ride the bus daily to and from school.
The evacuations will be conducted during the week of:
Monday, April 28 through Friday, May 2, 2025
Your school’s regular bus drivers will perform this evacuation as they drop your students off in the morning, one day during that week. This 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 drill quickly, safely and effectively.
We appreciate all you do to help us safely transport your students.
DATE:
April 17, 2025
TO:
All Administrators
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness Consultant
SUBJECT:
Important MHAP Updates
Due to changes in funding, the following updates to the Mental Health Access Program (MHAP) will take place in the spring and summer of 2025.
If you have any questions, please reach out to McKinley Withers (mckinley.withers@jordandistrict.org, 88245) or Kevin Mossel (kevin.mossel@jordandistrict.org).
TO:
Administrators
Administrative Assistants
FROM:
Bonnie Brennan, Director of Insurance Services
We have a new process to report your volunteer hours. You will click on the link below to start the process. Use your district email address as your account. You will need to answer each of the questions before it will let you submit your report. If you don't have any hours to report in one of the categories you must enter a "0". We have listed many of the common programs that the amazing volunteers have taken on in the past. If there is another activity that is not listed, please click on "other" and provide more details.
Once you have all of the information added to the form, click "Submit" at the bottom and you are done. This report is due by Friday, May 2nd.
We hope this process makes your job a little easier. If you have any questions, please contact Bonnie Brennan (801) 567-8285, bonnie.brennan@jordandistrict.org.
TO:
Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Chris Richards-Khong, Associate Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Utah State Board of Education and the AP Program invite interested AP educators to a day of observation and collaboration this summer at Salt Lake City’s AP Reading event on Monday, June 2nd from 8:00am-4:00pm (breakfast available starting at 7:00am).
During the event, AP educators will get the opportunity to participate in a variety of immersive experiences that showcase the rigorous assessment scoring and calibration process that takes place at our AP readings. Breakfast and lunch will be provided for the day.
The event is open to AP teachers of all subject areas and AP district administrators who are interested in learning about how participation in AP Assessment Reading events can benefit their AP staff and students. Below is a list of the subjects that will be having assessment readings in Salt Lake City:
Art and Design
Art History
Comparative Government and Politics
English Literature
Research (current & prospective teachers are welcome to fill out the form)
Seminar (current & prospective teachers are welcome to fill out the form)
US Government and Politics
Please encourage any interested educators to fill out the interest form no later than Friday, April 25th. They will have a max capacity for each subject, so they will be reviewing all interested attendees and ensuring that they have a diverse number of schools, districts, and experience levels in the final attendee list. If they are not able to accommodate you, they will create a wait list and notify you of any last-minute opportunities as they arise.
The reading will take place at the Salt Palace Convention Center, SLC.
TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants
FROM:
Steffany Ellsworth, Support Services Manager
Please see the document below.
DATE:
April 17, 2025
TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
Panorama Survey Coordinators
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
SUBJECT:
Spring Panorama Student Feedback Surveys
The spring Panorama Student Feedback Survey window is Friday April 18, 2025 through Friday May 16, 2025.
Panorama (Early Warning System) and social-emotional surveys may only be administered to students whose parents have opted-in. Parents are asked to opt-in to the student feedback survey during the registration process. When the online registration process closes schools should manually enter the opt-in information into Skyward. Student opt-in lists are provided to Panorama prior to survey administration along with a mid-window upload will also occur.
The following information is provided to inform and assist you as you administer student feedback surveys:
Survey coordinators and administrators should view the Administering Panorama Survey presentation for information, instructions, and guidance regarding the student feedback surveys. Other Panorama information may be found on the Student Serves website here.
Other survey information including the Spring survey window may be found here.
Should you have any questions please reach out to Travis Hamblin (travis.hamblin@jordandistrict.org) or Michelle Reyes (michelle.reyes@jordandistrict.org).
TO:
Principals and Department Heads
FROM:
Mike Haynes - Director, Jordan Education Foundation
Outstanding ESP nominations are open! Is there someone in your school or department who goes the extra mile? Someone who works behind the scenes making everyone else's job easier? Nominate them today for Jordan Education Foundation's annual ESP Awards. To submit a nomination, go to our website: Education Support Professional Recognition
Nominations close on April 30th, so get your nominations in today!
