The HPELW Department is providing Portfolio Training for all Elementary Physical Education Teachers on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, from 4 to 5:30 PM.  

This session will provide an overview of the TN Physical Education Student Growth Portfolio Model, focusing on:

• 2nd Grade: Locomotor Skills
• 5th Grade: Overhand Throw Skills
• Pre- and Post-Test procedures

Note: The Portfolio counts for 35% of a teacher’s LOE Score – making this training essential.

Register in PLZ: Course #48837 – Physical Education Elementary Portfolio Training Labs

For questions, contact:

• Jim Harbin – Harbinj1@scsk12.org
• Jeremiah Bland – Blandj@scsk12.org
• Dr. Rahmod Traylor – Traylorr@scsk12.org

The Textbook Services has completed deliveries of elementary and middle school student editions for the Science adoption. The high school phase is now in progress. Once high school deliveries are complete, we will begin distributing teacher editions, teacher resources, and instructional kits to schools.

• Each school’s textbook coordinator must check all boxes upon delivery to confirm that the correct quantities of materials have been received before distribution to staff.
• If your school has not yet appointed a textbook coordinator, please do so immediately by completing the [Textbook Collection Survey].
• All K-12 core content classes should already have access to their digital science materials while schools await the arrival of physical copies. Further updates will be shared as the rollout progresses.

Thank you for your support and patience as we work to ensure every school has the materials needed for a smooth transition to the new Science adoption.

For questions, please contact:

 Dr. Rahmod Traylor, traylorr@scsk12.org  

Tiara Oliver OLIVERT4@scsk12.org 

Dr. Amy Maples MAPLESA@scsk12.org  

Please find the MTSS Lead Updates for the Week of 9/8/25.

Monthly newsletters for Social Studies K-12 have been shared via Teacher Weekly this week. Be sure to view the professional support offered. Newsletters are in the Supporting Documents folder. Use this link to access the folder: 

2. Supporting Documents

If there is a teacher who needs instructional support in your building, email Sonya Porter at portersb@scsk12.org to schedule support in addition to the building-level support provided. 

Monthly Social Studies Teacher support includes Social Studies Updates K-12 (virtual -September 8), SS K-12 Teacher Support – Monday, September 15 (in person), New Teacher Cohort – Tuesday, 9/16 (in person). Please encourage teachers to sign up using PLZ.

ESL Program Exit Ceremony Celebration
We are excited to honor the achievements of students who successfully exited ESL services during the 2024–2025 school year.

Please join us for a special Exit Ceremony on Thursday, September 18, from 6 to 7 PM at Greater Imani Church, 3824 Austin Peay Hwy., Memphis, TN 38128.

Kindly RSVP using the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/U8R1SbmE9e.
Let’s come together to recognize and applaud our students’ hard work and progress! 

ILP Monitoring Forms for English Learners and Transitional 1 &2 students were released in ELLevation on September 3rd and must be completed by September 17th. Monitoring Forms are integral to student support systems and are required to be completed quarterly. Please make every effort to ensure your teachers complete these monitoring forms by the due date each quarter. Future due dates are December 19th for Q2, March 13th for Q3, and May 21st for Q4.

We are proud to celebrate students who exited ESL services in the 2024–2025 school year. Please join us for the Exit Ceremony on Thursday, September 18, from 6:00–7:00 PM at Greater Imani Church, 3824 Austin Peay Hwy, Memphis, TN 38128.  Let’s honor our students' hard work and achievements together!  

All high schools are encouraged to hold quarterly ESL data meetings in support of the ML Academic Success Assurance Protocol (ML ASAP). Recommended participants include the ESL Teacher(s), PLC Coach and/or Instructional Facilitator, Content Area Leads. Counselors and Administrators are encouraged to participate as well. The Q1 ESL Data Meeting Template can be found here. For questions, reach out to Mr. Michael Cortez, cortezl@scsk12.org, or Ms. Melissa Basel, delahuntym@scsk12.org.   

