Category: Other Administrators

TO:
Administrators

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning Department
Chris Richards-Khong, Associate Administrator of Teaching and Learning

The Jordan Teacher Leader Fellows program is searching for sixteen educators from a variety of teaching experiences. During their 2-year cohort, Teacher Leader Fellows will earn an annual $1500 stipend while engaging in a variety of professional learning experiences focused on teacher leadership skills and educational advocacy.
Check out our website for more details about the JSD Teacher Fellows Program at https://teacherfellows.jordandistrict.org

Applications close on May 15th, 2026.

Jordan District Teacher Fellows Application Link.

Date:
March 26, 2026

To:
All Administrators
All Office Staff

From:
Steffany Ellsworth, Manager - Information Systems

Subject:
Scheduled System Downtime - June 15, 2026 (Juneteenth Holiday)

Please be aware of an upcoming critical system maintenance that will affect the availability of internet and core Skyward systems for the entirety of the day Monday, June 15th (Juneteenth Holiday).

The following systems will be inaccessible during the entire maintenance window:

● Skyward Systems (Finance and Student)

● Phone Systems, Including Voicemail

● Internet Connectivity

● Department and School Websites

Systems will be restored once the maintenance is finalized and assessed. Thank you for your patience as we complete these essential improvements to our systems and its stability.

DATE:
April 2, 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 April’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.
• Ask a Therapist live virtual event is an anonymous opportunity to ask questions from a licensed family therapist about your child’s mental health. It is a live event on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 with access to the recording afterwards. Registration Link: https://cookcenter.info/ATLApr21
• 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.
  • April Event: Together, teens and parents will watch an animated story about Danny. After surviving a fire that left him physically changed, Danny feels like he’s lost the life he once had. This session opens a powerful discussion on body image, grief, and one's mental health after trauma. In this interactive session, parents and teens will cover the role of validation, practical coping strategies, and how to build a support team.
  • Wednesday, April 8, 2026 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.

April 2026 Parent Guidance

4 PG.org MHSP Calendar – MT English

4 PG.org MHSP Calendar – MT Spanish

ATL Flyer Image

TO:
Administrators and Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Sarah Palmer, Director of Payroll

IMPORTANT: Payroll Deadlines & Skyward Qmlativ Transition

Jordan School District is upgrading the payroll, finance, and HR system from Skyward SMS to Skyward Qmlativ. To facilitate this data migration, there will be significant Skyward Finance downtime and several temporary, modified deadlines. Please review the schedule below carefully to ensure your time is recorded and paid correctly.

⏳ Payroll Phase 1: Closing Out Skyward SMS (April 19 – April 23)

All "True Time" data must be finalized before the migration. True Time that has not been fully approved and paid will not carry over to Qmlativ.

● April 19: Last day to enter/submit all True Time in Skyward SMS (for time worked through April 19).

● April 20: Last day for all approvers to approve True Time in Skyward SMS (TT that is not approved and paid will not carry over to Qmlativ and will not be available after this date).

● April 23 (Final SMS Payday): Contract pay, sub pay from April 1–15, and True Time through April 5 paid as usual.

○ Note: True Time for April 6–19 will also be paid on this check, resulting in a larger paycheck than usual.

○ Last day to enter/approve Time Off in Skyward SMS.

🛠️Payroll Phase 2: Skyward SMS available & Manual Tracking (April 24 – May 10)

The Skyward SMS system will be down during this window.

● April 20 – May 10: Employees must manually track True Time. A Google time card will be available on Payroll’s website (payroll.jordandistrict.org) for tracking TT on the home page, or each location can create their own. Employees will record this data into the new Qmlativ system once it opens on May 11.

● April 24 – May 5: Total Skyward Finance downtime for the Qmlativ transition.

● May 5: Payroll department data review (Qmlativ remains closed to end users).

● May 8: NO SEMI-MONTHLY PAYROLL FOR SUBS. Sub pay from April 16-30 is delayed until May 22 due to the transition.

🚀 Payroll Phase 3: Launching Skyward Qmlativ (May 11 – May 22)

Welcome to the new system! "True Time" is now officially called Time Tracking.

● May 11: Qmlativ opens for all users for Time Tracking and Time Off requests.

● May 12: Time Tracking first approvals due for Apr 20 - May 3

● May 13: Time Tracking final approvals due for Apr 20 - May 3

● May 22 (First Qmlativ Payday):

○ Time Tracking: Covers April 20 – May 3. Because previous time was paid early on April 23, this will be a smaller paycheck than usual.

