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

National Customer Service Week is October 6 – 10, 2025. It is an international celebration that focuses on the importance of customer service and the people who serve and support customers daily. In honor of Customer Service Week, the Office of Constituent Services will highlight front-line employees (school-based and Central Office) who exemplify the true definition of high-quality service. 

As we continue to focus on culture, climate, and the greatness within our great District, we encourage you to celebrate all front-line employees by recognizing staff on school marquees, providing breakfast/lunch/snacks, posting pictures of staff on school websites, sharing customer service best practices, sending a "thank you" email, etc. Let's show those who go above and beyond to provide exemplary customer service just how much they are appreciated! 

5 Reasons to Celebrate Customer Service Week

• Recognize and reward frontline staff for the important work they do all year long
• Boost morale, motivation, and teamwork
• Raise awareness of the important role that customer service plays in your school’s success
• Thank other departments for their support to your school
• Remind your customers of your school’s commitment to customer service

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>.

Featured Reports:
Data for the 2nd 20-Day period is now available in the Show Up for Greatness report. Click here to see the user guide.

The Tutoring Dashboard is available and will start populating data on October 16 (the day after schools begin entering information into PowerSchool). Click here to see the user guides.

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General Updates:

Student Group Filters have been updated. These can be found in every report with Group Type and Group filters (Attendance, Enrollment, Discipline, Assessment, Grades, Tutoring, High School Progress, District 360, RTI, and Summer Learning Academy).

• Overage for Grade is now split into a filter for students overage because of their age, overage because of a previous retention, and overage for any reason.
• Discipline Tier no longer includes truancy incidents in how it’s defined.
• Attendance Tier is a new filter based on the number of District absences a student has.

• Economically Disadvantaged and Direct Certified filters have also been updated to reflect TNDOE business rules.

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Upcoming Training Sessions:

Check out our Training Calendar for all upcoming District Trainings.

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Sign up for Virtual Office Hours!

• This week (10/7 and 10/9), we are covering the Tutoring Dashboard.
• For more information on Virtual Office Hours, check out this flyer! Sessions are on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:30 PM on Microsoft Teams.

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New to Power BI? Sign Up for a Power BI New User Training session. Look for Course Code 34810 in PLZ to sign up. 

Refresher Sessions are available for anyone who attended the New User Training previously and wants more advanced skills. Look for Course Code 34812 in PLZ to sign up.

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Monthly Newsletter: 

Check your inbox! On the first Wednesday of every month, the DAIM team sends out a monthly newsletter to all Power BI users. In it, you will find more information on upcoming trainings, new releases, and how-to guides. 

To see this month’s edition (and all archived editions), visit our support page.
---------------------------- 

Check out our page of new/updated features and releases on our DAIM Support Page!

You can reach out to us at DAIMSUPPORT@scsk12.org  if you need support.   

Greatness Grows Here.

Office of Enrollment and Attendance

Attendance Procedures and Reminders

First 20 Days Recognitions: Show Up for Greatness

• We are excited to celebrate students who have shown exceptional attendance improvement during the first 20 days of school. Our Enrollment and Attendance team has been analyzing data from last year and is thrilled to recognize the hard work of students in various schools and regions.
• Our team will be visiting these schools to personally congratulate these students and encourage them to continue their path toward academic greatness.
• Please be on the lookout for more information regarding these recognition visits. We look forward to celebrating with you!

Greatness at Your Door 2.0

• We're launching the second phase of Greatness at Your Door 2.0, our initiative to improve student attendance. This campaign involves door-to-door visits to families of students who have not been attending school.
• The next outreach event is scheduled for Thursday, October 9, targeting the Northwest region.
• Attendance is mandatory for all Truancy and Attendance Liaisons. Please arrive at the Board of Education (BOE) at 8:30 a.m. for a briefing before we begin. Your full participation is vital to this initiative's success.

Show Up for Greatness: Attendance Monitoring and Recognition

• Our second 20-day school attendance period ended September 29, 2025. Please ensure that all necessary student supports are documented within the Show Up for Greatness Application App. All administrative staff should have access to the platform link, as this remains a mandatory requirement.
• For any questions, please email us at studentservices@scsk12.org.
• By consistently entering attendance data for the Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers every 20 days, we can proactively monitor attendance trends and identify where additional support may be needed.
• Gold : 96% or higher
• Silver : 91% to 95%
• Bronze : 90% or less
• Attendance progress will also be reflected in student reports and report cards, ensuring transparent communication with parents and guardians.

