August 21, 2026
All Health, Physical Education, and Lifetime Wellness Teachers are required to complete the Michigan Model Training.
92129 HPELW: Michigan Model Training Elementary/Middle – September 15, 2026 - 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
92128 HPELW: Michigan Model Training High School – September 16, 2026 - 4 p.m. - 5:30 pm
92127 HPELW: Michigan Model Training Elementary/Middle – September 22, 2026 - 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
92130 HPELW: Michigan Model Training High School – September 23, 2026 - 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
There will be multiple Michigan Model Trainings presented virtually to the HPELW Teachers.
For questions, contact: · Jeremiah Bland – Blandj@scsk12.org (HPELW Instructional Advisor) · Jim Harbin – Harbinj1@scsk12.org (HPELW Instructional Advisor) · Dr. Rahmod Traylor – Traylorr@scsk12.org (HPELW Manager)
K-12 Science Teachers & Administrators
Have you wondered if Science had an IFD? This video will not only answer this question but more. Please click link below.
K-8 and Biology IFD Science Need To Know PPT 2026-2027.mp4
Contact:
Terilyn McChriston, Ed.S
Curriculum and Instruction K-12 Science Manager
mcchristontj@scsk12.org
Dear Principals, PLC Coaches, and Librarians
We're excited to announce 901 READS Day, a districtwide K-12 celebration of literacy in honor of Memphis' 901 Day! Born from a grassroots proposal by two MSCS high school students, this initiative places a spotlight on building a lifelong love of reading in every student, in every school, in every classroom.
THE DAY AT A GLANCE
- Date: Tuesday, September 1, 2026
- Start Time: 9:01 a.m. for schools with a 7:15 morning start, or 1:09 p.m. for schools whose instructional day begins 9 a.m.
- Suggested Reading Time: Grades K–5 pause for 10–15 minutes of independent or guided reading; grades 6–12 pause for 20–30 minutes. Schools hosting guest readers or community sponsors are encouraged to build out a full 60- to 90-minute literacy celebration.
MAKE IT MEMORABLE: SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES
To further lift the excitement of the day, consider incorporating one or more of these ideas:
- Rotating guest-reader stations across 2–3 short books, with brief discussion after each
- A book talk paired with small-group discussion circles or a reader-response activity
- A read-aloud paired with a related writing, drawing, or craft activity
- A Q&A or “career and reading” conversation between visitors and students
- A literacy pep rally segment followed by a classroom read-aloud
- Buddy reading between grade levels (older students reading to younger ones), with visitors joining in
- A take-home book giveaway tied to a short discussion about why reading matters
- High School students should research careers or colleges as a post-secondary focus in alignment with CCR requirements (School leader choice).
GET INVOLVED
- We encourage every school to invite school adoptors, community members, families, and local partners to serve as guest readers or lead a book talk in grades K–12. Watch for additional resources and a full communication toolkit via Leaderboard and the Principal Pulse in the coming days.
Thank you for helping make reading exciting for every student in MSCS!
Curriculum & Instruction
Questions? Contact the Office of Literacy officeofliteracy@scsk12.org or Dr. Tiffany Boyle, boyletd@scsk12.org
Pause, Read, Inspire!
#901READS #MSCSReads #Read901
Please include any links to any attachments within your message.
Flyer 901 READS DAY - Edited Final.jpg
- If you would like members from the National Guard, Army, Memphis Police Department, or Memphis Fire Department to speak with your students for CCR or read to younger students, please complete the link: MSCS 901 READs Day – Fill out form
Please review the 8/17/26 MTSS Lead Updates.
All Health, Physical Education, and Lifetime Wellness Teachers are required to complete the Presidential Fitness Assessment. Teachers will learn about the Tennessee requirements for administering the Presidential Fitness Test (PFT), beginning with the 2026 requirements. Teachers will learn how to administer and demonstrate the Presidential Fitness Test assessments properly.
92325 HPELW: Presidential Fitness Assessment - September 3, 2026 -5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
For questions, contact:
- Jeremiah Bland – Blandj@scsk12.org (HPELW Instructional Advisor)
- Jim Harbin – Harbinj1@scsk12.org (HPELW Instructional Advisor)Post-Presidential
- Dr. Rahmod Traylor – Traylorr@scsk12.org (HPELW Manager)
Student Congress provides a forum where students have a voice in changing culture and climate within the District. Students are afforded a wealth of opportunities to practice leadership and engage in social action skills that serve as a catalyst for change. Students also develop an emerging awareness and understanding of community issues, problems, and resources.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools' Department of Student Experience is asking each high school to select two (2) students, 9th-12th grade, and each middle school to select two (2) 8th-grade students to serve as Student Congress representatives for the 2026-27 academic year. Please include those students who served last year, if they are still enrolled at your site.
