If you have not already, please submit your Literacy Commitment Point of Contact via the Leadership Launchpad.

Principals can access the app to add their School-Based Contacts using the following link: https://org08b2405b.crm.dynamics.com/main.aspx?appid=af0c034f-d3af-ee11-a569-00224805ce7e&pagetype=entitylist&etn=account&viewid=cf497b75-d5af-ee11-a569-00224805c274&viewType=1039

The user guide can be found here: https://scsk12.sharepoint.com/:u:/r/sites/MSCSBusinessSystemsSolutions/SitePages/School-Based-Contacts.aspx?csf=1&web=1&share=EcR3bHZk2mZGm6PswsT5nZYBD_HL6q1OJG5bTABGWzlE9w&e=Mt39IJ

Continue to reach out to Dr. Amy Maples (maplesa@scsk12.org) with any questions.

All textbook coordinators are required to complete the Textbook Automation Inventory Training for ClassGather (Course #49116). This training will ensure consistency and accuracy in managing textbook inventory across all schools.

Training Outcomes (Know, Understand, Do):

· Know: How to access and navigate the ClassGather system, scan and record textbooks, receive shipments, assign books, and maintain accurate records.

· Understand: The importance of accurate inventory for accountability, equitable distribution, compliance, and audit-readiness.

· Do: Perform essential ClassGather tasks, including logging in, receiving shipments, scanning and assigning textbooks, reconciling counts, and generating reports.

Training Dates:

· Tuesday, October 7, 2025

· Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Each session is designed to equip coordinators with the skills to align inventory processes and ensure all materials are accounted for. Attendance is mandatory.

For questions, please contact: Dr. Rahmod Traylor at traylorr@scsk12.org, Tiara Oliver at OLIVERT4@scsk12.org or Dr. Amy Maples at MAPLESA@scsk12.org.

Please find the MTSS Lead Weekly Updates for the week of September 29.

Middle School Principals and Mathematics Instructors are requested to review the following voiceover from the Onyx team:  Onyx for Middle School Mathematics.  This research has been approved by Dr. Richmond to support the integration of culturally relevant practices within mathematics instruction.  Onyx content was slated to present at August LDW, but the virtual presentation did not occur due to tech issues on the vendor side.   

Principals will submit the names/emails of two mathematics teachers to participate in the following form:

https://forms.office.com/r/4v4cuuqq7h, by Wednesday, October 8.

Feel free to reach out to Dr. Maples (maplesa@scsk12.org) or Antronette Brown, Math Manager (brownac@scsk12.org) with any questions.

ILP Monitoring Forms for English Learners and Transitional 1 & 2 students were originally released on September 3. Due to a syncing glitch, all original forms were closed and archived. New ILP Monitoring Forms were then released on September 15 and must be completed by September 30 in ELLevation. Monitoring Forms are integral to our student support systems and required by Federal and State guidelines. Please make every effort to help your teachers complete these monitoring forms by the due date. 

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 Michael Cortez, cortezl@scsk12.org, or 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 30 – ESL  101 Work Session for New/Novice ESL Teachers, "Collaborative Planning," In-Person, 4-5:30 PM  

October 1 – Flashlight 360, In-Person, 3-4:30 PM 

October 1 – Footsteps 2 Brilliance, [Virtual], 4-5 PM  

October 2 – ELD/ELA Standards Crosswalk Training, [Virtual], 3:30-4:30 PM 

October 7 – Lexia English for New Users, [Virtual], 3:30-5 PM 

October 8 – October ESL Monthly Meeting for all ESL Teachers, Virtual on Teams, 8:15 AM, 2:30 PM, 3:30 PM 

October 9 – Learning A-Z: Raz-Plus Orientation, [Virtual] 4-5 PM 

November 13-15 – TNTESOL Conference at the Sheraton Hotel and Renasant Convention Center, Memphis  

October 1, 2025, 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.  

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.

Homeless Student Referral Information

To ensure timely support, all McKinney-Vento referral forms have been uploaded to the Special Populations SharePoint. In order for services to be initiated, a completed referral must be submitted to our office. Once received, a team member will contact the parent or caretaker within 48–72 hours. Please use the SharePoint link below to access the referral forms.  