Approval Required for IEP/504 Transfer Rescissions

• For all students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 Plan whose transfer is recommended for rescission, the withdrawal process requires prior approval from the Office of General Counsel. This measure ensures compliance with all relevant special education laws and regulations before the student can be officially withdrawn.

Attendance Reconciliation Model for Improving Student Attendance

• This initiative establishes a consistent framework for monitoring and supporting student attendance, aligning with MSCS district policies to improve overall attendance rates.

Key Responsibilities

Teachers

• Daily Attendance Recording: Teachers are required to accurately record student attendance in PowerSchool SIS within the first ten minutes of each class or school day.

Attendance Clerks/Clerical Assistants/GOS

• Daily Verification: Verify teacher attendance submissions and print, review, and file the daily Absentee Report.
• Check-Ins/Outs Management: Monitor and record all student check-ins and check-outs in PowerSchool SIS.
• Parent Note Processing: Collect, enter into PowerSchool SIS, and file all handwritten parent notes.
• Record attendance for absent teachers and placeholders.

Attendance Liaisons

• Process all electronic parent notes submitted via the Student Absence Form.
• Confirm that all attendance codes (e.g., AC, PC) are updated and used correctly.
• Assist schools with the organization and filing of hard-copy documents, including parent notes, absentee reports, and check-in/out sheets.
• Within PowerSchool SIS, verify the correct use of withdrawal codes and comments, monitor "Teachers Missing Attendance" reports, and ensure the proper use of attendance codes.
• Monitor chronic absenteeism and truancy, collaborating with Family Engagement Specialists, Counselors, Administrators, Student Experiences and others to identify and address family-related barriers to attendance.
• Assist with the implementation of the Parent Student Support Plan (PSSP).
• Engage parents in the "Show Up for Greatness" attendance initiative.
• Participate in CompStat report-outs to provide regular updates on attendance data and efforts.

Student Absence Form Available via PowerSchool Parent Portal

• Please be advised that the Student Absence Form is available for all parents through the PowerSchool Parent Portal. This online form allows parents to easily notify the school of their child’s absence directly from their mobile devices or computers. Parents can also track the status of their absence submission by returning to the portal.

Keep your Contact Information Updated

• To ensure the safety of all students, staff will verify parent or guardian contact information at every check-in and check-out for all students. This is a critical step in keeping our emergency contacts accurate and up to date.

District Attendance Initiative: Show Up for Greatness!

• Our new attendance initiative is designed to support a regional service delivery model and strengthen tiered interventions:

Tiered Intervention Model:

• Tier 1:Show Up for Greatness
• Tier 2:Everyday Counts– NEW partnership with the Assisi Foundation and Attendance Works
• Tier 3:Be Present. Be Great.
• We are also improving alignment between Attendance & Truancy Liaisons and RTI-B Specialists to maximize effectiveness in reducing chronic absenteeism and truancy.

Truancy Outreach: Parent Student Support Plan

• As we intensify our focus on reducing truancy, schools must prioritize identifying students who are chronically absent, defined as five or more unexcused absences.  Early outreach and intervention are essential to re-engage students before absenteeism escalates.  A Parent Student Support Plan (PSSP) is required for every student who accumulates five absences whether excused or unexcused.  The PSSP serves as a proactive tool to address barriers, strengthen family engagement, and support consistent attendance. 
• As we address truancy, our focus will be on students who have not re-enrolled and are marked as no-shows.  These students must be identified early for outreach.
• Monitor your withdrawal list from PowerSchool

Enrollment Procedures and Reminders

• First impressions matter. Please ensure staff are welcoming, knowledgeable, and equipped to assist with enrollment needs. Most issues can be resolved at the school level. Families should not be turned away.
• District-level support is available. The Enrollment & Attendance Office will assist with complex cases involving school assignments, truancy clearance, Eligible Circumstance transfers and other matters.

Kindergarten Age Requirement:

• Children must be 5 years old on or before August 15 of the current school year to be eligible for kindergarten enrollment.
• Effective September 13, 2025, 5-year-old kindergartners who have not been previously enrolled can no longer be enrolled for the current school year. (Exceptions will be made for students who are experiencing homelessness or displacement.)

October Events

• October 7: Attendance Liaison Monthly Meeting (All Regions) | 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• October 9: Greatness at Your Door 2.0 (Northwest Region)
• October 9: Attendance Practices and Processes Training | 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Location: TTC
• October 25: Be Present. Be Great – Parent Meeting (TLA) | 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

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