We want to celebrate the great work happening across our schools during Black History Month! If your school is planning programs, activities, contests, displays, or special readings or assignments, we’d love to hear about them. Please take a moment to complete the form linked below by Friday, February 6, to share details about your celebrations. The information collected will be shared with our Communications team to help highlight and amplify this important work across the District.

Link to Share: Black History Month Celebrations 2026 – Fill out form

Principals,

We are preparing for our annual Summer Learning Academy (SLA) and Promotional Summer School programs. These programs will offer promotion and enrichment opportunities for 10,000+ students in grades PreK-12.

If you are interested in your school serving as a site for the Summer Learning Academy or Summer School, complete the survey below by Monday, January 26, 2026. To ensure that all students have access to the programs, please note that final sites will be selected based on geographic location and building availability according to the summer maintenance schedule.

Survey: Summer Learning Academy and Summer School 2026 – Fill out form

If you have any questions, please reach out to Stephanie McClain (mcclainsl@scsk12.org) or Denise Swan (swand@scsk12.org).

An Immersive Federal Court Program for Memphis Area High School Students

Program Outline

Investigate the Supreme Court case Watson v. City of Memphis (1963).

• Week-long program at the United States District Courthouse for the Western District of Tennessee, includes local field trips.
• Learn from State and Federal Judges & Local Attorneys, Professors, and Historians.
• Create a collaborative capstone project to educate your community on the impact of the case.
• Participants will gain valuable experience and Supreme Court gift bags.

For more information: https://supremecourthistory.org/hometown-program-memphis-tn/

If you have any questions, please email jhigginsshaull@supremecourthistory.org.

Program Session Dates: Monday, March 16 – Friday, March 20, 2026

Please submit your academic reference via the online submission form at the bottom of this page by the application deadline: January 30, 2026 @ 4 PM CST.

Nominations are now open for the Memphis Business Journal’s Next Gen program, and we don’t want your students to miss out on this incredible opportunity. Next Gen connects emerging young leaders (ideally juniors) with influential business professionals and top decision makers across Memphis, opening doors to meaningful mentorship, valuable exposure, and even potential summer internships that can shape future careers.

Each high school team is asked nominate up to two well-rounded students who demonstrate promise, curiosity, and a commitment to making a difference in their school and community. These aren’t necessarily the most visible students or those with highest GPA, but those who show early leadership, engagement, and a genuine interest in exploring the world of business.

Selected students will be paired with mentors and welcomed into signature MBJ events, gaining experiences that can truly set them apart. To support your nominees, we ask for a brief testimonial from a school representative and guidance for students throughout the process.

Your participation makes all the difference and we hope to see even stronger engagement this year as we work together to elevate our next generation of Memphis leaders.

Nominations are due Saturday, January 31, 2026. For more information, visit: https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/nomination/89185/2026/2026-next-gen#/

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Billy J. Walker <walkerbj@scsk12.org>.

We’re excited to share an opportunity for your students to showcase their knowledge and creativity! In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the Tennessee Secretary of State has announced the 2026 Civics Essay Contest with the theme: “Tennessee, America at Its Best.”

Students in grades K–12 are encouraged to participate for a chance to win scholarships and an unforgettable trip to the State Capitol, including an award luncheon, serving as a legislative page, and a behind-the-scenes tour.

Submission deadline: Friday, February 20, 2026
Learn more and access contest rules at: sos.tn.gov/civics-essay-contest

Let’s inspire the next generation of engaged citizens!

On behalf of Dr. Balaji Krishnaiah, Vice Chair of Education, Stroke Division Chief, and Neurology Residency Program Director at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) Department of Neurology, I am thrilled to share an incredible opportunity for your students: Brain Bee!

Brain Bee is part of an international movement founded in 1998 to inspire high school students to learn about the brain and consider careers in neuroscience – fields that are vital to treating and curing brain disorders. This year, we are proud to bring this exciting Neuroscience Competition for Teens to Shelby County for the first time!