Per the District's Policy #6061, the Student Congress is a mechanism for increasing youth voice in Memphis-Shelby County Schools. The primary function is to provide a platform for students to refine and build upon their leadership skills, create passionate global leaders, and empower students to create positive change in their environments.
Not sure what Student Congress is all about? Click below to hear members' testimonials: https://scsbroadcastservices.box.com/s/1r16a2vincy6fichjsj9zm2o9zhjtsxr
Student Congress 2026-27 Submission Form: Student Congress 2026-27 – Fill out form
Deadline: Friday, August 28, 2026
Save the Date: Student Congress Retreat- Tuesday, September 8, 2026
If you need additional information or assistance, please contact:
Dr. Billy J. Walker II, Student Leadership, Email: walkerbj@scsk12.org
Thank you for your continued support in growing student leaders in our District.
Again this year, the Student Experience team has partnered with the I Am a Voter Collaborative on Voter Education, Registration, Mobilization & Reform to bring opportunities for voter engagement to our students this year. We will be hosting voter registration drives for our students at each high school.
We are excited to invite you identify the voter registration contact for your school and to select the best date(s) for a Voter Registration Drive at your school (September 15-October 5). This opportunity is being offered for any student who is 17 years old and older.
Link to Form: Voter Registration Contacts (2026-2027) – Fill out form
Please complete by Friday, Aug. 21. If you have any questions or need assistance, please let us know.
Please save the date for the 2026 Student Leadership Conference scheduled for:
Date: Monday, October 5, 2026
Time: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Location: University of Memphis Student Center
The conference theme, "Ignite Your Impact: Where Student Leaders Shape Tomorrow," will provide high school students with opportunities to strengthen their leadership skills, build meaningful connections, and explore ways to positively influence their schools and communities. The event is designed to inspire and empower emerging student leaders from across Memphis-Shelby County Schools.
We are excited to announce that Matthew Szalaj, Shelby County Commissioner for District 9, has accepted our invitation to serve as the keynote speaker. His leadership journey, commitment to public service, and dedication to youth development will provide a powerful message for our students.
Additional details regarding student registration, participant allocations, and the conference agenda will be shared in the coming weeks. We encourage you to reserve this date on your school calendar and begin identifying student leaders who would benefit from attending.
The National Civil Rights Museum is pleased to sponsor the Keeper of the Dream Award. The Keeper of the Dream Award is a public recognition of selected youth in grades 6-12 that celebrates and recognizes the hard work and dedication of young people who take action and demonstrate a commitment to ensuring equal rights and opportunities for others.
The Keeper of the Dream Award parallels the National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Award, which is bestowed upon individuals who have forged paths to expand freedom and opportunities for all people. The student winners of the Keeper of the Dream Award will be honored at the 2026 Freedom Award Student Forum scheduled for October 1, 2026. The nomination deadline is September 10, 2026.
Award Eligibility Requirements
• Nominee must not have reached their 19th birthday before October 1, 2026.
• Nominee must reside in the Mid-South (TN, MS, AR).
• Nominee must not be a child or relative of an employee of the National Civil Rights Museum.
• Nominee must be in 6th-12th grade in the current school year.
• Past winners of the Keeper of the Dream award are not eligible to win.
• A relative or family member of the student may not nominate a student or make recommendations.
• For selected students, their parent or guardian must sign a media release and give the Keeper of the Dream Review Committee permission to 1) confirm the student’s school enrollment and 2) review the student’s social media presence.
Link for more information: https://civilrightsmuseum.org/freedom-award/student-forum/keeper-of-the-dream/
The Metro Memphis Urban Debate League (MMMUDL) is the official MSCS district debate league.
Are You Ready to Become Your School's Next Debate Coach?
Do you want to help students build their confidence, enhance their critical thinking, and refine their public speaking abilities? MSCS is seeking enthusiastic Middle and High School teachers to guide their school’s MSCS Debate Team for the upcoming academic year!
Why Choose Debate?
- Paid Stipend: Boost your income with a competitive coaching stipend.
- Resources: Gain access to essential debate materials.
- Student Impact: Witness your students evolve into the school’s leading analytical thinkers and future leaders.
Who Are We Looking For?
We welcome educators from ALL subject areas! You do NOT need prior debate experience to be an exceptional coach. If you can teach research, organization, and critical thinking, you already possess the foundational skills needed.
Ready to learn more and sign up?
Complete the link below to sign-up. Deadline is Tuesday, September 1 @ 5:00 PM.
Sign up link: 2026-27 Metro Memphis Urban Debate League (MMUDL)
If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Extended Learning Office at mmudl@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 SY2026-27. Please complete the TEAM Student Growth Portfolio Teacher Information form by Friday, September 25.
Questions or concerns? Send an email to eps@scsk12.org.
All Returning Observer participants must complete their TEM coursework and calibration by Tuesday, September 8, to remain certified for the 2026–27 school year.
Important: If you are still in an eligible role for certification and did not receive the email, please contact EPS at eps@scsk12.org.