In-Person PDs are offered at the Office of Multilingual Learners (OML) unless otherwise indicated - 3030 Jackson Ave, Memphis, TN 38122  

September 16 - ESL 101 Collaborative Session for New/Novice ESL Teachers, "Planning for Language Rich Lessons," 4-5:30 PM  

September 17 - ILP Progress Monitoring Forms from all content and ESL teachers due in ELLevation  

September 30 - ESL 101 Work Session for New/Novice ESL Teachers, "Collaborative Planning," 4-5:30 PM  

October 1st is the deadline to finalize the student count for the TDOE. The district’s EL count will not include students who are not identified and properly coded in EIS by Oct.1. Please work with your ESL teachers to ensure students are identified and screened by this date.  

Registration for the TEM TEACHer Training Series is now open in PLZ.  Teachers may register using course #48814. 

This series is targeted for new teachers or educators needing a refresher on the TEACH Indicators. It is intended to support teachers with identifying teacher and student actions that guide effective instruction at performance levels 3–5 of the TEACH indicators.

Questions? Please reach out to eps@scsk12.org.  

Reminder: All Returning Observer participants must complete their TEM coursework and calibration by September 30.

Questions? Please reach out to eps@scsk12.org.  

The Fall Student Perception Survey will be administered October 27 - November 7. School Administrators should complete this form to indicate the site coordinator for their school by September 15, 2025.

In the absence of a designated Site Coordinator, the Principal will serve in that capacity.

Should you have any questions, please reach out to Employee Performance and support.

Phone: 901.416.2475 | Email: eps@scsk12.org.

• All NIE plans have populated.  Visibility in the evaluator's staff evaluation tab requires the employee to select his/her evaluator.
• All TEAM evaluation plans have populated.  Visibility in the evaluator's staff evaluation tab requires the employee to select his/her evaluator.
• TEM Classroom/Non-Classroom plans are populating daily.  All TEM Classroom/Non-Classroom plans are expected to be uploaded by September 15.

Initial Evaluation Tracks

At the beginning of the school year, all educators will be placed on one of two evaluation tracks:

Novice:  No prior year LOE.  Any educator who has no prior year LOE will be assigned to the novice evaluation track, as well as non-PYE (Partial Year Exempt) educators who have missing or incomplete TEM components (e.g., observations, professionalism, or student growth data)

Proficient:  All educators who are expected to generate a LOE will be placed on the Proficient track.

Instructions for New MSCS Educators Expected to Receive SY24-25 LOE Scores

Educators who joined MSCS from another District in Tennessee and are expected to generate a LOE score should notify Employee Performance and Support via email when their SY24-25 LOE score is received.  Evaluation tracks for these employees will be processed upon verification of scores in TN Compass.   

Future Track Adjustments

All other SY25-26 evaluation tracks will automatically be adjusted in mid-January to accurately reflect SY24-25 Level of Overall Effectiveness (LOE) scores.  The updated evaluation track changes will be visible in PLZ and on the Evaluation KPI Dashboard.  A notification will also be placed in Leaderboard.  

Questions:  Email Employee Performance at Support-eps@scsk12.org

RETURNING NIE Evaluators that were previously NIE Certified during SY24-25, NIE Recertification is NOT REQUIRED for SY2025-2026. Team members can select you as their NIE evaluator in PLZ.

NEW NIE Evaluators  

For SY2025-26, there are 2 options offered in attaining NIE Evaluator Certification.  

• Self-Paced (Canvas)
• Live/Virtual Session

Course numbers and date information can be found HERE.  

Questions? Please reach out to eps@scsk12.org. 

SUPPORT FOR HOMELESS STUDENTS: ASSISTANCE WITH PROGRAM FEES

If you have students experiencing homelessness who are being asked to pay fees to participate in school programs, please know that our office can assist with covering those costs. This also applies to cap and gown fees for high school graduation.

To request payment, please follow-up with the school’s Financial Secretary to coordinate submission of a completed Payment Request Form along with a detailed description of the fees.

For additional information or assistance, please contact Karen Ball-Johnson at ballkf@scsk12.org or call 901-416-7393.

Per Policy #6065, the Office of Student Leadership will offer training for middle and high schools to beginning SGA & Student Council advisors. 

Participants will receive a step-by-step implementation plan to help schools establish a successful SGA and/or Student Council. A calendar of upcoming events (local and statewide) will be provided, in addition to information on fundraising, team-building, and community service projects.

Date:            Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Time:            3:15 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Location:      Central High School (Library), 306 South Bellevue

PLZ Course: 48754

PURPOSE:   To provide guidelines for the operation of student councils in each of the district’s middle and high schools.

