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TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants

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


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

How to Request

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

Licensed employees submit their request to licensedpersonalleave@jordandistrict.org

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

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

School Holiday Date of Holiday Critical Days Window
Martin Luther King

 Licensed & ESP

January 19, 2026 Jan. 16 and 21, 2026 Dec. 5 – Dec. 15, 2025

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

Licensed Annual/Personal Leave Taken on a Critical Day 2025-2026

ESP Annual/Personal Leave Taken on a Critical Day 2025-2026

TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants

FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources
Brittany Bauer, HR Specialist


Dear Educators,

We are pleased to inform you of recent updates from the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) that will streamline the process for teachers to upgrade their current licenses to include grades 6-12. This change aims to offer educators more opportunities to enhance their teaching credentials and broaden their influence in schools.

Eligibility and Requirements

Teachers with a qualifying professional license in Elementary, Early Childhood, Deaf Education, Preschool Special Education, and Special Education areas can now add the Secondary (6-12) license by fulfilling the professional level endorsement requirements for a Content Area Endorsement or a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Endorsement.

Available Content Area Endorsements:

Below is a comprehensive list of eligible content area endorsements:

  • American Sign Language
  • Driver Education
  • Health Education
  • Library Media
  • Physical Education
  • Secondary Fine Arts (All areas)
  • English as a Second Language
  • English Language Arts
  • Literacy Interventionist
  • Middle School Mathematics (Formerly Math 2)
  • Secondary Mathematics
  • Science Core
  • Secondary Science: Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics
  • Social Studies (All Areas)
  • Social Studies Composite
  • World Languages
  • And many more within the CTE endorsements

Application Process

Group 1: Applying for Professional Level Endorsement

  • Educator Status: Holds a qualifying professional license and is applying for a Content Area or CTE professional-level endorsement.
  • Application Used: Updated "Endorsement Only" application in SM Apply.

Group 2: Already holds a Professional Level Endorsement

  • Educator Status: Holds a qualifying professional license and already has the required Content Area or CTE professional level endorsement.
  • Application Used: "LER Upgrade to Professional” application in SM Apply.

We encourage all eligible educators to take advantage of this opportunity to enhance their teaching credentials. For further information, please visit the USBE website or contact Brittany Bauer at brittany.bauer@jordandistrict.org or 801-567-8214.

Thank you for your continued dedication to education and for making a positive difference in the lives of our students.

 

TO:
School Building Administrators

FROM:
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language & Culture Services


TESOL stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and it is a national organization that will be hosting its conference here in Salt Lake March 24-27, 2026. While the department does not have funds to send teachers, we encourage building administrators to at least send your ELD lead to this impactful conference to take information back to your school. You can learn more about the conference at this website.

TO:
All Administrators
Licensed Educators
ESPs

FROM:
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language & Culture Services


The Language & Culture Services team has a few spots open for Spanish for Educators. Their goal is to provide tools and resources for classroom teachers so that they can sharpen Spanish skills, whether this is their first time being exposed to Spanish or they learned in high school, LCS encourages all educators who have students that speak Spanish to take this 5 week course from DLI educators.

The course is 5 weeks long. Select one from two remaining sessions:

  • Session 3 Jan. 5 - Feb. 10, 2026
  • Session 4  Feb. 23 - March 23, 2026  is available for learning.
  • Classes will be held from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
  • Locations:  Bingham High on Tuesdays | West Jordan High on Wednesdays | Mountain Ridge High on Thursdays

Please complete the registration form at the link below, to help us gauge interest.  Classes are for licensed educators only.

