Jordan School District
If you are looking for an opportunity to support the Jordan Education Foundation’s annual “Christmas for Kids,” this is one option.
Jersey Mike's is having a fundraiser to benefit “Christmas for Kids” Monday evening, Dec. 9 from 4-6 p.m. Patrons can receive a free sub with any donation of $5 or more. All proceeds go toward “Christmas for Kids.”
Use caution before clicking on links you have received through email or instant messenger. Even if the link text looks like a URL, the link could be going somewhere else. Instead, move your mouse pointer over the link without clicking on it. Look at where the link is going in the status bar. If the link is not going where it should be or is pointing to a file (such as a .exe), don’t click on the link.
Valued Licensed Employee:
The Human Resource Department is contacting you with important information regarding upcoming events and opportunities.
LICENSE RENEWAL
Teachers and other educators whose license will expire on June 30, 2020, are encouraged to begin the license renewal process IMMEDIATELY by going to the USBE website. Personal letters regarding license renewal information have already been sent out. Keep in mind that there is no background cost to the employee.
EARLY NOTIFICATION (Resignation/Retirement)
Employees resigning/retiring at the end of the current contract year that gives official early notification of resignation/retirement will be eligible for a tiered incentive. To qualify, the notification must be submitted online on or before the following dates:
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 resignation/retirement notification 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.
TEACHER TRANSFER FAIRS
The dates of the Teacher Transfer Fairs below are for current Jordan School District teachers seeking a new teaching opportunity! The transfer fair will be combined for both elementary and secondary teachers. Please have copies of your resume available to distribute. Your District ID badge is required. Come explore your options!
Transfer Fair Elementary and Secondary
Feb. 19, 2020
Elk Ridge Middle School (gym)
3659 9800 S,
South Jordan, UT 84009
4:00-6:30 p.m.
TEACHER HIRING & TRANSFER TIMELINE
Schools who have “hard to fill” or “known vacancies” for 2020-21, may advertise those positions immediately by contacting HR. These positions will be posted for a minimum of five working days before hiring.
Good news! The STEM Endorsement Incentive Program (STEM EIP) application is now open for ALL remaining applications for the 2019-2020 school year. This includes applications for teachers who plan to take STEM EIP courses during the Spring Semester as well as those who have completed courses between July 1, 2019 and December 30, 2019 who did not already submit an application. This application cycle is OPEN NOW and will close on DEC 4, 2019.
*Qualifications for educators:
* Please look over the Frequently Asked Questions Document for common questions and answers. If you have additional questions, please contact Jane Harward.
If you want to apply for this STEM Reimbursement, please complete the Google Form.
The income tax withheld from bonus income is often more than the income tax withheld from your regular pay. The IRS withholds tax on your bonus income by applying your regular tax rate to your combined salary and bonus income. Although your regular rate is applied in this scenario, combining your salary and bonus on one check could put you in a higher withholding bracket, causing the tax allocated to your bonus to actually be higher than the regular rate.
IRS Withholding Calculator
Gather your most recent pay stub and use the IRS Withholding Calculator on the IRS website to estimate the number of allowances you should claim. The calculator asks for an estimate of the federal income tax withheld from your pay to date, including bonuses. Estimate that the amount withheld from your bonus will be 25 percent. If the calculator results show you should adjust your W-4 allowances, you’ll see a message with the number of allowances to claim on line 5 of your W-4.
How to Complete Your W-4 Form
The Form W-4 can be downloaded from the IRS or Payroll Department’s website. Complete sections 1 through 3 with your name, address, Social Security number and marital status, and calculated withholding adjustments. This form must be turned in to the Payroll Department to take effect. Please do not email this form.
CAUTION: If you choose to change your W-4 form for a bonus payment, it is critical that you understand the possible tax implications. Remember to submit a new W-4 form with your regular withholding allowances after you receive the bonus income. If you fail to change your allowances back, you could have insufficient withholding for the rest of the year, which could result in a hefty tax bill when you file your next tax return. Changing your tax withholding for a pay period is always an option, but you should make sure that you have the right information to ensure that your reporting goes as smoothly as possible. The withholding on the W-4 affects your entire paycheck, not just the bonus.
