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TO:
All Administrators

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning

Now Available! JSD Portrait of a Graduate Proficiency Scales

Based on the district’s strategic plan, Jordan District teacher teams have now completed proficiency scales for Portrait of a Graduate characteristics by grade bands. 

To access the Portrait of a Graduate characteristics and accompanying scales along with resources for planning, instruction, assessment, and feedback, enroll in the new JSD Portrait of a Graduate Proficiency Scales Canvas course.

Key Details:

  • Ongoing Updates: Additional resources will be added directly to the Canvas course.
  • Feedback: A link is embedded in the course for submitting questions, commentary, or resource suggestions.
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Published on

TO:
All Administrators

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning

Now Available! JSD Content Proficiency Scales

Together, district teacher teams and Teaching & Learning have developed power standards and corresponding proficiency scales for Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, PE, Health, and Music (with more subjects coming soon). These scales serve as exemplars and anchors for grade-level expectations, ensuring Level 3 indicators align precisely with the depth and rigor of the Utah Core Standards.

To access the standards, scales, and integration resources for planning, instruction, assessment, and feedback, enroll in the new JSD Content Proficiency Scales Canvas course.

Key Details:

  • Ongoing Updates: Additional resources will be added directly to the Canvas course.
  • Feedback: A link is embedded in the course for submitting questions, commentary, or resource suggestions.
  • More Info: Please review the Canvas homepage for additional details.

⚠️ Important Note on Math Standards: The State Board of Education (USBE) is currently reviewing math standards and is expected to release updates soon. Consequently, the development of math power standards and proficiency scales is paused until those official updates are released.

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TO:
All Principals
All Assistant Principals

FROM:
Administrators of Schools

Please share the attached flyer with the future school leaders in your building.

The BYU School Leadership Program invites educators to learn from current school, district, state, and university leaders about becoming a principal. The Academy is a great way to get a taste of school leadership and learn best practices for applying to principal preparation programs and future leadership positions. The district will cover the cost of your substitute teacher, and BYU will award a $1,000 scholarship to any participants who are accepted to and attend BYU’s Masters of School Leadership Program.

APPLY BY AUGUST 28, 2026.

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TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants

FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources
Brent Burge, HR Administrator

Important Update to FMLA Leave Calculation Method

We would like to inform employees of an upcoming change to the District’s Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave calculation method.

Effective July, 27, 2026, the District will transition from using a fixed 12-month calendar method to a rolling 12-month period from the date FMLA leave is used.

Under the rolling 12-month method, each time an employee uses FMLA leave, the District will look back 12 months to determine how much FMLA leave has already been used and how much remains available. This method is permitted under federal FMLA regulations and is intended to provide a more consistent and equitable administration of leave benefits.

This change may affect how available FMLA leave is calculated for employees who have previously used FMLA leave within the prior 12 months.

If you have questions regarding your FMLA eligibility or available leave balances, please contact Human Resources at leaves@jordandistrict.org or 801-567-8429.

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Published on

DATE: 
Thursday, May 28, 2026

TO: 
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: Coaching Styles and Their Impact on Athlete Satisfaction: Youth Sports

Applicant: Micah Giles, 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.  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 project will entail the posting of a recruitment flyer on school community boards and/or in school locker rooms.

Thank you for your assistance.

 

 

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TO:
Elementary Administrators

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Mandy Thurman, Elementary Language Arts Consultant of Teaching and Learning
Michelle Lovell, Elementary Language Arts Consultant of Teaching and Learning

Save the date and share the following optional professional development opportunity with your teachers.

Literacy Live: Grades K–6 Fall Conference will be offered during the district’s first teacher professional development day on September 25, 2026. This engaging learning experience is designed to support K–6 educators through breakout sessions focused on effective literacy instruction, practical classroom strategies, and implementation-ready resources. Participants will also have opportunities for collaboration, networking, and prize drawings throughout the event.

