Category: Other Admin Info

Greetings Utah Educators and Leaders!

I hope you are all well and enjoying the fleeting last weeks of the “New Now” school year.  It has been absolutely marvelous to see all of the amazing work that Utah educators are doing to support their students and communities.  Every time I get out of the house for a drive as a break from isolation, I am blissfully berated by beautiful signs, posters, and balloons supporting both students and teachers.  It is a bright spot in my day and makes me smile as I reflect on the monumental work you are all doing.

Last Thursday, the Utah State Board of Education approved five educator licensing rules/amendments; this also makes me smile!  Thanks to feedback from LEAs, educator preparation programs, and educators, we have made some modifications to the pending licensing structure.  I have linked each of the rules’ draft if you want to look at the precise language.  For your convenience in these busy times, I have provided a shortlist of the changes within each rule.

R277-301 – Educator Licensing

• Communication Disorders license area now called: Audiologist
• Associate Educator Licenses, License Areas, or Endorsements are valid for THREE years, with a one-year extension available.
• Currently licensed educators who apply to add an Associate Educator License Area, do not need to complete the Canvas Pedagogical Modules.
• Applicants with an educator license from out-of-state and at least one year of teaching may waive the content knowledge (PRAXIS) and pedagogical assessment requirements.
• LEA-Specific licenses may be granted in special education and preschool special education license areas provided the LEA meets other requirements for LEA-Specific licensure and provides educator special education law training within the first month of employment.
• Eminence License rules outlined, moved from R277-309.

R277-302 – Educator License Renewal

• Professional educator licenses may be renewed with 100 points in four categories:  professional learning experiences, educator collaboration opportunities, professional service, and alternate learning opportunities.  Note that teaching experience is no longer an option for points’ accrual.  Please see the rule for more details.  Resources and renewal forms from USBE are forthcoming.
• LEAs are required to provide a minimum of 20 points/hours of professional learning to educators each year.
• Professionally licensed educators may choose to use the current renewal system (200 points including teaching experience points) until June 30, 2025.

R277-303 – Teacher Preparation Programs

• An Alternate Pathway to Professional Educator Licensure (APPEL) program may be developed by and individual LEA or a consortium of LEAs.

R277-306 – EPPs for School Psychologists, Audiologists, SLPs, SLTs, and Counselors

• School Counselor license area requires a master’s degree in school counseling or a master’s degree in a related field and a licensure program.

R277-309 – Appropriate Licensing of Teachers

• Eminence License rules removed and moved to R277-301.

R277-500 – Licensing Renewal (REPEALED)

As we move into “The Near Future,” services are becoming more available; educator-related services are included!  Specifically, fingerprinting services and testing services are now opening!  Hooray!!!

Some fingerprinting locations have started processing fingerprints on a limited basis.  Please encourage educators who need to complete a background check to call ahead to verify hours and operation precautions, such as wearing a face mask.  If your LEA is doing fingerprinting, please work to establish policies and procedures, including the use of appropriate PPE (gloves, masks, etc.), to keep your employees and those you serve safe.

ETS has announced the Praxis^® tests at home solution in response to closures of testing centers. Registration for the first wave of tests begins on May 15 with the first test administration taking place on May 18.  While not all of the content assessments will be offered in the first wave of tests at home, most will be available by June 1^st.  ETS’ COVID-19 website has been updated with some key information regarding the at home solution.

As you encourage your educators to meet requirements for licensure, including background checks and testing, the Educator Licensing team is optimistic that these adjustments will help educators become appropriately licensed prior to the upcoming school year.  Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.  I know that many changes to licensing (an already complicated arena) lend itself to more questions.  We are here to help you support teachers!

Thank you for all that you do to support Utah’s students and teachers!  We will charge into “The New Future” together!

Kindest regards,

Malia

 _________________________

Malia Hite, Ed.D.

Educator Licensing Coordinator

Teaching & Learning   |  Utah State Board of Education

DATE:
May 1, 2020

TO:
All Principals

FROM:
Administrator of Schools
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Caleb Olson, Consultant of Planning and Enrollment
Scott Festin, Consultant of Planning and Enrollment

SUBJECT:
Student Enrollment for April 2020

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Please see document below.