More details are included in the flyer linked here. This is a unique chance for students to challenge themselves, explore cutting-edge science, and connect with a community passionate about brain health. To be considered for participation in the Memphis Brain Bee, please submit this application by Friday, January 30.

If you have any questions, please reach out to brainbee@uthsc.edu. We would love for your school and students to be part of this amazing event!

On Thursday, February 12, 2026, Memphis-Shelby County K–8 schools will join the Sandy Hook Foundation to observe No One Eats Alone Day, in partnership with Project STAND and supported by Sandy Hook SAVE clubs. This day of action promotes connection, inclusion, and belonging in our school cafeterias.

During lunch on February 12, please ensure every student is sitting with someone, reinforcing positive student ATTITUDE. Schools are encouraged to share participation on social media using #NoOneEatsAloneDay, #NoOneEatsAlone, #NoOneEatsAloneMemphis, #ProjectSTANDMSCS, or tagging @mscsprojectstand on Instagram.

Social isolation can lead to bullying and disengagement. By creating intentional opportunities for connection, this initiative helps foster a safer, more empathetic school climate where every student feels valued.

Student leadership is central to this effort. Schools are encouraged to empower students to lead activities such as:

• Stand Up & Sit In Lunchroom Bingo to help students find common ground
• Recipe for Empathy to define values that support an inclusive culture
• Chat Chair Student Ambassadors to welcome peers and spark conversation

By placing leadership in students’ hands, we are cultivating compassionate leaders and strengthening school culture across MSCS.

Thank you for your continued commitment to ensuring that in Memphis-Shelby County Schools, no one eats alone.

For additional information and resources use the following link to register your day with the Sandy Hook Foundation!

No One Eats Alone Day — Sandy Hook Promise

Quick Start No One Eats Alone (NOEA) Day 2026 Digital Materials

If you plan to participate, please complete this link: https://forms.office.com/r/M9NsN26HAQ

If you wish to register your school as a SAVE Promise Club, use the following link!

SAVE Promise Club — Sandy Hook Promise

Principals, please ensure all portfolio educators complete point A assessments and choose their collections in TeachAll  by Friday, January 30.  

Educators must use their state single sign-on to log into the platform.  If educators are unsure of their State SSO they may reach out to: 

• District Portfolio Lead: Floresha Smith
• Subject/Grade Specific Content Advisors listed below:
• Physical Education: Jeremiah Bland or Jim Harbin
• Visual Arts and Theater: Jennifer Shiberou
• World Language: Patrick Fraser
• General Music: Bethany Mayahi
• Secondary Music and Dance: Dena Vaughan
• Pre-K: Christopher Spratlin

To view Portfolio Educators that have been rostered, please utilize the Evaluation KPI Dashboard.  If you have questions about the educators listed or realize educators are missing, please reach out to the District Portfolio Lead Floresha Smith. 

The deadline to complete 60% of all TEM Observations is March 6. 

For questions or support with observations, please reach out to eps@scsk12.org.

TEM Teacher Training Series “The TEM TEACHer Training Series” is open for ALL teachers. This series supports educators with identifying teacher and student actions that guide effective instruction at performance levels 3-5 of the TEACH indicators.

Register in PLZ, course #48814.

The NIE Mid-Year Conference container is open and accessible in PLZ.

The deadline to complete ALL NIE Mid-Year Conferences in PLZ is February 13, 2026.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

• ALL required fields should be completed before finalizing.
• The Goal Setting Conference should be completed within 30 days of an NIE employee’s hire/contract start date AND should be completed BEFORE completing the Mid-Year Conference in PLZ.
• The Mid-Year Conference is NOT required for NIE Partial plans and will not appear as a container to complete.

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

Course Title:  Mastering the Early Grades: Using the Addendum for Accurate Scoring

PLZ Course #: 49768

Location: Virtually, via TEAMs

Dates:  February 5 and 10, 4-5 p.m.

*Fine Arts Addendum Training Coming Soon

Please ensure TEAM Cycle 1 is completed in its entirety in PLZ.  EPS will conduct one additional upload to TN Compass on January 30, 2026.  