DATE:
Thursday, April 17, 2025
TO:
Middle and High 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: Effective Collaborative Practices in Transition (Secondary) IEP Meetings: A General Educator’s Perspective
Applicant: Christopher Liechty, Grand Canyon University
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 and to solicit your participation in a survey. 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.
Your teachers will receive an email invitation to participate in either a survey or interview that will solicit information about how they collaborate as part of an IEP meeting.
Thank you for your assistance.
DATE:
Thursday, April 17, 2025
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: Exploration of the Male Student Achievement Gap
Applicant: Korie Bellamy, Weber State University
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 and to solicit your participation in a survey. 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 research will involve 20-minute one-on-one interviews with language arts, math, science and social studies teachers.
Thank you for your assistance.
DATE:
April 14, 2025
TO:
All Principals
All Budget Directors
FROM:
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Daniel Ellis, Director of Accounting, Budgets & Audits
April Gaydosh, Administrator, Human Resources
Steffany Ellsworth, Manager, Information Systems
Bonnie Brennan, Director of Insurance Services
Sarah Palmer, Director of Payroll
Kurt Prusse, Director of Purchasing
SUBJECT:
Year-End Processing Deadlines
Please observe the attached critical deadlines regarding the financial year-end processes for the 2024-25 year. Please review these dates as they could have a major effect on your location’s ability to operate.
DATE:
April 2025
TO:
High School Principals, Assistant Principals, Counselors and Registrars
FROM:
C. Brad Sorensen, Administrator of Schools
Stacee Worthen, Secondary Counseling Specialist
Jacinto Peterson, Principal, Valley High School
SUBJECT:
Critical Dates Regarding 24-credit Diploma through Valley High School
Counselors and students planning to graduate with a 24-credit diploma from Valley High School need to be aware of the following date/deadlines:
May 12, 2025
Names of all students planning to graduate with a 24-credit diploma must be submitted to Jacinto Peterson, Principal of Valley High School.
All students who are planning to walk at Valley High School’s graduation ceremony need to contact Jostens at 1-800-JOSTENS immediately to order the Valley High School cap and gown package. If they have previously ordered from their boundary school, Jostens will help them with the cancellation and reorder of Valley High School colors.
May 19, 2025
Deadline for official transfer of student to Valley High School. All transfer students must have credits complete and transcripts reviewed by their boundary school before transfer is submitted, and student is withdrawn from their boundary school. Valley High School registrar will complete all transfers on May 22nd.
May 28, 2025
All students who are planning to walk during the Valley High School Graduation Ceremony must attend one of the following meetings at Valley High:
12:30 p.m. or 3:30 p.m.
Each meeting will be approximately one hour. Students will not be allowed to walk with fellow graduates if they do not attend one of these meetings. Caps and gowns will be distributed at the end of this mandatory meeting.
June 3, 2025
Valley High School Graduation Ceremony 9:00 a.m.
Real Salt Lake Training Academy
Zion’s Bank Stadium, REAL Academy (14787 Academy Parkway, Herriman, UT)
June 4, 2025
Students who do not wish to attend the graduation ceremony may pick up their diploma at Valley High School.
Please make note of these important dates and ensure they are communicated to students who are planning to use this option.
*Attached are instructions and the application for a 24-credit diploma through Valley High School.
TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants
FROM:
Mike Haynes - Director, Jordan Education Foundation
The Challenge Obstacle Run is a family-friendly fundraising obstacle course run open to all ages and created to make a difference in Jordan District Classrooms! Sponsored by local businesses and Jordan Education Foundation, 100% of proceeds go directly toward Classroom Grants benefiting students & teachers in Jordan District!
The Challenge Run is open to the community with participation from all of our schools. Teachers can run free by registering with the promo code "Teacher2025."
The run begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 10 and ends with a (free), fun family festival with lots of free giveaways. You can participate in any one of the events (Obstacle Run, Festival, Fundraising) or in all three! Bring your family, friends, and neighbors for a super fun day!
Come see what all the fun is about! For more details and to register online, please visit jefchallenge.org.