MSCS Displaced Referral Forms.pdf

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, October 7, 2025 *New Date*

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.

Sign-Up Link: https://forms.office.com/r/kx9gwvLFxV

SAVE THE DATES- Tennessee Association of Student Councils Fall Workshops:  

https://tascofficial.org/

Middle Schools THEME: Lassoing Leadership (Hosted by Kate Bond Middle School)

Date & Time: Friday, November 21, 2025 8:30 AM - 12:15 PM 

Location: Bellevue Baptist Church Cordova, TN

MS Registration Link: https://omella.com/vj6ie

High Schools THEME: Lasso Your Leadership In The Wild Wild West 

Date & Time: Monday, November 3, 2025 8:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. 

Location: Ripley High School Ripley, TN

HS Registration Link: https://omella.com/7o8ia

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

The window for completing Growth & Achievement selections for the 2025–26 school year is open through October 3, 2025.

Guidance documents for both Educators and Evaluators are available in PLZ under the Resources tab. These materials provide step-by-step support for completing Growth & Achievement selections.

Should you have any questions, please reach out to the Employee Performance and Support Office at 901.416.2475 or eps@scsk12.org.

Fine Arts, Physical Education (2nd and 5th grades), Pre-K, and World Language (French and Spanish) educators will submit TEAM Student Growth Portfolios for SY2025-26. Please complete the TEAM Student Growth Portfolio Teacher Information form by Friday, September 26.  

Questions or concerns? Send an email to eps@scsk12.org.

Click the link below to view important information regarding SY25-26 Evaluation Plans and Tracks.

SY25-26 Evaluation Plans and Tracks

Questions or concerns? Email eps@scsk12.org.

Employee Performance and Support in Partnership with the Peer Assistance and Review team is excited to announce the opening of registration for the TEM TEACHer Training Series in PLZ.  Teachers may register using course #48814.

This series is targeted for new teachers or educators needing a refresher on the TEACH Indicatiors.  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 Time Is Now!  The Goal Setting season is here and Non-Instructional evaluations are available in PLZ! All Non-Instructional employees must have a Goal Setting Conference as the first step of the performance appraisal process.  As a reminder, the Goal Setting Conference should be completed within 30 days of the NIE employee’s hire/contract start date.​ 

Click HERE  for more NIE Goal Setting Conference details. 

The Goal Setting process is simple: 

1) Select your evaluator. 

2) Enter your goals. 

3) Meet with your supervisor for the Goal Setting Conference. 

4) Finalize AND sign off on the form in PLZ.

ALL NIE Goal Setting Conferences should be 100% complete by October 24 for all NIE personnel.   

For your reference, please see the step guides below. 

• NIE Evaluator Step Guide
• NIE Employee Step Guide
• NIE Goal Setting Conference Tutorial

Please reach out to your EPS advisor if you have additional questions or email EPS@scsk12.org.  

The Fall Student Perception Site Coordinator Training will be held via Microsoft Teams on the following dates:

• Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at 10 a.m.
• Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 10 a.m. or 4 p.m.

Participants will learn the roles of coordinators, teachers, and students in the survey process and develop a school survey administration plan.

For questions, please contact EPS at eps@scsk12.org or reach out to Chiquita Allen-Bradley at allenbradleyc@scsk12.org. 

November 2025 Flex Days
The November Flex Days are scheduled for November 24-26, 2025. These days are earned time off for educators who have completed 18 hours of designated professional learning outside of their regular contracted workday by November 3, 2025. 

Eligibility Requirements: 

To qualify for the November Flex Days, educators must: 

Complete 18 hours of professional learning outside the regular workday 

Ensure all hours are reflected on their PLZ transcript 

Complete district-approved Canvas courses listed on the 2025-2026 PL Hours Flyer.pdf 

Important Dates: 

November 3 – 5: Grading window

November 6 – 7: Teacher will retrieve professional learning transcript in PLZ and submit to school leader or principal designee.

November 10-13: School leaders review transcripts

November 14: Report ineligible staff 

November 17: Notification sent to ineligible teachers

November 18-19: Teachers may submit evidence for review 

Additional Notes:
 
Afterschool PD and District Learning Days do not count toward Flex Day credit. 