Remember:

• Administrators must select their evaluator in order to appear under the Evaluator's ‘Staff Evaluation’ tab in PLZ.
• Principals, Assistant Principals, Vice Principals, and Deans of Students are assigned to a TEAM Administrator evaluation plan.   

Questions concerning TEAM Cycle 1 should be directed to Ayodele Hall.

Did you miss the earlier SPS trainings? If so, we’ve got you covered. 

Join us for the final session of Understanding Student Perception Results for School Administrators.  This training is designed to equip school leaders with the necessary tools to interpret fall student perception data and act with clarity. Register today in PLZ!

Location: Virtually, via Microsoft Teams 

PLZ Course: #48824 

Date: February 4 

Time: 8 a.m. 

For questions or support, contact the District SPS Lead, Chiquita Allen-Bradley

🌟 New Semester, New Momentum: January Leadership Labs are LIVE!

Principals and Leadership Teams,

Welcome to the launch of an incredible second half of the year! As we turn the corner into the new semester, we are thrilled to invite your teams to kick off January with high-impact, actionable growth at our next Leadership Lab.

We’ve designed these sessions to be the "fuel" for your campus success – providing the precise tools and collaborative space your leaders need to finish the year strong.

Focus of the Week: Navigating Complexity with Confidence

Our upcoming session tackles one of the most vital aspects of school culture: transforming behavioral challenges into collaborative solutions.

Ready to Level Up? Here is Your Launch Plan:

• Explore: Dive into the session details and objectives [HERE AT THIS LINK].
• Execute: Bring your insights back to campus to drive immediate impact!

We can’t wait to see your teams in action as we work together to make this semester our most impactful one yet!

Onward and Upward,

Performance and Leadership Development

Attention Leaders,

Join us for January Leadership Development Week January 26-29, 2026 at the Teaching & Learning Academy. See the attached agenda drafts for your review. Our theme this month is Greatness Begins with Clarity.

We are asking participants to wear Deep Blue and White.

Our Focus is: Vision, priorities, alignment, and urgency. We look forward to learning and growing with you on your respective days below:

· Monday, January 26, 2026 – PLC Coaches and Instructional Facilitators

· Tuesday,– January 27, 2026 Principals/Vice-Principals

· Wednesday, January 28, 2026 Assistant Principals and Deans of Students

· Thursday, January 29, 2026 – Professional School Counselors

Leadership Development Week Agendas

Free Student Health Screenings

Free health screenings will be provided at the school for all students. The screenings will include:

· Height and Weight

· Vision

· Hearing

· Blood Pressure

· Scoliosis screening (for 6th-grade girls and 8th-grade boys only)

Parents who wish for their child to participate must scan the QR code on the flyer to complete the sign-up process. 

Health Screening Calendar: Semester 2 Principal Screening Schedule 25-26.xlsx

Health Screening Flyer: English&Spanish Consent Flyer.pdf

Immunizations

ShotRx is partnering with schools to provide required immunizations for students. Parents may register their child by scanning the QR code provided on the flyer. Upon completion of registration, ShotRx will coordinate with the school to schedule an on-site immunization date. 

ShotRX Flyer: ShotRx English and Spanish flyer.pdf

School-Based Health Clinics

MSCS provides access to two school-based health clinics available to all students. These clinics are located at East High School and Sheffield CTC and operate Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

School-Based Health Clinic Flyer: SBC English and Spanish Flyer with QR Code.pdf

Please review the MTSS Lead Updates for the week of Jan. 20, 2026.

Schools will provide Home Literacy Reports, following administration of the universal reading screener, to K-3 students scoring below the 15th percentile and are recommended for 16th-40th percentile.

These reports provide reading proficiency guidance, reading activities to use at home, and information on specific reading interventions and supports being provided as outlined in TCA 49-1-905(d). Please be sure that the iReady Diagnostic Reports are sent home to parents along with this letter to inform parents of their student's scores. Keeping parents informed of their child's progress is extremely important when students are struggling.

