Category: Information Items

Mark your calendar and save the date to attend the Literacy Promise Conference. There are some fantastic presenters in attendance this year that you will not want to miss.

T & L will pay for up to three individuals from each school to attend the Literacy Promise Conference held on March 20 - 22. This can include administration, coaches or teachers. Schools are not required to participate or may choose to send less than three individuals. Responses will be accepted through March 8. Please click on the link below and fill out the form to list the individuals who will be paid for through T&L. If your school would like to send more than three individuals, registration can also be done at the school or individual level using the QR link on the enclosed flyer.

The conference is March 20 - 22, 2024 at the Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo, Utah.

• 2024 Literacy Promise Conference Registration - Use this link to register individuals to be paid by T&L.
• 2024 Literacy Promise Conference Brochure

• Registration for Understanding your Native Students

Kindergarten Night Out will be held on March 14, 2024 in the ASB Presentation Room at 4:15 p.m. All teachers, coaches, and administrators are invited!

Are you ready to knock your math teaching stategies out of the park? The elementary math specialists would love to have you join our lineup for an exclusive training session focused on building a strong. foundation in number sense for our young learners. Let's cover all our bases to ensure our students hit a home run in early mathematics!

Please sign up on JPLS ASAP. Collaboration will be held from  5:15 - 6:15 p.m.

Please see the attached flier and share it with anyone who may be interested in coming to this event.

• March 2024 Kindergarten Night Out Invitation

Nominations are now open! 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  The Education Tribute Award nominations will be gathered during “Resilient Utah Month” in March 2024. All nominations need to be completed online no later than Thursday, March 28, 2024. For Questions text Barbara Smith at 801-560-6511.

Nomination categories include:
Outstanding High School
Outstanding Middle School
Outstanding Elementary School
Outstanding Parenting Organization
Outstanding Secondary School Teacher
Outstanding Elementary School Teacher
Outstanding Wellness Professional
Outstanding Administrator

Awards will be announced and delivered to each school location by a member of the ResilientYOU Board in April. The recipients will be announced on KUTV Channel 2, in addition to being publicized through social media and educational networks. Recipients will also be honored on May 9th at the event, “Utah Prevention Day with the Salt Lake Bees” at Smith’s Ballpark during the Opening Ceremony in front of 10,000 students and teachers. Award recipients will receive an honorary plaque

• Resilient Utah Education Tribute Awards Nominations

 Join Jordan Teaching & Learning for an exciting day of learning and collaboration at EdCamp UT 2024! This in-person event is a must-attend for educators passionate about sharing ideas and exploring innovative teaching practices.

Get ready to connect with like-minded professionals and dive into engaging discussions that will inspire and empower you in your educational journey.

• Who: Teachers, Instructional Coaches, Mentors, Admin
• When: Feb. 24, 2024
• Time: 8 - 3 p.m.
• Where: Jordan School District Auxiliary Services Building (7905 S. Redwood Road, West Jordan, UT 84088, Entrance A)
• Breakfast & Lunch provided

• Register for 2024 EdCamp Utah
• 2024 Edcamp Utah Flyer

Jordan School District is offering Elementary and Secondary paid administrative internship openings for the 2024-25 academic year. Applications are open now through March 1, 2024 at midnight.

Please refer to the details below:

• Applicants must select their level of preference (elementary, middle or high) and submit only
  one application.
• Selected applicants will be interviewed.
• Assignments are for 1-year only, with no guarantee of a permanent administrative position.
• Internal applicants, if selected, will be treated as an employee on a leave of absence for the current school year. Internal applicants chosen as an intern will have the right to return to a comparable licensed position at the end of the internship.

Applicants must:

• be enrolled in a university administrative/leadership program, OR
• have a current in state or out-of-state administrative license, OR
• be in the JSD Administrative Pool.
• Elementary Administrative Interns are paid on a teacher salary schedule – 187-day contract plus 20 additional days (total of 207 days).
• Secondary Administrative Interns are paid on a teacher salary schedule – 187-day contract plus 10 additional days (total of 197 days).
•  A night stipend will be added according to level assignment.
•  Assignment locations are to be determined.