TO:
Administrators

FROM:
Megan Cox (Rose Creek)
Garett York (Southland)
Jessica Stowe (Bastian)
Ronna Hoffman (Oak Leaf)


Each year, the Utah Association of Elementary School Principals (UAESP) gives the Jordan Association of Elementary School Principals (JAESP) the opportunity to celebrate elementary principals for the great work they are doing in their schools. The categories are:

  • Distinguished Principal of the Year
  • Distinguished Assistant Principal of the Year
  • Rookie of the Year
  • Innovator of the Year
  • Community Leader of the Year
  • Student Advocate Principal of the Year
  • Instructional Leader of the Year
  • Principal Mentor of the Year

If you feel that an elementary principal or assistant principal has done exceptional work, we invite you to nominate them for an award by using on the link below.

This survey closes on Dec. 10, 2025 at 11:59 pm.

Date: Dec. 4, 2025

To: All Administrators, All Admin Assistants

From: Steffany Ellsworth, Support Services Manager, Information Systems


Information Systems is excited to announce a significant step in enhancing the District’s operational technology: the upgrade to Skyward’s Qmlativ Student Management System. Mark your calendar, as Qmlativ Student will go live on July 19, 2027. As a reminder, the team is currently in the process of migrating the finance system to Skyward Qmlativ, with a scheduled go-live date of May 4, 2026, as announced previously in this JAM.

The adoption of Qmlativ Student will modernize how we manage student data and daily processes with a more integrated and user-friendly platform. Take a moment to preview the robust features offered in Qmlativ by watching this brief overview:

With Qmlativ Student, district departments and school staff will experience:

  • Enhanced Data Accessibility: Easily find, filter, and extract critical student information, allowing for faster, more insightful reporting.
  • Intuitive User Experience: The modern, clean interface is designed to simplify daily tasks, making student management more seamless than ever before.
  • Personalized Workspaces: Customizable dashboards will allow staff to prioritize the student data and functions most relevant to their specific roles.
  • Greater Adaptability: Navigate scheduling, grading, attendance, and record-keeping with increased flexibility.

Further information regarding timeline and training will be shared as Information Systems moves forward with our implementation. In the meantime, if you have any immediate questions, please reach out to the Information Systems helpdesk at 801-567-8737 or use extension 88737.

TO:
School Administrators
School Office Staff

FROM:
Katie Bastian, Director Nutrition Services


Nutrition Services with the help of the Accounting Department has created a process for schools to now accept student meal deficit donations by credit card to the School Window estore. A flyer is included with a link and QR code to assist with the donations at either a school or district level.

DATE:
August 5, 2025

TO:
All Administrators
All Financial Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Dr. Anthony Godfrey, Superintendent of Schools
John Larsen, Business Administrator

SUBJECT:
Staff Appreciation Funds (formerly known as Staff Discretionary Funds)


As a reminder, Staff Appreciation Funds have been allocated for all staff members (both licensed and ESP) for snacks, meals, etc. in conjunction with Professional Development. Please see the attached memo for budgeting and other helpful information on utilizing these funds.

 

DATE:     
November 26, 2025

TO: 
All Principals, Directors and Supervisors

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

SUBJECT:  
DP375 – Vacation Schedule for Administrative Personnel


Clarification of administrator vacation days carryover:

  • Administrators receive 20 frontloaded vacation days on July 1st of each year. These frontloaded days are earned throughout that current year.
  • Administrators may carryover up to 20 earned vacation days from the previous year. Any earned days over 20 not used by December 31st of each year will be forfeited.

Therefore, as of December 31, 2025, any unused vacation days above 40 days will be forfeited. These 40 days consist of the 20 days that were frontloaded on July 1, 2025 for the 2025-26 year, as well as up to 20 unused earned days that were allowed to be carried over from the previous 2024-25 year.

TO:
All Administrators

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


For educators currently in, or have completed, an School Leadership program who are interested in a one-year Paid Administrative Internship.

Additional details are below or, you can visit our website at this LINK

APPLICATION WINDOWS:

  • January Interviews: Application opens December 8, 2025 and closes December 22, 2025 at 11:59 P.M.
    • Interview Date: January 30, 2026
  • February Interviews: Application opens January 5, 2026 and closes January 16, 2026 at 11:59 P.M.
    • Interview Date: February 23, 2026

ELIGIBILITY:

  • Be enrolled in a university administrative and/or leadership program,
    OR
  • Have a current in-state or out-of-state administrative license.