If your school has completed all winter universal screening, you do not need to wait to send these home, and should plan to do so. Schools are highly encouraged to meet with these parents during the January parent conferences.

Questions can be sent to Emily Vuoso, vuosoeb@scsk12.org.

Greatness Grows Here.

Office of Enrollment-Attendance-Truancy 

Enrollment & School Choice

Announcement: 2026-27 School Choice Transfers

• We are gearing up for the 2026-27 School Choice Transfer season! Please share the following details to ensure our families are well-informed and prepared.

Key Date & Time

• The application portal officially opens: Tuesday, January 27, at 10 a.m.

How to Apply

• Website: Visit www.scsk12.org to access the portal.
• The portal is mobile-friendly and can be accessed from any smartphone, tablet, or computer.

 Who Needs to Apply?

• New Applicants: Any student seeking a transfer for the first time.
• Transitioning Students: Students moving to a new school level (e.g., rising 6th graders moving to Middle School or rising 9th graders moving to High School).
• Current Students: General Choice students staying at their current school (and in good standing) are all set – no reapplication is necessary.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Mark Your Calendar: 2026-27 Registration Opens Soon! 

• Registration for the 2026-2027 school year opens in Spring 2026 for all new and returning students. Families can complete the process and update information via the PowerSchool Parent Portal.

 Administrative Actions

• Visibility: Post registration hours and instructions in highly visible areas and at all school entrances.
• Support Events: Schedule Registration Night(s) to assist families. Coordinate with the Office of Enrollment and Attendance if you require additional support.
• All Registration Team members are required to complete refresher training via PLZ.

For questions or enrollment support, contact Stacey Davis at daviss2@scsk12.org.

Attendance Monitoring

Attendance Policy: Coding Extenuating Absences

• Per Policy 6014 (Student Attendance and Truancy), absences resulting from extenuating circumstances beyond a student's control may be approved by the Superintendent or Principal. In these specific instances, please utilize attendance code E6 (Circumstances Approved by Principal)

Correctly Entering OSS Attendance in PowerSchool

• To ensure accuracy and compliance in student records, please adhere to the following guidelines when recording Out-of-School Suspension (OSS) attendance in PowerSchool:
  • Manual Coding Requirement: Only the first 1 to 10 days of an Out-of-School Suspension (OSS) should be manually coded in PowerSchool.
  • Mass Assignment Restriction: Schools must refrain from mass assigning future OSS attendance beyond the 10th day.

Show Up for Greatness: Attendance Monitoring and Recognition 

• Please note that our fifth 20-day school attendance period ends on January 23, 2026. It is a mandatory requirement that all necessary student supports be fully documented within the Show Up for Greatness Application. Please ensure this is completed by the deadline.
• 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.

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.

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 primary attention should be on students who have been withdrawn due to ten consecutive unexcused absences.
• Regularly monitor your withdrawal list in PowerSchool and contact your assigned Truancy Liaison for guidance and support.
• Ensure all withdrawal documentation is complete and accurate, including evidence of outreach efforts and parent contact attempts, before finalizing the student’s withdrawal.
• Each School is required to designate individuals to conduct SART Meetings and those meetings must be logged in PowerSchool. This is imperative as we continue to identify students who are habitually absent/truant in school.

Upcoming Dates and Meetings

Dear Principals,

As we enter the new year, our January Principals Meeting will center on a clear and focused theme: Greatness Begins with Clarity.

This moment calls for disciplined leadership. In a complex environment, our schools perform best when priorities are unmistakable, expectations are consistent, and leadership actions are aligned. Our goal is to send a strong leadership signal across Memphis-Shelby County Schools:

🎯 We know exactly what matters right now.

Our collective focus will be on:

Sharpening vision and urgency for the remainder of the school year

Narrowing schoolwide priorities to 3–5 non-negotiables

Re-establishing clear expectations for instruction, data use, and communication

Aligning staff meetings, walkthroughs, and feedback to the same priorities

Clearly naming what we will stop, start, and continue to maximize impact

To ensure a productive and high-level conversation, all principals are expected to watch the December Norming Videos (Norming Videos) in advance. These videos will be referenced and discussed during next week’s meeting and will serve as a foundation for our shared understanding and alignment.