Teachers hired or returning from leave after September 9, 2025, may be exempt from some course requirements. 

QR codes will be provided to schools for attendance tracking during Flex Days. 

For questions or support, please contact Performance and Leadership Development at performanceandleadership@scsk12.org.

Thank you for your continued commitment to professional learning! 

Thank you for your active engagement during September Leadership Development Week. Your contributions helped make it a meaningful and impactful experience. 

As a follow-up, please find the shared resource folder linked below for your continued reference and support: September LDW Resources

If you would like to access previous LDW resources, please use this link: 2025-2026 LDW Resources

Save the Date for October Leadership Development Week: October 27-30.

Contact Us: performanceandleadership@scsk12.org 

Principals, please inform all instructional leadership team members who were unable to attend the initial session that a make-up opportunity will be held on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, from 4 PM to 5 PM in the Multipurpose Room at the Teaching & Learning Academy (2485 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN 38112). Flyer: ILT Make-up Session Flyer Template 9.30.2025v141.pdf

The link below will allow Regional Superintendents, Instructional Leadership Coaches, Principals, Asst. Principals, Vice Principals, and Deans of Students the ability to track their school's progress in the Evaluation KPI Dashboard.  

• Evaluation KPI Dashboard

If you have questions about the Evaluation KPI Dashboard, reach out to EPS at eps@scsk12.org.

ILT Content Leads Save the Dates for Future 2025-26 ILT Support Sessions. All ILT Content Leads must attend the monthly ILT Support Sessions outlined in the flyer to be eligible to receive the semester stipend. 2025 26 ILT Support Session Dates w PLZ Codes 9.15.2025.pdf

The Introduction to the Student Perception Survey training will be held on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at 4 p.m. via Microsoft Teams.

Participants will gain insight into the role of student surveys in educator evaluations, the administration process, and the Panorama platform.

For questions, please contact the Employee Performance and Support Office at 901.416.2475 or eps@scsk12.org, or reach out to Chiquita Allen-Bradley at allenbradleyc@scsk12.org

Effective September 22, 2025, approval from your Regional Superintendent is required when enrolling students in a Grade Results Credit Accrual course that is also a tested subject (TCAP or EOC). More detailed information can be found in the flyer linked HERE. Questions? Contact Rochelle Griffin at griffinrj@scsk12.org.

Hosted by the Exceptional Children Department & Family and Community Engagement Department

This October, Memphis-Shelby County Schools is proud to host a series of educational and family-centered sessions designed to provide awareness, strategies, and resources for supporting children on the autism spectrum. These sessions are tailored for families, school staff, and administrators to strengthen understanding and collaboration in both home and school environments.

Session 1: Autism Awareness for School Staff

Date: Monday, October 6
Time: 10:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Location: Microsoft Teams

Overview:
This professional learning session will focus on autism awareness and provide school staff with strategies to support students with autism in the academic environment. The training will highlight common characteristics of autism, classroom strategies, and practical tools for fostering inclusion. Exceptional Children staff will be available to answer questions and offer additional supports.

Audience: School staff and administrators

Morning session link: Join Here

Afternoon session link: Join Here

Session 2: Parent & Caregiver Behavior Supports

Date: Tuesday, October 7
Time: 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Location: Microsoft Teams

Overview:
This monthly session is designed for parents and caregivers of children with exceptionalities. The focus will be on behavior supports that families can use at home to promote positive outcomes for their children. Participants will receive practical strategies, have the opportunity to ask questions, and connect with Exceptional Children specialists.

Registration: Families interested in attending can register here. After registering, a meeting link will be provided.

Audience: Parents and caregivers

Session 3: MSCS Family Forum – Autism Awareness & Support

Date: Wednesday, October 8
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Microsoft Teams

Overview:
This Family Forum session will highlight autism awareness and available supports within Memphis-Shelby County Schools. The Exceptional Children team will provide guidance and resources, while special guests Kia (Kia Shine) and Queen Coleman will share their journey as parents of a child with autism. This session is designed to inspire, inform, and strengthen family-school partnerships.

Audience: Families, caregivers, community members, and educators

Session link: Join Here