Below is information from the Resilient Utah Team along with a message from Governor Gary R. Herbert. We're sending you this information, they are asking to be sent out to parents, for your information only. You do not need to send it out. It is being sent to all parents through our Communications Department.

 

Dear Utah Principals,

Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert has declared May 2020 as Utah Resilience Month. Please click on the link below to review important information for principals state-wide.

We are so appreciative of your efforts to support your administrators, faculty and teachers as they and provide students with what they need to succeed during these unprecedented times. Our educators are our heroes.

https://www.resilient-utah.org/urm-principals-message/

Many thanks,

The Resilient Utah Team
www.Resilient-Utah.org

 

Please see document below.

The following is a new administrative assignment:

Assignment Effective July 1, 2020:

Jessica Vidal, senior improvement coach at Education Direction, appointed assistant principal at Heartland Elementary.

The Central Warehouse is now stocking simple surgical masks to be ordered by schools and departments to distribute as necessary.  Please understand quantities are limited, so only order to cover immediate needs.  Do not order to stockpile for future use, including next school year.  We will be ordering more to satisfy demand, but your cooperation would be appreciated in the short term.  If an employee has a personal mask already, they are encouraged to use their own personal mask.

Masks can be ordered by selecting stock #5800850, and can be ordered like any other inventory item available in the District warehouse.  Quantities are packaged and available in bundles of 50 masks.  Therefore, smaller District departments should coordinate with other small departments to avoid ordering too many.  They will be made available, Friday May 1st.

The following are new administrative assignments:

Assignment Effective June 1, 2020:

• Amy Adams, assistant principal at Riverside Elementary, appointed principal at Fox Hollow Elementary, replacing Kevin Pullan who is retiring.

Assignments Effective July 1, 2020:

• Jill Durrant, consultant of Preschool/Child Development Center, appointed Administrator of Schools – Elementary, replacing Laura Finlinson who is retiring.
• Kristy Whiteside, principal at Daybreak Elementary, appointed consultant of Preschool/Child Development Center.
• Leslie Ewell, assistant principal at Foothills Elementary, appointed principal at Daybreak Elementary.
• Amanda Bollinger, principal at Butterfield Canyon Elementary, appointed consultant in the Special Education Department, replacing Julie Brown who is retiring.
• Michelle Peterson, principal at Falcon Ridge Elementary, appointed principal at Butterfield Canyon Elementary.
• Theresa Christensen, assistant principal at Eastlake Elementary, appointed principal at Falcon Ridge Elementary.
• Kaleb Yates, assistant principal at Herriman & Midas Creek Elementary, appointed principal at Jordan Hills Elementary.
• Kristie Howe, assistant principal at Oakcrest Elementary, appointed assistant principal at Antelope Canyon & Oakcrest Elementary.
• Angela Hamilton, instructional coach at West Jordan Elementary, appointed assistant principal at Bastian Elementary.
• Staci Moore, assistant principal at Butterfield Canyon & Jordan Ridge Elementary, appointed assistant principal at Majestic & Jordan Ridge Elementary.
• Franco Preston, assistant principal at Bastian & Majestic Elementary, appointed assistant principal at Butterfield Canyon & Herriman Elementary.
• Ami Shah, assistant principal at Riverton & West Jordan Elementary, appointed assistant principal at Eastlake & West Jordan Elementary.
• Nathan Price, assistant principal at Silver Crest Elementary, appointed assistant principal at Riverside Elementary.
• Leilani Brecht, principal at Jordan Hills Elementary, appointed assistant principal at Silver Crest Elementary.
• Odette Desmarais, Academic Director & IB Coordinator at Providence Hall, appointed assistant principal at Foothills Elementary.
• Brenda Anderson, assistant principal at Jordan Hills & Rosamond Elementary, appointed assistant principal at Jordan Hills & Riverton Elementary.
• Elizabeth Pollock, assistant principal at Ridge View Elementary & teacher specialist in Teaching & Learning, appointed assistant principal at Ridge View & Rosamond Elementary.
• John Scovill, principal at Pioneer Elementary in Idaho School District, appointed assistant principal at Fox Hollow & Midas Creek Elementary, replacing Nancy Ward who is retiring.

 

Click on the provided link to access the ESP courses. There will be several more added next week.

Click Here

If an employee is going to take leave using these days they MUST apply for the time off. Please share this information with them. A flyer explaining the leave time is included as well as a tutorial on how to apply for the time off.