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TO:
All Administrators

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning

The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) has selected a new platform to support the Professional Learning credit tracking and registration system, Recommended Instructional Materials (RIMS), and Microcredentials (formerly MIDAS). 

MIDAS will go into an inactive status at 11:59 pm on June 9th. No new work or continuing work will be allowed in the MIDAS system after this time.
Please consider completing the following items in the MIDAS system by 11:59 pm on June 9, 2026:

  • Adding new professional learning courses or sections to an existing course happening June 1- July 20 that require registration
  • Register for professional learning courses that are currently available
  • Award credit or relicensure points for a course that has ended or will end by June 8th  
  • Microcredential submissions or resubmissions (please note it will not be reviewed or approved during the inactive time)
  • Reviewing microcredentials in your review queue (microcredential reviewers only)

The current MIDAS system will not be accessible after June 30, 2026. 

Educators will still have access to their transcripts while MIDAS is inactive.
Directions for downloading a transcript in MIDAS:

  • Log in to MIDAS 
  • Click on My Profile
  • Click on PD Transcript
  • Click on the red "Print Transcript" button
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Published on

DATE:
May 21, 2026

TO:
Middle School Principals

FROM:
Scott Thomas, Administrator of Auxiliary Services
Paul Bergera, Director of Transportation
Kittisack Soumpholphakdy, Field/Activity Trips Coordinator

SUBJECT:
Lagoon Day – Monday, June 1, 2026

We look forward to helping you provide an exciting, successful, and safe experience for your students at Lagoon this year. Following the same procedure as last year, we encourage you and your staff to load buses as they arrive at your school. As each bus is loaded with an advisor/chaperone on board, please let it depart for Lagoon. There is no need to wait for all buses to arrive, then leave together. Your assistance with this process last year helped alleviate much of the unnecessary waiting on the bus and congestion at the ticket gates.

Your assigned bus driver may ask you to verify the condition of the bus before boarding students, then at Lagoon and finally when they return to the school. This is to make sure no students or personal property are left on the bus. This is also to ensure the bus has remained clean and trash has been properly discarded. Again, please ask your students and advisors/chaperones to take everything off the bus with them once it arrives at Lagoon. It is extremely unlikely that the same bus that transports your students and advisors/chaperones to Lagoon will be the same bus that transports students and advisors/chaperones back to their school. If the temperature exceeds 85º F, load a cooler with ice and water bottles on one of the buses at your school in the event heat and potential delays become an issue as students are waiting to board buses at Lagoon. Your cooler will be returned within a few weeks.

As the day comes to a conclusion, plan on buses arriving back to Lagoon at 5:00 p.m. For the safety of everyone involved, please make sure all designated advisors/chaperones report to their assigned school bus loading area at 4:45 p.m. Students will then load at 5:00 p.m. with all buses departing by 5:15 p.m.

As a reminder, instructions and signs will be posted on the North side of Lagoon in the employee area. Look for your school’s sign, which will be visible on large cones at the same location where buses unloaded at Lagoon during morning drop off. Each advisor/chaperone will be given a colored paddle. When your school has 50 students and at least one advisor/chaperone, we will load the bus. Once a group of your school’s students and advisor/chaperone head to the designated bus, please ask the advisor/chaperone to pass the paddle to the next advisor.

Thank you for your support and cooperation.
Jordan School District Transportation

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TO:
All Administrators

FROM:
Bonnie Brennan, Director of Insurance Services

Please let your employees know that the Benefits Open Enrollment dates have changed.  This year, open enrollment will be held from July 20, 2026 - August 20, 2026, and all changes will be effective September 1, 2026. You will also be receiving posters like the attached flyer.  Please post them where your staff will see them.

If you or any of your staff have questions, please have them reach out to Insurance Services, insurance@jordandistrict.org, (801) 567-8146. Thank you.

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TO:
Administrators

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Amanda Bollinger, Associate Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Jared Covili, Digital Teaching & Learning Consultant
Amy Lloyd, K-12 Math Consultant

Please share this information with your teachers.