○ Subs: Will receive a larger check covering April 16 – May 15 plus the April sub bonus.

Summary of Key Payroll Dates

Skyward Payroll Transition

Date:
March 16, 2026

To:
Applicable School Principals and Administrative Assistants
All Area Administrators of Schools and Administrative Assistants

From:
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Daniel Ellis, Director of Accounting and Audits
Natalie Grange, Accounting Administrator

Subject:
External Audit Visits

The external auditors (Squire & Company, PC) will be visiting the following schools on the dates indicated. They will be reviewing school fees (appropriate amount charged, waivers, etc.) and financial information. Once finished, the auditors will want a few minutes with the Principal. If the Principal is unavailable, an Assistant Principal may meet with them. The auditors are planning on coming to the schools in the order listed beginning around 8 am. Exact times of arrival will vary depending on length of stay at earlier schools and travel time. There will be two auditors going to different locations this year on Monday-Wednesday. If you have any questions or if your administrative assistant will not be available, please call Natalie Grange at (801) 567-8312.

April 27th-Monday:
Copper Hills HS
Copper Canyon ES
Antelope Canyon ES
Sunset Ridge MS

April 27th-Monday:
West Jordan HS
Joel P. Jensen MS
Columbia ES
Oquirrh ES

April 28th-Tuesday:
Herriman HS
Copper Mountain MS
Hayden Peak ES
Mt Shadows ES

April 28th-Tuesday:
Mt. Ridge HS
Juniper ES
Fort Herriman MS

April 29th-Wednesday:
Bingham HS
Elk Ridge MS
Aspen ES

April 29th-Wednesday:
Riverton HS
Oquirrh Hills MS
Hidden Valley MS

April 30th-Thursday:
Rocky Peak ES
Kelsey Peak MS
Kings Peak HS

Intradistrict memo on external audit visits 2026

DATE:
March 19, 2026

TO:
All Principals

FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Melanie Dawson, Program Administrator of Behavior

SUBJECT:
ETT: Principal Nomination for Spring Cohort

Effective Teacher Training (ETT) is available for a Spring 2026 cohort! We are seeking principal nominations for a portion of this session’s enrollment. If there is a licensed teacher in your building who you would like to take ETT, please complete the Principal Nomination Form by Tuesday, March 24th.

Enrollment will open to all teachers in the district on Thursday, March 26th, so spread the word to additional teachers in your building who would benefit from the class. Registration information will come out in a memo next week.

This course is designed for: All general education and special education teachers
Also welcome: Specialists, interventionists, and mental health providers
(Not available to ESPs)

Topics include:
Antecedents, behavior basics, class-wide and individual interventions, increasing academic effectiveness, data-based decision making, students with unique needs, and personal wellness.

Format:
This 7-week course will be offered online in an asynchronous format. Learners will engage with content and activities via Canvas. *Although pacing is flexible, participants must successfully complete the first module within the first week or their spot will go to someone on the waitlist.

1 USBE credit and a stipend is available to licensed employees who successfully complete the course and meet proficiency on all modules. The ETT stipend is $500.

Note for instructional coaches: You can request to be an observer in the course instead of registering as a learner. Please email taryn.cox@jordandistrict.org if you are interested.

ETT Principal Nomination

DATE:
March 19, 2026

TO:
All Principals
Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Jordan District Nurses

SUBJECT:
CPR/First Aid/AED Certification

As a reminder, Jordan School District requires that at least 3 full-time employees in each building be certified in CPR, First Aid, and AED. This spring is a great opportunity to ensure your school is in compliance and is ready for the start of the next school year.

Most certifications are valid for 2 years. It is recommended that employees who have direct responsibility for student health and safety be CPR/First Aid/AED certified. This may include front office staff, playground aides, hall monitors, P.E. teachers, etc. It is also recommended that you keep a list of current CPR/First Aid/AED certified staff members by all main phone lines where calls for emergency help may originate. A template will be shared with you.

CPR, First Aid, and AED training and certification is available to district employees in an online format through the National Safety Council (NSC). The attached document will outline the steps necessary to complete the online portion of the course. Information can also be accessed by going here: CPR & First Aid. The cost of the course is $29.95 and should be paid by the employee at the time of registration. Schools may provide reimbursement for the course, if funds are available, by following appropriate pre-approval and reimbursement procedures.

Once the online course is completed, employees may sign up to complete their certification by attending a 2-hour skills check session with our district nurses. To sign up for a skill check, you will need to register at Jordan Digital Learning under the CPR Alert Course. All skill checks must be completed within 90 days of sign-up for the online course. The remaining skills check sessions for the year are on Friday, April 10, 2026, and on Friday, May 8, 2026.