Each year the Jordan Education Foundation partners with the South Jordan Chamber and Walmart to provide a modest holiday shopping experience for deserving middle & high school students in our District.
This year the event will take place on December 14 at 7 a.m. at the Walmart Supercenter in South Jordan. We are in need of caring, adult chaperones who can be at the event and take a student around the store to shop for some of their needs and wants. Chaperones will need to arrive at the event at 6:30am.
If you are interested, please sign up at jefchristmasforkids.org. Thank you!
Please take a moment to share your feedback and preferences regarding proposed Jordan School District calendars for the upcoming school year. The calendars include options for shorter or longer fall, winter, and spring recesses throughout the year as well as different school start dates.
The feedback submitted by you through this survey will be used by the Calendar Committee to help inform the creation of future calendars. The survey will close on Monday, November 18th, at 11:59 P.M.
Please use the link below to access the survey
Additional information about the calendar development process and current school calendars is available at planning.jordandistrict.org/calendars/.
Thank you again for sharing your feedback!
You are invited to share the following information about the upcoming Jordan Parent University.
This event is free and open to the public and is focused on who do you call when issues arise.
Jordan Parent University will be held Thursday, Nov. 21 from 7 – 8 p.m. at Mountain Creek Middle, 5325 W. Bingham Rim Road, South Jordan.
Teachers, please enjoy short 30-minute modules on PD Bites from ALS! See the attached flyer for details. If you don't see a bite that you want, please let us know what you would like, and we'll cook one up, just for you!
Visit ALS PD Bites at jordanpd.instructure.com and sign up through JPLS.
Call Tammy Fulmer at 801-567-8306!
In partnership with USBE, the Utah Education Policy Center, and with support from the Governor’s Office of Education, the Utah Teacher Fellows are collecting data on teacher mentoring & retention in Utah classrooms to inform state policy.
To participate, please check your email for one titled, " Utah Educator Career and Pathway Survey Invitation." The survey will take approximately 15 minutes or less to complete. Your responses are confidential. Your identity will not be disclosed in any oral or written reports. Your participation in this survey is voluntary. By taking the survey, you will provide essential information that informs policy and practice in Utah.
If you don't see this email, please check the email address listed in CACTUS and make sure it's current: https://www.uen.org/cactus/logon.do. Whatever email address is listed in CACTUS is where the survey went. If you update your email address in CACTUS, a new link to the survey can be sent to you.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Andrea Rorrer or Dr. Yongmei Ni at the Utah Education Policy Center at 801-581-4207 or andrea.rorrer@utah.edu or yongmei.ni@utah.edu.
The following administrative assignments made by District administration:
Come join Utah Retirement Systems for an informational webinar on your retirement benefits. The following webinars are available in November, and December for URS members to attend:
Tier 2 Choice
If you’re within the first year on the job, you’ve got a big decision for your financial future. This webinar will help you understand your retirement choice between the Tier 2 Hybrid Retirement System and the Tier 2 401(k) Option.
November 12, 2:00 p.m. » Register Now
Tier 2 401(k) Option
This is an overview of your benefit if you have selected the Tier 2 401(k) Option and have more than one year of service.
December 5, 11:00 a.m. » Register Now
Do you have skills as a Jordan School District employee that you would like to improve or develop? The Classified Professional Improvement Committee (CPIC) can help.
Read more information about CPIC at the Teaching & Learning website.
You can also join us for classes from:
Youth Mental Health First Aid USA is an 8-hour training for adults to teach how to help adolescents and young adults who may be developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The evidence behind the program demonstrates that it helps trainees identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.
Date: Oct. 21, 2019
Time: 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location: Jordan School District Auxiliary Services Building,
Room 113, 7905 S Redwood Road, West Jordan
Cost: FREE!
To register: contact Sharon Steadman
sharon.steadman@jordandistrict.org or 385-285-0322
As part of teacher appreciation day, all Jordan School District employees get free admission to the Deseret News Home Show on Friday, Oct. 11 at the Mountain America Expo Center. Bring your District ID badge to will call located in the South Lobby to receive your ticket.