• JSD Frontline Application
• How to Apply in Frontline

The JATC South Greenhouse is holding a fairy garden or succulent bowl class on Feb. 28 from 4 - 7 p.m.  Please scan the QR Code on the flyer or use the following link to sign up

• JATC South Fairy Garden Workshop Sign-Up
• JATC South Greenhouse Fairy Garden Flyer

The earned endorsement emphasis is for teachers who have previously earned an endorsement from the Utah State Board of Education {USBE) in English as a second language (ESL), elementary mathematics, reading I, gifted and talented, elementary STEM, or educational technology.

Upon completion of a USBE endorsement in one of the above content areas, a teacher may apply 9 (approved 5000-level) earned credit hours toward a Master of Education degree at UVU.

Earned Endorsement Overview

• 30 credits of coursework Includes 9 of the previously earned endorsement Credits must have been earned at the graduate level (5000 level or above).
• Four-semester program designed with summer and evening coursework for working educators
• USBE endorsement in one of the five content areas must be earned prior to starting the Ed.

Application Deadlines
Application Opens: OCT 9 Priority Deadline: JAN 26 Application Deadline: MAR 22

APPLY at www.uvu.edu/welcome
(Program begins summer semester.)

Admission Requirements

• Verification of a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
• Verification of the USBE endorsement in one of the accepted content areas (see above)
• A cumulative minimum GPA of 0 or a GPA of 3.0 for the last 60 credits of university coursework
• Three professional letters of recommendation
• A successful interview with the School of Education Graduate Committee
• Submission of complete graduate application

Continuance and Graduation Requirements

• Complete all program hours (30)
• Complete all courses with a grade of B- or higher
• Maintain an overall GPA of 0 or higher
• Successfully complete a graduate project that is accepted by the School of Education Graduate Committee
• Complete courses and project requirements within five years

Earned Endorsement Course Map

Contact Information for Earned Endorsement Emphasis

Mia Kang, Ph.D.
SOE Program Director of Graduate Studies ME 131C | 801-863-5359
mia.kang@uvu.edu

Brianna Larson
Graduate Advisor
ME 131A | 801-863-4911
brianna.larson@uvu.edu

Nathan Criman
Endorsement Program Coordinator 801.863.7614
endorsements@uvu.edu

• UVU Earned Endorsement Flyer

NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH
March is National Nutrition Month. The theme is “Beyond the Table” and encompasses the farm-to-fork aspect of nutrition. Our kitchens will be showcasing two nutrition promotions.

National School Breakfast Week - March 4 -8
The first week of March the kitchens will be promoting their breakfast. This year’s theme is “Surf’s Up” and students can enter a daily cereal raffle.

Snowden Meats
We have the amazing opportunity to be receiving premium beef from a local* ranch in Yampa, Colorado: Snowden Meats. This ground beef will most likely last us the rest of 2024 so we have a long time to enjoy and promote it. Kitchens will showcase the beef the following days:

• March 12 - Secondary Schools
• March 14/15 - Elementary Schools

Please consider getting involved and spreading the word. We thank you for all that you do for your schools and kitchens. If you have any questions, please reach out to your kitchen manager.

• Nutrition Services March 2024 Promotions Flyer

Reading is an integral part of a student’s education and has always been and will continue to be a priority in Jordan School District. Teacher knowledge of the science of reading and classroom implementation of best practices is a critical component of student success.

It is a state and district expectation that teachers in grades K-3 and SPED receive LETRS training and that they are able to master the content. In order to ensure content mastery, an acceptable passing rate for teachers in Jordan School District is to receive 75% or higher on the units and assessments provided in LETRS.

Teachers who are currently involved in LETRS training will need to reach this threshold to be able to teach literacy in grades K-3 and SPED classrooms. Teachers who have finished the training but have not received this level of proficiency will receive help and support through an additional opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the content.

In order to maintain a professional work atmosphere for students and staff members, respect staff time, and to avoid ethical and fraudulent conflicts of interest with vendors, building administrations are asked to abide by the following:

1. Vendors are not allowed into District schools/facilities to solicit business from employees during business hours. Building administrations may allow vendors to leave promotional materials (e.g. brochures, business cards, posters, etc.) with the front office and request these materials be placed in an area, such as the employee break room or bulletin board, so staff may view them and take one, if they so choose. Materials may not be placed in staff boxes. Vendors are not allowed to make sales pitches during faculty or staff meetings. Vendors are not to provide a snack, treat, or meal for employees in the break rooms while the vendor remains to solicit business. Building administrations may allow a vendor to leave a snack, treat, or meal along with promotional materials and a note indicating who brought the items and who employees should contact if more information is desired. Employees, including building and district leadership, should never feel like they are required to meet with vendors and hear their sales pitches.
2. Decision makers are advised to avoid gifts from vendors in order to guard against the appearance of misconduct. A vendor providing a gift or meal for the staff or large groups is a very nice gesture of thanks and support. A vendor providing a special, private gift or lunch to only the decision maker(s) can create an ethical conflict of interest that can influence decision making.
3. Vendors must follow the same protocol expected of all other visitors to District buildings by checking in at the front office and proceeding beyond the front office only after being invited to do so.
4. If an employee desires to meet with a vendor at a District location to discuss services the vendor may offer to them personally, the employee and vendor must meet outside of normal business hours for that building. For schools, this means no contact between one-half hour before school starts and one-half hour after school ends, including lunch time and prep time. These hours are considered work hours and must be respected by the employee and vendors.
5. The District’s finance system is not to be used to pay for employees’ personal business (e.g. mortgage payments, utility payments, insurance payments, donations to churches, credit card payments, etc.). Payroll deductions are not permitted for non-Jordan District purposes unless the funds are tax sheltered through a District-allowed plan (see #6 below). It is not appropriate for the District to engage in employee personal bill pay at taxpayer expense. Any payment arrangements made by employees with vendors should be done using the employees’ personal financial institution.
6. As a taxpayer funded subdivision of the State of Utah, Jordan School District participates in the Utah Retirement Systems (URS). While employees have the private option of authorizing financial advisers or others to manage their retirement funds, there are inherent risks associated with any investment strategy. Jordan School District and Utah Retirement Systems does not and has not endorsed, contracted out, authorized, advocated, recommended, sponsored, or vetted other entities, including 403b agents, to represent them in these matters. Instead, URS employs retirement advisors, with a URS email and phone number, who will meet with and advise JSD employees free of charge. URS is a nonprofit trust and their advisors never earn commissions. If you want help with URS questions, please contact URS and if you choose to go outside of URS, please compare commissions and fees.
7. As a taxpayer funded entity, Jordan School District, its departments and schools must only work with businesses that have first gone through the proper procurement process. Competing vendors are to be treated fairly without personal preference or bias.

• Guidelines For Vendors Soliciting Sales From Jordan District Employees

Utah League of Cities and Towns has launched its annual Why I Like My Community Essay Contest for Utah fourth and seventh graders.

Students who win the first, second, or third prize will receive a cash prize ranging from $100 to $500 and their individual schools will receive a prize ranging from $500 to $1,000.

Award winners will also be featured in a video highlighting their writing and their community during the ULCT Annual Convention for Utah’s municipal leaders.

Fourth grade essays should be between 250-450 words and seventh grade essays should not exceed 750 words. Students must reside or attend school in an incorporated Utah city, town, or metro township in good standing with ULCT.

The deadline for student essay submission is March 15, 2024. More information and a lesson plan for teachers can be found at the Utah League of Cities & Towns Youth Essay page.

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.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.

• 2023-24 Licensed Annual/Personal Leave Taken on a Critical Day
• 2023-24 ESP Annual/Personal Leave Taken on a Critical Day

Dear Employees,

We are now just hours away from Health & Wellness Day 2024 on Friday, Feb. 9 and sincerely hope that each one of you will have a positive experience, enjoying time to support your personal wellness needs.

We know however, that wellness is not a one-day event. That’s why we want to remind employees of the ongoing options and opportunities available throughout the year to support your health and wellness. Our goal is to continue expanding these ongoing opportunities over the coming years.