Please be sure to review Student Government (Policy 6065).

This policy applies to middle schools and high schools. ​

Each school shall establish an elected student council. The council shall be governed by its own constitution, which shall be approved by the school principal. Defining the council’s jurisdiction shall be a joint and cooperative effort of the council, students, and the student government constitution.

Please provide the contact information for your school's Student Council or Student Government Association by Monday, September 1, 2025. Sign-Up Link: https://forms.office.com/r/kx9gwvLFxV

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Billy J. Walker, II <Walkerbj@scsk12.org>.

Please be sure to review Student Congress (​Policy 6061).​ 

Principal and staff student recommendations​: Each high school must have a minimum of 2 representatives (9th – 12th)​. Each middle school must have a minimum of one 8th grade representative​. Deadline: Friday, August 29, 2025​ ​ 

Sign up Link: https://forms.office.com/r/b40w4smEsy

PURPOSE: The purpose of this policy is to establish the district-wide Student Congress as a mechanism for increasing students’ voices in the District; enhance the educational experience of students; and allow the Board to gain greater insight into educational needs from the student’s point of view.

SAVE THE DATE: Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025 - Student Congress Retreat 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

STUDENT CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

Please be sure to review Student Clubs and Organizations (Policy 6064).​

Each school shall distribute a list of available clubs and organizations in the student handbook or equivalent. 

The list shall include: ​ 

• The names of the clubs and organizations, including any abbreviations or acronyms; ​
• The mission and purpose of the clubs and organizations; ​
• All financial requirements associated with membership in the club or organization; and ​
• The procedures for providing informed written consent by parents and/or legal guardians for minor students to join or participate in those organizations.​

Student Clubs and Organizations allow for students to be connected to their school through a club or extracurricular activity. Each school is requested to host their own Student Clubs and Organization sign-up opportunities within the first month of school to allow students to select clubs, organizations, etc. These days may be structured through lunches, activity periods, homerooms, English classes, etc. to ensure access for all students. 

We are pleased to invite your school to participate in the upcoming Youth Leadership & Mental Wellness Workshop, on Friday, September 19, 2025, from 9:30 AM to 1 PM at the Renasant Convention Center.

This youth-focused event is designed to empower middle and high school students through a dynamic blend of keynote inspiration, interactive sessions, and peer collaboration.

Conference Theme: "Ready. Set. Grow. Student Leadership"
This year's theme reflects our mission to equip students with the mindset, tools, and confidence to lead with empathy, resilience, and purpose.

The conference will focus on the 5 A’s (Academics, Attendance, Attitude, Athletics, Arts) and include:

• Mental wellness and emotional growth
• Equity and student voice
• Conflict resolution
• Leadership development
• Student-led change and action

What We Need from You:

• Select 5 students from your school (middle and high school levels) who demonstrate leadership potential or would benefit from this experience.
• Assign one non-teacher staff member to attend as a chaperone for your student group.
• Complete the registration form by Friday, September 5, 2025, using the link below:

Registration Form: https://forms.office.com/r/R1jy91cyxs

Transportation:

Bus transportation will be provided for all student groups. Final logistics, including pickup times and locations, will be shared closer to the event date.

We look forward to your school’s participation in this powerful day of learning, growth, and connection. Please feel free to reach out with any questions.

Thank you for supporting the development of the next generation of youth leaders.

We are excited to invite one teacher from your school to participate in an upcoming virtual training hosted by the Sandy Hook Promise Foundation as part of their nationally recognized Start With Hello initiative.

About Start With Hello:

Start With Hello teaches K-12 students how to recognize the signs of social isolation and empowers them to create a more inclusive and connected school environment. It is part of the SAVE (Students Against Violence Everywhere) Promise Club framework, which promotes youth-led violence prevention, leadership, and a stronger sense of belonging within schools.

Training Details:

Program: Start With Hello – SAVE Leadership Training

Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025

Time: 8:30 AM – 11 AM

Format: Online via Zoom

Zoom Link: Will be provided directly by the Sandy Hook Promise Foundation prior to the session

Stipend: Participating teachers will receive a $100 stipend.

Additional Details:

Teachers who attend the training also will serve as the SAVE Promise Club Advisor for their school, supporting students in implementing Start With Hello initiatives.