Jordan School District is offering offering free free Social & Emotional Wellness Screening for Students (Ages 10-18) on Wednesday, Oct. 9, at Heartland Elementary, with appointments every 30 minutes between 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Visit calendly.com/jordanhealthandwellness/mental-health-screening to schedule an appointment or contact Holly Todd at 801-567-8194 or holly.todd@jordandistrict.org.
Getting the Forecast Right Can Bring More Sunshine Into Your Child’s Life
How can parents help manage the fear and uncertainty that comes with a new school year, new environments and new friendships?
Superintendent Anthony Godfrey sits down with JSD Health and Wellness Specialist McKinley Withers to talk about managing change in our child’s life and offers some ways to help overcome the social health crisis we are seeing in students today.
The Educational Technology Endorsement Program (ETEP) is provided by the Jordan School District in partnership with the Utah State Board of Education (USBE), Utah Education Network (UEN) and Utah Valley University (UVU). The program consists of 18 credit hours of courses which leads to an endorsement in Educational Technology.
Most participants take about 2 years to complete all requirements, though it can be done in a single year. You have 3 years to complete the program. Credit earned in the program can also be used for salary lane changes.Coursework can be applied towards a Master degree program from UVU.
The ETEP requires nine (9) credits from UVU and nine (9) credits from a variety of blended learning and technology courses. These courses can be completed through Jordan District or UEN. Attendance at an EdTech conference is also required.
In order to earn an educational technology endorsement, a participant must complete courses totaling 18 credits.
You can find additional information about course offerings and Frequently Asked Questions on our Digital Learning Website.
The Educational Technology Endorsement comprises a blend of evening face-to-face sessions and online learning in which teachers explore ways to leverage classroom technology in a constructivist, student centered approach to increase instructional effectiveness and student achievement. Registration for 2020 cohort begins October 1, 2019.
To Register for the 2020 Cohort, please visit digitallearning.jordandistrict.org/endorsement-registration/.
K-3 Can Google Too!
You know what you can do with G Suite for Education and what students in grades 4-6 can do. What about our little learners. G Suite for Education is for them too. In this course we will learn that even students in grades K-3 can use the features of Google Classroom, Docs, Slides, Forms, and Drawing. Google Classroom is an easy file management system that students can easily access and teachers can place assignments.
Each module will have a brief review of the Google App and then we will focus on how you can use these tools with our littlest learners. Creating interactive drawings, interactive math manipulatives, interactive posters, etc. It just takes a little creativity, time and patience to move these little learners into the digital age.
1 USBECredit or Relicensure Credit available | Appropriate for grades K-3
The Center for STEM and Digital Learning is proud to offer opportunities for teachers to distinguish themselves as advanced users of digital tools in the classroom.
Certificates are comprised of learning workshops that are intended to build skills to implement tools into regular core instruction. Each certificate is a learning opportunity that allows teachers to dive deeper into STEM and digital tools.
Teachers have the opportunity to earn certificates in Google, Canvas, MasteryConnect, Nearpod, Adobe, and Common Sense Media. Each certificate is eligible for a $200 stipend and 1 USBE credit that can be used as an elective toward the Ed Tech Endorsement.
These programs are funded by the Digital Teaching and Learning Grant. Apply now!
Google Certified Educator
If you're an educator who knows how to use Google tools in the classroom, Google certifications prove your proficiency. Through our certification courses, Jordan District teachers can work toward Google Educator certifications. Google Certifications begins September 17, 2019, and runs through December 31, 2019. Course can be taken online with optional workshops Tuesday evenings.
Canvas Certificate
This certificate is designed for Jordan educators to show competency in Canvas. The final project will be to create a Canvas classroom that includes blended learning activities. Course is held Wednesday evenings.
Sept. 11 - Oct. 30, 2019
Nearpod Certificate
Distinguish yourself as a Nearpod Certified Educator. Here you will learn all the basics of Nearpod and the final project will result in your being name a Nearpod Certified Educator.
Course can be taken online with optional workshops Tuesday evenings.
Oct.1 - Nov. 12, 2019
Common Sense Certificate
Common Sense Media certification is available in order to promote and support the safe and appropriate use of digital tools within Jordan School District.
This program will be under the direction of school Digital Teacher Leaders
Center for STEM and Digital Learning Newsletter