District Memo – CPR Course Reminder

DATE:
March 16th, 2026

TO:  
Principals
Assistant Principals
School Safety Specialists

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

SUBJECT:
April SRP Drill – Great Utah ShakeOut Earthquake Drill

Due to the timing of Spring Break, we will not be holding our monthly ZOOM meeting April 1, 2026.

On Thursday, April 16th 2026, at 10:15 A.M. a million Utahns will “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” in the annual Great Utah ShakeOut Earthquake Drill.

All schools are encouraged to participate in this drill during the designated time, or to conduct an earthquake drill sometime in the month of April.  This is an opportunity to incorporate emergency preparedness in classroom lessons and to include proper ways to protect oneself during an earthquake. There have not been any changes or updates to our earthquake procedures from the previous year.

The Jordan School District has registered as a whole to participate in the Great Utah ShakeOut.  You can find more information at: www.ShakeOut.org/Utah.

Please review the Jordan School District Safety Manual - Earthquake Action Plan and Standard Operating Guidelines on pages 28-31 for planning, drilling and responding to an earthquake.

For additional information or guidance please contact the District School Safety Coordinator, Matt Alvernaz at matt.alvernaz@jordandistrict.org or by phone at 801-567-8623.

March 2026 Great ShakeOut

To:  
All Principals

From:
Mike Anderson

Principals, please personally invite your School Community Council chair to attend this important meeting with the Jordan District Board Members.

Dear School Community Council Chair,

On behalf of the Jordan School District Board of Education, we invite you to the upcoming Jordan Parent Advisory Committee (JPAC) meeting. Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2026 Time: 6:30–8:00 pm Location: Jordan Learning Center, 3706 W. 9800 S., South Jordan (The Learning Center is located directly across the street from Elk Ridge Middle School).

Associate Superintendent Mike Anderson will present a Legislative Review, with important information about current bills impacting public education.

Your insights and participation are very important to us. If you are unable to attend, please ensure another parent representative from your School Community Council attends in your place.

We look forward to a productive meeting and to seeing you there!

TO:
Administrators
Custodial Staff

FROM:
Steven Peart, Director Custodial Services

Dear Custodial Staff and Supervisors,

We are thrilled to announce a special training opportunity aimed at enhancing our custodial practices and improving our building inspection scores. As Copper Hills High School celebrates its 31st anniversary, we acknowledge the hard work and dedication of their custodial team, who recently achieved an impressive 93.28% on the building inspection. This is a testament to their commitment, with an average score of 91% for the 2025-2026 school year. Let's continue this momentum and strive for even greater excellence!

Early Morning Walkthrough:

Join us for an early morning walkthrough to gain insights into the inspection process and learn techniques to elevate your team's performance. We will demonstrate how to consistently achieve scores in the high 80s and 90s.

• Date: Friday, March 20th
• Time: 5:00 AM
• Location: Copper Hills High School, 5445 W. Copper Hills Parkway (7800 South), West Jordan

We understand the early start, but this timing allows us to view the building after cleaning and before public access. Your participation is vital for understanding the inspection criteria and achieving exceptional results.

May Custodial Workshop:

All Head Custodians please mark your calendars for an informative workshop where we will explore the use of School AI to enhance your professional documentation skills and discuss essential topics such as summer cleaning and equipment maintenance.

• Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
• Time: 8:30 AM
• Location: Transportation Building, 4361 W 8480 S, West Jordan, UT 84088

During this workshop, you'll learn how to leverage School AI for creating evaluation documents, drafting letters of recommendation for promotions, and preparing job action documentation. This session is designed to empower you with tools and strategies to support your career progression and improve custodial operations.

We look forward to your active participation in these events, which are integral to our commitment to maintaining a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for our students and staff.

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.

Mentor Training JAM Memo – Spring 2026 – Amanda Bollinger

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.

SchoolAI Canvas Sidekick For Students

TO:
Principals

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

Attached is the Special Ed Newsletter for March 2026.

March SpEd Newsletter

TO:
All Administrators

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

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.

2026 March Guidance Meeting JAM – Travis Hamblin.docx

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. 

• Ask a Therapist live virtual event is an anonymous opportunity to ask questions from a licensed family therapist about your child’s mental health. It is a live event on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 with access to the recording afterwards. Registration Link: https://cookcenter.info/ATLMar24

• 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.

MARCH 2026 Parent Guidance JAM – Travis Hamblin.docx