Many of your teachers are pursuing a STEM endorsement (see our EIP website for a full list of endorsements). USBE WILL REIMBURSE THEM FOR THEIR COLLEGE CLASSES. This is called the STEM Endorsement Incentive Program (EIP) and it has been funded again for the 2025-26 school year. Teachers can apply here. See the link to our EIP website for more information.

Applications for reimbursement are now being accepted for teachers who completed STEM courses after July 1, 2025. The next round of reimbursement applications is due May 27, 2026 for teachers who completed STEM courses in Winter/Spring 2026.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your content consultant. We would love to talk to you!

 

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TO:
Second-Grade Teachers
Instructional Coaches
Building Administrators

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Michelle Lovell, Elementary Language Arts Consultant of Teaching & Learning

The Elementary Literacy team is cooking up something amazing in 2nd grade!

They are thrilled to announce a new professional development series for the upcoming school year, specifically designed for 2nd-grade teachers!

These courses will help them to meet the quarterly literacy goals and will be centered around the theme of the mentor text, The Best Chef in Second Grade by Katharine Kenah. Participating teachers will get a copy of this book and many other practical tools and supplies to use immediately in their classroom.

Help refine the recipes for student success and connect with other 2nd-grade chefs. Here is a preview of the four "tasty courses" being offered next year:

Quarter 1: Accuracy in Every Bite- Aug. 6 or Sept. 11
Quarter 2: A La Carte Learning- Flexible dates in October-November for a micro PD your team chooses from a menu of offerings.
Quarter 3: Chef’s Special- Jan. 22 or Jan. 29
Quarter 4: The Secret Sauce- March 5

Sign up now for our first session at pd.jordandistrict.org. The team looks forward to cooking up a fantastic year of learning with you!

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TO:
All Schools and Departments

FROM:
Kurt Prusse, Director of Purchasing

Handling Vendor Quotes That Need Signatures

When ordering furniture, software, or renewals, some vendors might ask for a signature on their quote to confirm details or terms before processing your order. Some vendors are treating quotes as their terms and conditions and/or as approval to move forward which can cause double ordering.

To help ensure all agreements align with District terms and conditions and that your Purchase Orders (POs) are approved smoothly, please use the following quick process:

  1. Review & Initial: Have your school administrator review the quote and initial next to the signature line to confirm the details are correct.
  2. Attach in Skyward: Attach that initialed quote directly to your PO Requisition in Skyward Qmlativ before sending anything back to the vendor.
  3. We’ll Handle the Rest: Once we receive your requisition, the Purchasing team will secure the official authorized signatures and finalize your PO.

This simple workflow keeps your orders on track and protects the District from unauthorized purchases and unfavorable terms.

Thank you so much for your help with this! If you have any questions or need assistance getting quotes from vendors, please reach out—we’re always happy to help.

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TO:
All JSD staff who use Qmlativ Finance

FROM:
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Dan Ellis, Director of Accounting
Natalie Grange, Accounting Administrator

The Accounting team has created instructions for Qmlativ, with screenshots, demonstrating how to complete cash receipts, journal entries, move money requests, E-checks, etc. Find this information on the Information Systems website, Documentation quick access tab, in the Accounting/Qmlativ folder.

General process updates
1-Accounts Payable Receiving Module/Verifieds: Please hold off on entering items under the receiving module and return to sending in your signed verification forms (i.e., packing slip, PO, invoice). We are working through a process to properly track received items, so please use the old method until we can communicate out a new process.

2- Insurance Corrections: A correction has been posted to the benefits accounts for the issue in April. We will send out reports showing the updated balances as soon as possible.

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Published on

Date:
May 21, 2026

To:
All Administrators
All Admin Assistants

From:
Steffany Ellsworth, Support Services Manager, Information Systems

Subject:
Got Qmlativ Questions? We’ve Got Answers!

