To support school leaders in preparing for the November 2025 Flex Days (November 24–26), the Performance and Leadership Development team has released the November Flex Days Leader Toolkit.

This comprehensive resource includes:

• Eligibility criteria for teacher participation
• Required Canvas courses
• Guidance for reviewing PLZ transcripts
• Communication protocols for reporting ineligibility
• Submission forms and FAQs

Access the toolkit here: November Flex Days Leader Toolkit

For questions, contact: performanceandleadership@scsk12.org

The window for completing Growth & Achievement selections for the 2025–26 school year is September 12 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:

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

Including teachers who hold active permits. Access to the platform will be granted in mid-October.  

Once rostered, teachers will receive an email from TeachAll with further directions about account access.  As a reminder, a State Single Sign-On is required to log into the Platform.  Educators may reach out to their Content Advisors or the District Portfolio Lead, Floresha Smith, to receive their State SSO. 

While waiting for access to the platform, teachers are encouraged to explore the following resources to prepare for their portfolio journey:

• Portfolio Platform – TNPortfolio
• Portfolio Teacher Guidance

Questions or concerns? Send an email to 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.

Please register for this course in PLZ using course #48817. 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 Employee Performance and Support via telephone: 901.416.2475 or email: eps@scsk12.org, You may also reach out to the SPS Survey Lead, Chiquita Allen-Bradley at allenbradleyc@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? Send an email to 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 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.  

We are excited to announce the start of Leadership Labs Cycle 2, providing you with intentional, job-embedded professional development to support your growth.

Leadership Labs Cycle 2 Details

Who:      Principals, Assistant Principals, Vice Principals, and PLC Coaches

When:    Begins Monday, October 6

Time:     3 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Where:   TLA in Room W115/W116

These labs are designed to be a collaborative space for you to learn, practice, and refine the essential skills needed to lead high-performing schools.

Facilitation Team

The sessions will be led by a team of experts, including our Instructional Leadership Coaches, School Leaders, and Central Office Leadership.

Cycle 2 Focus Sessions

Cycle 2 will focus on critical, practical leadership topics:

• Understanding Site-Based Leadership Decision-Making
• Understanding the Leadership of Marketing your School to sustain and increase enrollment
• Integrating CCTE in your School Community
• Skillful Coaching: Expertise, Competence, and Confidence

Please use the link below to review more details and to complete your required PLZ Registration:

Click Link Here: Leadership Labs October.pdf 

We look forward to engaging with you during this leadership development work.

Daniel L. Jack, Ed.D.

Director - Leadership Pathways/Development

We are conducting our first Aspiring Teacher Support Sessions for the 2025–2026 school year. These sessions are designed for Aspiring Teachers who are currently teaching under a permit. Below are the scheduled session dates for October:

• First-Year Aspiring Teachers:
  October 7 | 5 PM – 6:30 PM
• Second-Year Aspiring Teachers:
  October 9 | 5 PM – 6:30 PM
• Third-Year Aspiring Teachers:
  October 22 | 5 PM – 6:30 PM

Status updates regarding Aspiring Teacher attendance will be provided to all building leaders following the sessions. Please ensure that your teachers are informed of these mandatory sessions.

Thank you for your continued support as we coordinate these important professional learning opportunities.

Principals,

The New Teacher Mentor Orientation Meeting for the 2025–2026 school year will be held virtually on Wednesday, October 8, from 4:30 PM to 5 PM.

Eligible mentors will receive a Microsoft Teams link to join the session. For reference, the flyer is available here.

Thank you for your continued support in ensuring mentors are informed and prepared to engage in this important orientation.

Principals: This is a reminder to complete and submit your school’s Teacher of the Year nomination.

MSCS Teacher of the Year.png

To support our commitment to high-quality professional learning and to ensure that educators are able to receive State-approved Professional Development Points as outlined by TNDOE Educator Licensure Policy #5.502, we have provided the steps to ensure that your professional learning opportunities meet the criteria for State Review. Please follow the steps linked here.

