Jordan School District
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.
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:
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Date:
February 19, 2026
To:
All Administrators, All Admin Assistants
From:
Steffany Ellsworth, Support Services Manager, Information Systems
Subject:
New Information Systems Website and Qmlativ Training Resources
In an effort to enhance our website, the Information Systems Gateway has officially moved to a new home: is.jordandistrict.org. Please update any bookmarks you may have. Our website has been redesigned to be more user-friendly and serve as a hub for our training resources, especially as we prepare to migrate to Qmlativ.
What’s New?
The updated site includes a dedicated section for Qmlativ Training Resources, including:
What’s Not So New?
As always, don’t hesitate to contact our Information Systems help desk with any technology questions or concerns at (801) 567-8737 or extension 88737.
TO:
Administrators
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language and Culture Services
Dates of Observance: February 17, 2026 to March 19, 2026
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. It lasts 29-30 days, depending on the sighting of the moon. Fasting from dawn until sunset is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. It involves abstaining from food, drink, and other physical needs. It is a time for spiritual growth, increased devotion, and worship.
This guide can assist with ways you can accommodate students while they observe Ramadan.
Supporting students during Ramadan involves understanding their needs and creating an inclusive and respectful school environment. By fostering awareness and making accommodations, schools can ensure that all students feel valued and respected during this significant time.
TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants
FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources
Rebecca Eastman, HR Generalist
If you are a contracted employee (Benefit eligible) and need to take Annual/Personal Leave on a Critical Day before or after Spring 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.orgEducation 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 |
| Spring Recess Licensed |
March 31- April 3, 2026 | March 27 and April 6, 2026 | Feb. 14 – Feb. 24, 2026 |
| Spring Recess
ESP |
April 2-3, 2026 | March 27 and April 6, 2026 | Feb. 16 – Feb. 26, 2026 |
*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.
TO:
Elementary Principals
Other Administrators
FROM:
JAESP
Congratulations to the following Jordan School District elementary principals, assistant principal and Administrator of Schools administrative assistant on the following awards.
JAESP is thankful to these individuals for their hard work and dedication to education. We are also grateful for each person who took time to submit a nomination.
Bryce Eardley - Jordan Association of Elementary School Principals National Distinguished Principal
Amber Allen - Jordan Association of Elementary School Principals National Distinguished Assistant Principal
Shannel Hooper - Jordan Association of Elementary School Principals Secretary of the Year
Nick Hansen - Student Advocate Principal of the Year
Angie Hamilton - Instructional Leader of the Year
Megan Cox - Principal Mentor of the Year
Natalie Gleave - Rookie of the Year
Abe Yospe - Innovator of the Year
Garett York - Community Leader of the Year
Bobbie Nixon - School Improvement Leader of the Year
TO:
District Office Personnel
Specialty School Principals
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
The purpose of the Curriculum Advisory Committee is to provide transparency and understanding in reviewing current primary instructional materials and to provide feedback to the Board in anticipation of adopting new primary instructional materials. See DE501
The membership of this committee is determined by policy and includes parents, teachers, and administrators. The current committee is planning to meet on March 3rd, 2026.
This is a reminder to all departments that any curricular materials that may be considered for use districtwide as primary instructional materials (except as listed below) should be presented to the committee for initial review before an RFP or an adoption by the Jordan Board of Education. This includes software programs for assessment and instruction used districtwide by students, e.g. Star Reading; Canvas; Mastery Connect; Amira, etc.
Primary Instructional Materials are defined in policy as: learning materials that a local school board adopts and approves for use districtwide for student instruction and assessment. Primary instructional materials do not include learning materials used to teach specific electives, concurrent enrollment, advanced placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Dual Language Immersion (DLI), and technical education (CTE) courses.
Please contact Carolyn Gough if you have questions about curriculum adoption or if your department is contemplating an adoption within the 2026-2027 school year.
To:
All Administrators
FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources
Jane Olsen, Human Resources Specialist
Your JSD Human Resources Department is pleased to announce this week's new openings for Education Support Professionals (ESP) positions across the district. We will frequently post highlights in JEM.
Please share this information with anyone you think may be interested in these positions. This does not reflect all ESP positions posted within the last week, only a select number of featured positions.
Here is a brief description of the new ESP vacancies posted this week:
Each posted position has specific criteria and due dates. To see the complete list of vacancies and to apply, click this link: Jordan School District - Frontline Recruitment
Thank you for your continued dedication to Jordan School District students and families!
Jordan School District Human Resources
TO:
All Administrator
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language & Culture Services
Language & Culture Services is providing another opportunity for you to become certified as a District Interpreter. This course is for employees at the school level that have been hired to be interpreters in the front office, classroom, or for conferences. Through HB 302, a legislative bill passed in Utah to strengthen family engagement in education, this bill focuses on the need for schools to effectively communicate with parents and guardians so they can fully participate in their child’s education.
Join us March 6th 8-3 p.m.
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 February 2026.
TO:
Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Chris Richards-Khong, Staff Assistant of Teaching and Learning
The Jordan Teacher Fellows Inaugural Exhibition
Professional Development Day: April 17, 2026
1:00 - 3:00 pm
Jordan Learning Center 3706 West 9800
South Jordan, Utah 84009
This distinctive JSD Professional Development Day session offers a brief Keynote and then features opportunities to engage with each Teacher Fellow educator who will share their action project findings in an exhibition fair style format. Please join us for this signature collegial event; providing time to connect around practice and enjoy refreshments.