STEP 1: Complete the current Administrative Full-Time Paid Internship application in Frontline                 

  • In the application, you are required to provide 3 references, which must meet the following criteria:
    1. Current Administrative Supervisor
    2. 2nd Administrator with whom you have worked with in the last 5 years
    3. A professional reference with whom you have worked with in the last 5 years
      • Your application will not be processed until all 3 required references are completed and returned.
      • All your references will receive an email from Mailbot@applitrack.com requesting they complete our Administrative Reference Form on your behalf. It is important you personally notify them to complete and submit the Administrative Reference Form ASAP.
  • The video portion of the application is required. Please make certain links can be viewed by anyone who has the link.

STEP 2: Invitation to Interview. Administrative Internship applicants may be invited to an interview in January or February. This is a mandatory, in-person interview with the Administrative Cabinet. These interviews will be held on either Monday or Friday to accommodate travel plans for any out-of-state applicants.

Offer and Placement of Successful Candidates: These notifications will be made by phone from a member of the Administrative Cabinet. Candidates who receive a 1-year internship assignment will be invited to apply for and be interviewed in May/November for the Administrative Pool.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

  • Administrative Internships are intended to be a one-year placement
  • Administrative Internships are a 187-day contract on the Teacher Salary Schedule
    • Elementary placements receive 20 additional days
    • Secondary placements receive 10 additional days
  • Internal JSD candidates chosen as an intern will have the right to return to a licensed position for which they are qualified at the conclusion of their intern year if not selected for an Administrative placement.

 

TO:
All Administrators

FROM:
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language & Culture Services


The Jordan Ethnic Advisory Committee and Language and Culture Services cannot wait to see you at the annual What I Wish You Knew Conference. This year, the theme is "Our Stories Matter."

This year the conference will be highlighting and showcasing leadership from our wonderful District departments. Please come to learn from our Keynote from author, Kyle Reyes, Author of Lenses of Humanity.

  • Where: West Jordan Middle School
  • Time: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
  • Date: Jan. 20, 2026

DATE:   
November 20, 2025

TO:   
All District Administrators

FROM:   
Anthony Godfrey, Superintendent
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director, Student Services
Caleb Olson, Enrollment Consultant, Student Services

SUBJECT: 
November 2025: Compliance with Utah’s Government Data Privacy Act


Utah’s Government Data Privacy Act (or GDPA, found in code at §63A-19) sets standards for the use and protection of employee and patron data collected and used by a governmental entity. The standards of the GDPA build on, but do not replace, existing protections for student data as found in state law (§53E-9) and federal law (FERPA and PPRA).

The GDPA requires the implementation of a privacy program across each governmental entity, with deadlines as soon as December 31, 2025. Jordan District will establish a committee to create and implement this privacy program. The committee will be under the direction of Caleb Olson, Enrollment Consultant in Student Services.

ACTION REQUIRED: The GDPA requires that all employees who "have access to personal data was part of the employee's work duties; or supervise an employee who has access to personal data” receive an annual training. In future years, this training will be included as part of Crucial Concerns; however, for this year’s compliance, each school and department will need to view the eight-minute training video prepared by the state Office of Data Privacy, which is linked below, prior to winter break and report both A) completion of this requirement, and B) the number of employees who viewed the training on the spreadsheet also linked below.

A scheduled group viewing in an upcoming faculty or department meeting is likely the easiest way to complete this requirement.

The GDPA defines “personal data” as “information that is linked or can be reasonably linked to an identified individual or an identifiable individual” (§63A-19-101-24). Not every employee in a location will need to watch the video - many hourly employees in departments like Nutrition Services, Auxiliary Services, or site-based hourly custodial employees likely do not have access to “personal data” and can be excused from viewing at this time. Supervisors with questions may contact Caleb Olson (caleb.olson@jordandistrict.org or x88251).