Our recent Qmlativ workshops have been a huge success, and we’re keeping the momentum going by offering additional sessions throughout the summer! Drop in for help with creating journal entries, viewing your budgets, submitting a travel request, approving time off and time tracking submissions, and much more. You can also get help working through processes, setting up views and filters, and customizing your dashboard and dock. Once you feel comfortable navigating the system, we’ll teach you how to submit a time off request to enjoy the hot summer days!

We are available between 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, no appointment needed. Just bring your laptop and drop in when it’s convenient for you. Upcoming dates and locations for workshops:

● Friday, June 12th at the District Office, Room 129
● Friday, June 19th at the District Office, Room 129
● Thursday, June 25th at the District Office, Room 129
● Tuesday, June 30th at the District Office, Room 129
● Thursday, July 9th at the ASB, PDC 101
● Monday, July 13th at the District Office, Room 129
● Monday, July 20th at the District Office, Room 129
● Tuesday, July 28th at the District Office, Room 129

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Published on

TO:
Elementary Administrators

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Mandy Thurman, Consultant, Elementary Language Arts, Teaching and Learning
Michelle Lovell, Consultant, Elementary Language Arts, Teaching and Learning

We are excited to announce a new professional development series for the upcoming school year, specifically designed for 1st-grade teachers.

These courses will help you to meet the quarterly literacy goals and will be centered around the theme of building strong readers. Participating teachers will receive a copy of the mentor text, Mighty, Mighty Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker, as well as other practical tools to use in their classrooms

Join us as we lay the foundation for student success and connect with other 1st-grade builders. Here is a preview of the blueprint for the 2026-2027 school year.

● Quarter 1: Laying the Foundation: August 5 or September 11

● Quarter 2: Building the Framework: November 6 or November 13

● Quarter 3 and 4: Final Inspection: January 22 or January 29

Sign up now for our first session at pd.jordandistrict.org. We look forward to building a fantastic year of learning with you.

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TO:
Administrators, Administrative Assistants, Employees

FROM:
Sarah Palmer, Director of Payroll

TIME TRACKING AND TIME OFF
Last Day of School - June 4

Please make sure all of your Time Tracking and time off is submitted and approved before leaving for summer break.

Last contract day for the 2025-26 school year
June 4th – last day of school (180 days)
June 5th – teacher checkout (184 and 187 days)
June 12th – last day for elementary administrative assistants (206 days)
June 19th – last day for extended teachers/specialists/coordinators (207 days)

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TO:
Administrators and Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Sarah Palmer, Director of Payroll

TEACHER CHECKOUT DAY – JUNE 5
All Licensed Employees

As per District policy, DP335NEG-Annual Leave-Licensed, licensed employees may not take annual/personal leave on the teacher checkout day on June 5th. However, through correlation with the principal, they may arrange to exchange this day for another non-contract day.

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TO:
Administrators and Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Sarah Palmer, Director of Payroll

ANNUAL/PERSONAL LEAVE DURING THE LAST FIVE DAYS OF SCHOOL
May 29th – June 4th
All Licensed and ESP Employees

Per District policy, annual or personal leave days may not be used during the last five days of school, unless the leave reason is listed in policy as an exception. If any of the exceptions do apply, you must provide both the leave reason and the policy exception in the time off description. If these exceptions are not applicable, your annual/personal leave day will be changed to a no-pay day as per policy.

______________________________________________________________________________

DP335NEG-Annual Leave-Licensed
DP335B-Annual Leave-Education Support Professionals

7. Annual leave shall not be taken during the last five (5) days that students are in school except under the following conditions:

a. To attend the wedding of a near relative including child, father, mother, brother, sister, grandchild, grandparents or same to one’s spouse or any other person who is a member of the same household as the employee.
b. To attend to personal or business matters which require the employee’s attendance and scheduling is beyond the employee’s control.
c. First year employees who notify their supervisor in writing that they are ill.

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