The Jordan Teacher Fellows is composed of competitively selected educators who form the first-of-a-kind cohort conducting a deep dive within the 6 Roles of a Utah Teacher Leader. Building from these experiences, the Teacher Fellows have launched action projects which are directed toward benefitting their school or our district.
This opportunity has been provided by the Teaching and Learning Department with the support of The Jordan Education Foundation and the USBE MASTER pilot grant. The Teacher Fellows programming aligns with the pillar of High Quality Instruction within our Jordan School District Strategic Plan. For more information about JSD Teacher Fellows see https://teacherfellows.jordandistrict.org/
Teacher Leader Facilitators:
Brooke Anderson, Jordan Data Scientist
Kierra Beddes, Digital Teaching & Learning
Shlori Daniels, Instructional Coach
Jordan Teacher Fellows:
Tamara Baggett, Riverside Elementary
Jill Bodine, Secondary Math Specialist
Rae Boren, Copper Hills High School
Melissa Brunke, Aspen Elementary
Michael Draut, West Hills Middle School
Amy Geilman, West Jordan Middle School
Jessica Hacking,Foothills Elementary
Christina Jacobs, MTSS Specialist
Kyle Jensen, Copper Hills High School
Lay Kou, Southland Elementary
Xin Lou, Eastland Elementary
Lucia Martin Garcia, Herriman Elementary
Holli Mattingly, Copper Canyon
Haley McCall, Aspen Elementary
Kami Mecham, Jordan Ridge Elementary
Cassen Williams, Antelope Canyon Elementary
TO:
All Administrators
FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources
Jordan School District is seeking a Director of Special Education to provide strategic leadership and comprehensive program management. This role involves overseeing policy implementation, ensuring Federal/State IDEA compliance, and managing talent and budgets. The Director will also spearhead professional development while fostering strong collaboration between staff, parents, and external agencies.
The successful candidate will have:
- A professional educator license in "School Leadership"
- Prior administration experience preferred
- A minimum of 5 years of teaching experience
- An excellent knowledge of State/Federal rules/regulation related to IDEA
Submit your online application and all required documents by February 15, 2026. Visit https://hr.jordandistrict.org/apply/ to apply. (Job ID 13765)
TO:
Administrators & Directors
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Chris Richards-Khong, Staff Assistant of Teaching & Learning
Each year education organizations and individuals are selected based upon their exemplary efforts in building student resilience in their schools, homes, and communities. The Education Tribute Award is a prestigious honor presented annually by the state-wide program ResilientYOU.
The Education Tribute Award nominations need to be completed online no later than March 15, 2026. For Questions text Barbara Smith 801-560-6511 or email baarbaarasmith@gmail.com
Find the nomination form at resilientyou.org/nominate.
Nomination categories include:
High School
Middle School
Elementary School
Administrator
Secondary School Teacher
Elementary School Teacher
Wellness Professional
Parenting Organization
*School nominations are for school-wide programs and efforts. Please don't feature individuals if you are nominating their school.
Awards will be announced and delivered to each school location by a member of the ResilientYOU Board during “Resilient Utah Month” in April 2026. The recipients will be announced on social media, other channels and educational networks. Recipients will also be honored at a special awards event called the ResilientYOU Spectacular in April.
TO:
Administrators
FROM:
Brad Sorensen, Administrator of High Schools
Jason Skidmore, CTE Director
Follow along as Jordan CTE celebrates Career & Technical Education Month in February 2026.
Throughout February we will highlight our dedicated Jordan School District CTE educators, CTSO's, local industry leaders, and share amazing CTE student stories.
DATE:
February 5, 2026
TO:
All Administrators
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education
Caleb Olson, Enrollment Consultant, Student Services
Melanie Dawson, Program Administrator of Behavior
SUBJECT:
Emergency Safety Interventions (ESI) Documenting and Reporting
In January there were two different memos sent about how to document an ESI. This information was discussed in the December principals meeting. Because there is a difference on how to retain documentation for a student in special education versus a student in general education, it was decided to create one memo for all students. This memo replaces both previous memos.
In accordance with the rules and guidelines provided in the Least Restrictive Behavior Intervention (LRBI) Technical Assistance Manual (2023) as well as guidance from the Utah State Legislature (R277-608 and 53G-8-301), the following is updated guidance on the use and reporting requirements of Emergency Safety Interventions (ESIs), including reporting requirements in Jordan School District.
What is an Emergency Safety Intervention?
Emergency Safety Intervention or ‘ESI’ is the use of seclusion or physical restraint when a student presents an immediate danger to self or others. An ESI is not used for disciplinary purposes. ESIs are emergency measures of last resort to prevent imminent serious harm to an individual in a school setting. Even in these circumstances, ESIs should be avoided if less restrictive means of managing the student’s behavior and ensuring safety are available.
How do I provide notification of the use of an Emergency Safety Intervention?
How do I submit Emergency Safety Intervention documentation?
Please refer to the Jordan School District Emergency Safety Interventions Manual or contact a member of the JBAT team for more information.