Each participating school will receive a bundle of materials and resources delivered directly to the campus to help launch and sustain their SAVE Club efforts.

Action Required:

Please select one teacher from your school who is passionate about student leadership, school culture, or social-emotional learning. Have them register by the August 25 deadline, using the link below:

Registration Link: https://forms.office.com/r/eeJJUC5ax0

Thank you for supporting this powerful opportunity to create safer, more inclusive, and student-empowered school communities. Please feel free to reach out with any questions.

Thank you for submitting the name of your 2025–2026 Tutoring Coordinator. As a reminder, all schools are expected to implement a before- or after-school tutoring program for the current school year.

We now ask that you and your team begin prioritizing students for tutoring enrollment. Tutoring will begin on Monday, September 8, 2025, for all Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

Student Recruitment and Enrollment

• Tutoring spaces are limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Priority must be given to students who were previously retained, are overage for grade, or scored Below or Approaching based on last year’s data.
• Only after exhausting this list may schools extend invitations to Met or Exceeded students.
• Please have your Tutoring Coordinator and team begin contacting families of prioritized students immediately.

Parent Registration: Parents should register students via the PowerSchool Portal under Forms → General Forms. The tutoring toolkit can be found here. The toolkit includes family communication materials (phone script, parent email, FAQ, and flyer). 

Staffing and Tutor Allocations

• Your site’s tutor allocation (maximum certified and non-certified positions) can be found using the link here: 25-26 tutoring allocations
  • Example: If your allocation is 12 (8 certified + 4 non-certified), you may hire any combination of certified and non-certified tutors, but the total may not exceed 12.
• Final enrollment is dependent on your school’s staffing.
• Each school must identify at least one resource teacher to provide tutoring. If unavailable, identified students will be served by a general education teacher.
• Tutoring positions will be posted on the MSCS Careers website by the end of this week. Please encourage teachers and educational assistants to apply.

Program Fast Facts

• Dates: September 8, 2025 – April 10, 2026
• Grades: K–12
• Ratio: 1:8 tutor-to-student (8 students must attend regularly per group)
• Scheduling Options:
  • A) 3 days per week, 1 hour per day
  • B) 2 days per week, 1.5 hours per day
• Instructional Focus:
  • Elementary/Middle: ELA and/or Math
  • High School: EOC/ACT content (grades 9–12)

• Tutor Coordinator Compensation: $2,500 Stipend per Semester

• Tutor Pay:
  • Certified/Permit Teacher: $30/hour
  • Non-Certified Tutor: $20/hour

Coordinator Training

• Date: Tuesday, September 2, 2025
• Time: 4:30 p.m.
• Location: Colonial Middle School

The Office of Extended Learning will begin communicating directly with Tutoring Coordinators this week.

If you have any questions, please contact Kimberly Hamilton at hamiltonky@scsk12.org.

Thank you for your continued leadership and commitment to student success.

National Voter Registration Day is coming up on Tuesday, September 16, and we’re excited to once again engage and empower our students through voter registration efforts across Shelby County. With the next local election scheduled for May 5, we’ll be registering all students who will turn 18 before the end of the school year to ensure they are ready to participate in our democracy. Sign-up for your free kit here.

This is also a time to celebrate! We are proud to recognize several high schools that earned the Anne Dallas Dudley Award from Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett for achieving outstanding student voter registration benchmarks:

Gold Level (100% of eligible students registered):

• Raleigh-Egypt School
• Compass Midtown High School

Silver Level (85%+ of eligible students registered):

• Booker T. Washington High School
• Central High School
• Medical District High School
• Whitehaven High School

Congratulations to these schools for your leadership in civic engagement!

We encourage all high schools to participate in this year’s voter registration efforts and aim high; your students could be next to earn this honor.

How to Register to Vote

Online Voter Registration:
Students with a Tennessee driver’s license or state ID can register online at www.shelbyvote.com/register-vote or by scanning the QR code below.

By Mail:
Download and print the voter registration application here: Tennessee Voter Registration Form (PDF)

GoVoteTN App:
Students can download the GoVoteTN app at govotetn.com for easy access to voter information and online registration.

Let’s work together to ensure that every eligible student is registered and ready to vote. Thank you for your continued commitment to civic engagement and leadership in your schools.