• Planning your everyday wellness - Use a planning tool to create a plan to meet your unique wellness needs, here are some examples.
• Everyday wellness conversations - Our District team has left a copy of this guide with each of our schools. Talking about wellness with friends and colleagues is a great opportunity to start thinking of ways to incorporate more wellness into your day.
• PEHP Wellness On-Demand - Offers ongoing challenges, webinars, and resources to support your wellness. Use this link for more information.
• Blomquist Hale Webinars and Resources - All JSD employees have access to online education through Blomquist Hale, our Employee Assistance Program. Visit Blomquist Hale's YouTube channel where you can find videos that address Managing Anxiety, Parenting, Communication 101, Financial Fitness, and many more.
• Wellness To-Go Menu - Follow this link here for a list of wellness resources compiled by the District’s wellness team. You’ll find links to smartphone apps, podcasts, and websites available to you for FREE.
• ComPsych - All JSD employees have access to a variety of wellness training and articles through ComPsych. To access, visit guidanceresources.com (Web ID: NYLGBS) and create a username and password. You also have access to ComPsych's in-person or virtual counseling sessions. ComPsych allows up to three free in-person or virtual counseling sessions, per issue, per year.
• Headspace for FREE - Headspace offers free access for K-12 teachers and supporting staff in the US. Whether you’re feeling inspired to connect more with your students or you’re looking for a new way to bring calm to your classroom, Headspace can help students build healthy habits that last a lifetime. Better focus, less stress, and happier thoughts are just a few minutes away.
• Free yoga classes - Every Wednesday the District offers FREE yoga classes at South Hills Middle School at 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. Bring a yoga mat or blanket. No registration required. Use this link for FREE Yoga Class info.

Have a Wonderful Health and Wellness Day!

Check out the attached flyer for the latest updates from Teaching & Learning for February.  Learn Tips and Tricks, Sign Up for Upcoming PD, and Learn about Important Updates from the T & L team.

• Teaching & Learning
  T & L Newsletter
• Digital Teaching and Learning
  Level up with the ISTE standards Webinar
  Digital Discovery
• Math
  Secondary Math
  Elementary Math
• Science
  Elementary Science
• English Language Arts
  Secondary ELA
  Elementary ELA
• Health & PE
  Look What’s Happening in Health and PE (Patricia)
• Gifted & Talented
  What’s new in GT
• Fine Arts
  Fine Arts News 

Information for completing the full UETS-based JPAS may be found on Canvas. To access this information you will go to jes.jordandistrict.org and click on Educators - Resources. Once you are on the Resources page there will be a link to the Canvas course (UETS-based JPAS Canvas Training).

Please contact the JES office with any questions at 801-567-8369 or rebecca.lee@jordandistrict.org.

Through the month of FEBRUARY, current JSD licensed teachers and/or educators may view transfer opportunities for the 2024-25 school year.  If you are interested in a transfer to another school location in the District for the 2024-25 school year, you must submit a transfer request through the Teacher/Educator Transfer Request located in Skyward Employee Access and/or attend the Teacher/Educator Transfer Fair on Feb. 12, 2024.  A Teacher/Educator Transfer Request Report listing all interested licensed teachers and/or educators is emailed to Principals each Monday during the month of February with the names of those teachers/educators who are requesting a transfer to a new location for the 2024-25 school year.

On March 1, current JSD teachers/educators may view openings for the 2024-25 school year at employment.jordandistrict.org and must apply in Frontline.  Transfer requests will be accepted through August 1, 2024.

• Policy DP304 NEG – Teacher Transfers

This year, the annual Teacher Transfer Fair is open to all CURRENT JSD teacher/educators AND student teachers, interns and those on a 1-year agreement.  This event is for current Jordan School District teachers/educators seeking a new teaching/assignment opportunity! The transfer fair will be combined for both elementary and secondary teachers/educators.

Please come prepared with:

• Your JSD ID badge – required to gain entry, AND
• Copies of your resume available to distribute.

Come explore your options in JORDAN SCHOOL DISTRICT!

• 2023-24 Teacher Transfer Fair Poster

Licensed employees resigning/retiring at the end of the current contract year, who give official early notification in SKYWARD – EMPLOYEE ACCESS, will be eligible for a tiered incentive. To qualify, notification must be submitted on or before the following dates:

• Feb. 15, 2024 $200.00

 The incentive will be paid on the last regular paycheck. Notifications of resignation/retirement received after the dates listed above will not qualify for an incentive. The official District “Notice of Resignation” form is found in Skyward Employee Access under “Task Processes”. Please see District policy DP318 for more detailed information regarding resignations. If you do not know your Skyward username or password please contact the Help Desk at 801-567-8737.

Licensed employees who do not submit an official “Notice of Resignation” form in Skyward Employee Access with at least thirty (30) calendar days’ written notice WILL BE FINED $500, which will be deducted from their final check.  Informing your principal/school administrator either verbally or in writing is not sufficient.  See District Policy DP318 – Resignations - Licensed.

School/District Administrators must submit an official “Notice of Resignation” form in Skyward Employee Access with at least sixty (60) calendar days’ written notice WILL BE FINED $500 in accordance with District Policy DP318A – Resignations-Administrators.