This meeting is about focus, coherence, and decisive leadership. When clarity leads, greatness follows – for our schools, our staff, and our students.

We look forward to engaging with you as we move forward with purpose and precision.

Coming Soon:

• As part of the monthly MSCS Compass Updates newsletter, the DAIM team is launching the new Empowering Your Data Story usage campaign to celebrate schools. Each month, we will highlight schools that go above and beyond with high and consistent usage in Power BI and the MSCS Compass to monitor progress and support data driven decision making. You can find more information about this campaign here.

Report Updates:

• State Chronically Out of School rates for 2024-2025 school year and AMO targets are available. You will find them in the District 360 dashboard. See the user guide here.
• Fall Panorama results are now available. You can find it in the Surveys Dashboard. For more on the Panorama reports, click here.
• Quarter 2 Report Card grades are available in the Student Grades Dashboard this week. Grades data populates after Report Cards are distributed and grades are stored/finalized in PowerSchool. For more on the Student Grades reports, click here.

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Upcoming Training Sessions:

This week, Virtual Office Hours is paused for LDW. We’ll be back next week (2/3 & 2/5) with sessions on the Advanced Course Scheduling 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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Starting in February, we have two new dashboard specific trainings available. 

Each month, we will have a training session on the High School Progress Dashboard (Course Code 49628 in PLZ) and on the Student Discipline Dashboard (Course Code 49629 in PLZ). Sign up today!

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Check out our Training Calendar for all upcoming District Trainings.

We will also participate in Principal Pulse on 2/6, with an overview of Literacy Commitment Dashboard updates. 

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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.
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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.   

High School Principals,

Project Graduation classes began on January 20th and 21st. Any student who does not attend a class by January 28th and 29th will be removed from the course. Removal will result in the student not earning credit and not meeting graduation requirements.

Click here for your current student enrollment. ​​​School Enrollment Spring 2026.pdf​​

Action Required:
Please work with your administrative team, professional school counselors, and graduation coaches to make immediate touch points with all enrolled students and families to ensure awareness of enrollment and attendance expectations.

Suggested touch points include:

• School announcements
• Robo-calls
• Blackboard messages
• Individual or whole-group meetings
• Grade-level or grade-band student meetings

Thank you for your urgent attention to this matter and for ensuring students remain on track for graduation. Please reach out to the Project Graduation office at 901-416-9041, if you have any questions or need additional support.

Dear Principals,

The Office of Partnerships and Development is excited to announce our upcoming Adopt A School Recognition Breakfast, a special event dedicated to celebrating the corporate, nonprofit, and community partners who support our schools throughout the year.

Event Details
Date: Thursday, March 12
Location: University of Memphis – UC Ballroom
Doors Open: 9:00 a.m.
Program & Breakfast Begin: 9:30 a.m.

All school leaders are required to attend this event and are asked to bring One Adopt A School partner (adopter) as their guest. This breakfast serves as an opportunity to publicly recognize the critical role our adopters play in supporting student success, school initiatives, and overall school communities.

As part of the program, we will honor outstanding partners, including the presentation of Adopter of the Year awards. Each principal is required to nominate One partner from their school for consideration. Additional information regarding the nomination process will be included in the RSVP form.

Please complete the RSVP form using the below link no later than Friday, February 13. Timely responses are essential to support event planning, seating, catering, and recognition materials. 

2025-2026 Adopt-A-School (AAS) Recognition Breakfast Nomination Form – Fill out form

Should you have any questions regarding the event, nominations, or registration, please contact Tonya Jefferson (Jeffersontr@scsk12.org) or Dantre Harris (Harrisd12@scsk12.org).

We look forward to celebrating the impactful partnerships that strengthen our schools and enhance opportunities for our students.