Additional Resources

• Course Creation Overview.pdf
• Attendance Reporting Steps.pdf

Contact Steven Lockhart @ lockharts@scsk12.org for questions and support.

Regional Superintendents and Principals, please review the linked revised memo regarding the Fall 2025 ILT Lead stipend submission deadline of December 8, 2025. Principals are asked to ensure all required documentation is submitted on time to support timely stipend processing. For questions, contact Ron Clark at 416-5930.

REVISED MEMO ILT Fall 2025 Stipend Deadline (003).docx

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 21, 2025, at 4:15 pm

· Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 4:15 pm

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, traylorr@scsk12.org Tiara Oliver OLIVERT4@scsk12.org

All Lifetime Wellness teachers who have been certified in First Aid and CPR training will receive training on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, and Wednesday, October 8, 2025. Training will be virtual, and a Teams link will be emailed directly to teachers who have been aligned.

Training Dates:

· Tuesday, October 7, 2025, 3:30 p.m.

· Wednesday, October 8, 2025, 3:30 p.m.

For questions, please contact: Dr. Trina Holly at HOLLYTM@scsk12.org.

As 12-month employees, all SEAs are required to work during Fall Break, October 13-17, 2025.  To ensure all SEAs are supported and accounted for during Fall Break, SEAs were asked to complete the steps outlined below by 5 p.m., Friday, October 3, 2025: 

• If your school is hosting, do not sign up – you will remain at your current location.

If your school is not hosting Fall Break Academy, use the form to select your preferred site. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050B4FACA722A3FA7-59158018-fall

If a signup is not received by the deadline, a location will be assigned to you. 

Fall Break Academy is October 13-16, 2025, and asynchronous assignments will be provided for October 17, 2025.

If you prefer to utilize your vacation days, please complete the following form: https://forms.office.com/r/qKiJpd1pXr.

A final report of SEA submissions will be provided to all K-5 principals, Fall Break Academy site coordinators, and financial secretaries to ensure accurate reporting and compensation.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Heba Sammour (sammourh@scsk12.org) or Dr. Amy Maples (maplesa@scsk12.org).

MTSS Lead Weekly Updates for Week of October 6.

As part of state legislation and the district’s ongoing commitment to student safety, parent letters for the Firearm Safety Curriculum have been prepared and are ready to be shared with families.

Parent letters provide:

· An overview of the purpose and importance of the curriculum

· Details on what students will be learning at each grade level

· Resources and guidance for reinforcing firearm safety at home

Letters are available in English and Spanish to ensure all families can fully engage. Please share these letters with your school community to support consistent communication with parents.

Together, we are empowering our students with age-appropriate tools to respond safely if they encounter a firearm. Parent Letter

For questions, please contact Dr. Rahmod Traylor, traylorr@scsk12.org Dr Amy. Maples maplesa@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.

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>.

Please ensure that all ESL students are correctly assigned an ESL and/or ELD course code in PowerSchool. Accurate course coding is required for compliance, as it provides evidence of the delivery model the ESL teacher is implementing.  

Retention Prevention documentation for Multilingual Learners who have been assigned a failing grade is due in ELLevation on October 22nd. As a reminder, for Multilingual Learners to be successful, ESL teachers must regularly collaborate with their student's content and general education teachers to monitor their academic progress.

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

October 7 – Lexia English for New Users, [Virtual], 3:30-5:00PM; ESL 101 Collaborative Session for New/Novice ESL Teachers, "ELPA21 Standards & Scaffolds", 4-5:30 PM 

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

October 9 – Learning A-Z: Raz-Plus Orientation, [Virtual] 4:00-5:00 PM 

October 22-Q1 Retention Prevention Work Samples Due  

October 23-K-5 Semester 1 Meeting, [Virtual], 4:00-5:00 PM 

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