Your cooperation with this requirement of the GDPA and with monitoring the JAM for future privacy program-related requirements and responsibilities is greatly appreciated.

TO:
School Principals

FROM:
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language & Culture Services


LCS will be hosting an additional Zoom session of Addressing Discriminatory Language: Resources for Administrators on December 3rd from 2:00 to 2:45. Administrators will receive access to Nearpods and other resources that can be used with students in one-on-one settings to help teach them the impact of discriminatory language.

Please review the attached flyer for more details and the registration link.

This is a repeat session of the Zoom sessions held on November 6 & 7.

TO:
Administrtors

FROM:
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language & Culture Services


Language & Culture Services will be starting new ESL Endorsement cohorts in Jan. 2026. It takes one school year to complete (Jan. -  Dec. 2026, not including summer break) and is competency-based.

  • Format: Hybrid - virtual modules with one in-person session per month.
  • Credit options: USBE credit (free) or SUU credit ($69 per course). Both credit options can be applied towards a lane-change. Participants will receive 15 credits (3 per course) and 1 more USBE Credit upon completion of a Capstone Portfolio.

TO:
Administrtors

FROM:
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language & Culture Services


Due to popular demand, and in accordance with Title III laws and policy, Language & Culture Services would like to hold another interpreter training to get staff and paraeducators certified. LCS will provide this free training if there is enough interest. LCS is considering a March 6 training, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants will receive 7 relicensure points.

Please fill out the form at the link below by Dec. 12, so that LCS can plan accordingly.

DATE:    
November 19, 2025

TO:       
School and Department Administrators

FROM:         
Scott Thomas, Administrator of Auxiliary Services
Paul Bergera, Director of Transportation
Kitt Soumpholphakdy, Field/Activity Trips Coordinator
Brad Godfrey, General Education Route Coordinator
Stephanie Erickson, Special Education Route Coordinator

SUBJECT:   
A Few Transportation Items


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

Bus Accidents During Field/Activity Trips:

On rare occasions during field/activity trips, the bus may be involved in an accident. By law, if the accident involves another vehicle, we’re required to wait for police to investigate and submit an accident report. In addition, whether the bus is involved with another vehicle or another object, it may result in the bus being classified as “out of service”, which would require students and coaches/advisors/teachers to board a different bus. In either of these cases, additional time may be required.

Please ask your staff to be patient if a bus is involved in an accident during a field/activity trip and not to pressure the driver to move along. The Field Trip Office will work expeditiously with the driver to determine if the bus is “out of service” and if police need to be involved.

Notification of Student Conduct Violation Forms:

Our bus drivers try their best to manage student behavior on the bus. Many of you have provided invaluable assistance with addressing behavior by talking with students, assigning seats and/or working with the driver on strategies to support a school behavior reward/incentive program. For this, we are extremely grateful.

When a driver submits a Notification of Student Conduct Violation form to your office staff, please try your best to address the issue(s) with students and parents as quickly as time allows. Feel free to reach out to the Route Coordinators or Director with questions. Your support and partnership in this endeavor are appreciated.

 

DATE:   
November 17, 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:  
December School Psychologist Guidance Meeting


A meeting for school psychologists and school psychology interns has been scheduled for Friday, December 5, 2025, from 12:00 to 3:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Jordan Auxiliary Services building located at 7905 South Redwood Road in West Jordan. We will start at 12:00 p.m. with a pot-luck lunch. You have the option of participating in our pot-luck luncheon, or bringing lunch for yourself if that’s your preference. Dan Lathen, Ph.D. will provide us with a presentation that addresses screen-induced harm.

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

cc:
Principals

TO:
Principals

FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education
Brian King, Ph.D., Assistant Director of Special Education
Mike Trimmell, Ed.D., Special Education Administrator


Attached is the Special Ed Newsletter for November 2025.