The deadline to complete TEM New Observer Certification is Tuesday, March 30.
Administrators pursuing TEM certification for the first time can register for the course below:
Self-Paced Canvas Course PLZ Course #50074 OR 2-Day Virtual PLZ Course #50075
For questions or support, please reach out to eps@scsk12.org.
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 #50609.
Evaluation Plans
- NIE and TEAM plans have populated in PLZ. 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 4.
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 SY25-26 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 SY25-26 LOE score is received. Evaluation tracks for these employees will be processed upon verification of scores in TN Compass.
Future Track Adjustments
All other SY26-27 evaluation tracks will automatically be adjusted in mid-January to accurately reflect SY25-26 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
Own Your Impact. The Difference You Make Matters.
The NIE Goal Setting Conference season is here! As the first step in the Non-Instructional Evaluation (NIE) process, the Goal Setting Conference provides an opportunity to establish meaningful goals and begin documenting the impact you make every day.
IMPORTANT: NIE Employees will need to select their evaluator first, in order for the evaluator to have access to their NIE plan in PLZ. In addition, the evaluator must be NIE Certified.
View the flyer below for important information, key dates, and resources to help you get started.
Goal Setting Conferences are due by October 23, 2026.
Questions? Contact EPS@scsk12.org
School leaders, please designate a Student Perception Survey Site Coordinator for your school by completing the Student Perception Site Coordinator Designation Form by Friday, September 11, 2026.
The designated coordinator will serve as the school’s primary point of contact and support survey communication, scheduling, technology preparation, participant verification, and participation monitoring throughout the fall survey administration.
Please be reminded that if a coordinator is not designated, the principal will receive coordinator communications.
Student Perception Site Coordinators will be required to attend a mandatory training in October.
According to state board rule 0520-02-01 and state board policy 5.201, all educators must be evaluated annually by a certified evaluator.
All evaluator certification training for 2026-27 is virtual.
- The window for RECERTIFICATION is from June 1, 2026 to September 9, 2026, 5 p.m. CT.
- Those not completing recertification by September 9, 2026, 5 p.m. CT, will be required to complete initial certification.
- Invitation: If you were a certified TEAM evaluator in 2025-26 and did not receive an invitation and process details, please be sure to check spam/junk folders. As invitations were sent in bulk, a firewall may have blocked receipt.
- Registration is not required. Invitations to access the learning module and to take the recertification test will be sent directly to currently certified evaluators.
- Contact TEAM.Questions@tn.gov if you are unable to find your recertification invitation.
- The window for INITIAL CERTIFICATION is from June 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027, 5 p.m. CT.
All certification courses will be accessed in the TeachALL platform. You will need to access the courses with your Single Sign On or a self-created TeachALL account.
Please Note: The department no longer issues a certificate at the end of evaluator courses. Evaluators can save their TASL email as proof of completion.
**All TEAM Evaluator completion notifications should be forwarded to the Employee Performance & Support Department via email: EPS@scsk12.org.
For more information about TEAM training and certification, please visit the TEAM website .
Contact the State at TEAM.Questions@tn.gov should you have any questions or concerns regarding TEAM certification for 2026-2027.
For RETURNING NIE Evaluators that were previously NIE Certified during SY2025-2026, NIE Recertification is NOT REQUIRED for SY2026-2027. Eligible Returning NIE Evaluators will be automatically identified and added as NIE Evaluators in PLZ for SY2026-27.
NEW NIE Evaluators
For SY2026-2027, there are two (2) options offered in attaining NIE Evaluator Certification:
- Self-Paced (Canvas)
- Live/Virtual Session
Course numbers and date information can be found HERE.
Please review the attached 2026-2027 Principals' Calendar for your scheduled Health & Wellness Day. The screenings include hearing, vision, height, weight, blood pressure, and scoliosis screenings for eligible students.
Principal Screening Calendar Semester 1 26-27.xlsx
If you have any questions regarding the schedule or the screening process, please contact the Health Promotions Department at 901-416-6432.
Immunization Plan
Please review the Immunization Plan for 2026-2027.
Handwashing Advisory
Please review the Handwashing Advisory for 2026-2027.
Medication Training
Please review the Medication Training for 2026-2027.
08.24.26.MedicationTraining.pdf
CPR/AED/NARCAN Training
Please review the CPR/AED/NARCAN Training Flyer.
8.24.26.CPR.AED.Narcan Classes.pdf
School Care and Immunization Training
Please review the School Care and Immunization Training Flyer.
08.24.26.SchoolCareandImmunizationTraining.pdf
Healthy Teams
Please review Healthy Teams for 2026-2027.
District Approved Medical Service Vendors
Please review the list of approved vendors.
08.24.26.DistrictApprovedMedicalServiceVendors.pdf
Assigned School Nurse Absence
Please review the information regarding assigned school nurses' absence.