JSD Administrators:

All employees will receive an email in JEM today outlining the recently passed Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). This act may entitle eligible employees who have worked for the District for 30 days to receive a limited amount of paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. These provisions will apply from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.  Attached to this email is a FFCRA notice from the Department of Labor outlining eligibility, paid leave entitlements and qualifying reasons for leave related to COVID-19.

Also attached is a tutorial on how employees can submit a FFCRA Leave application through Skyward Employee Access if they believe they have a qualifying reason.  If employees need assistance in accessing their Skyward employee account, direct them to contact the Information Systems Help Desk at 801-567-8737.  For questions regarding FFCRA, please review the attached notice or contact HR at 801-567-8249.

Please see document below.

Please see document below.

The Utah Legislative Session wrapped up a week ago. The Utah State Board of Education adopted an amended rule yesterday with changes related to appropriate expenditures for the School LAND Trust Program. This link will take you to a more detailed description. You can also see the document below.

https://site.utah.gov/slt/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2020/03/Attachment-to-End-of-Session-Email.pdf

Earlier today, the USBE voted to suspend all state testing for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. This action would take place even if in-person school sessions were to resume. This suspension would include the following state assessments:

• • Summative RISE
  • Summative Utah Aspire Plus
  • EOY Acadience Reading
  • KEEP Exit
  • PEEP Exit

Please refer to the attached letter from Ben Jameson

We have activated several Google Suite options, including Jamboard, for teachers and students to assist in virtual learning.

Stacee Worthen, secondary guidance specialist, has created a list of tips, ideas, and best practices for counselors during the school dismissal. The attached memo will be sent to all school counselors.

Associate Academic Vice-President John Rosenberg has sent this email out to all Teacher Education programs at BYU and asked them to forward the letter to every current student teacher. This does not apply to intern teachers.

Dear UCOTE members and EPP program coordinators,

As you are aware, information on COVID-19 continues to be generated and actions taken to control the spread of the coronavirus. As we have considered the most recent information about how the public school districts and state universities are handling the situation, we have decided that our student teachers may return home immediately, consistent with the instructions we have given all BYU students. However, since the semester is not over and the students are still enrolled as student teachers, they are asked to remain actively engaged with their host schools in delivering instruction remotely under the direction of their mentor teachers. Major program coordinators and university supervisors should reach out to individual students to address their questions and to discuss the remaining requirements for bringing the student teaching experience to a successful conclusion.

Thank you for your patience at this difficult time.

Jordan District Appeal Hearings are postponed until students return back to school.

Home & Hospital

• H&H teachers should not be going out to homes or libraries working with students.
• Schools that are providing the H&H teachers for their students may want to consider directing their students to do the online work from their assigned classroom teachers.
• At this time, if any parent is requesting H&H services for their student, please direct them to the online instruction that is being provided by their current classroom teachers.  After students return back to the school, those students will be placed on Home & Hospital if it is still needed.

SafeUT is still available as a resource for students, parents and schools during this stressful time. There are master's level clinicians available to chat or call 24/7/365 and will continue to be available throughout the outbreak.

With schools closed they will be following the summer protocol until further notice.

DATE:  
March 12, 2020

TO:  
All Principals
2020 Graduating Interns

FROM: 
June LeMaster, Ph.D., Administrator, Human Resources
Brad Sorensen, Administrator of Schools
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Schools

SUBJECT: 
Intern Graduations 2020

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It is a long-standing practice in Jordan School District to allow full time, in state partnership university teacher interns to take one (1) day leave to attend either their own university commencement or convocation, without penalty.  This year, this practice is expanded to allow all full time university interns including teacher interns, school psychologist and counselor interns, etc., the same privilege.  Interns attending both in state and out of state university commencement ceremonies are allowed one (1) day; therefore, some interns may need to choose between commencement and convocation.

If a substitute is needed for coverage, the intern is responsible for requesting a substitute through Absence Management (formerly AESOP).  The absence reason entered should be “other” and in the blue “notes to administrator box”, the intern should add the following information “District excused 0050 - personal graduation”.  For additional assistance, please contact Juli Martin at 801-567-8219.

See dates for the in state 2020 University Commencement and Convocation Ceremonies on the attached memo.