August 28, 2026
Please review the 8/24/26 MTSS Lead Weekly Updates.
In accordance with TCA 49-1-905, it is required that students in Kindergarten through Grade 5 who fall below the 16th percentile on iReady Inform should receive a copy of the MSCS Home Literacy Report Letter along with the iReady Inform Results Individual Report. It is recommended that any student who falls below the 24th percentile on iReady Inform receive the same information following the fall screener to provide a baseline for where the student is in August against peers.
Questions can be emailed to RTI2@scsk12.org.
As we begin the school year, please review the SEA Guide and ensure SEA responsibilities remain focused on supporting K-2 instruction and student learning. The SEA Guide was previously shared in the August 7 Leaderboard edition and is being shared again as a reminder of role expectations.
Cafeteria Duty: While SEAs may assist with supervision of the grade level or students they directly support, they should not be assigned extended cafeteria monitoring duties that significantly reduce instructional time. SEAs should not be routinely pulled away from their instructional responsibilities to supervise students from other grade levels or serve as primary cafeteria monitors.
Classroom Coverage: We recognize that schools occasionally face staffing challenges and may be unable to secure substitute teachers. In these situations, building-level staff may need to assist. However, SEAs should be utilized for classroom coverage only as a last resort after all other coverage options have been exhausted. Frequent or prolonged classroom coverage assignments can limit a SEA's ability to provide the targeted instructional support students need.
We appreciate your partnership in ensuring SEAs are leveraged as intended to maximize support for K-2 students and teachers. Please review the SEA Guide with relevant staff and keep these expectations in mind when making staffing and scheduling decisions.
Please contact Heba Sammour at sammourh@scsk12.org if you have any questions.
The Department of Curriculum & Instruction would like to make school leaders aware that Specialized Education Assistants (SEAs) began submitting their Weekly Reflection Logs on Friday, August 28, 2026. Moving forward, this will be a required weekly responsibility for all SEAs.
While C & I will send weekly reminders to SEAs, school-level support is essential to ensuring consistent completion. Leaders are encouraged to check in with their SEAs regularly to confirm that weekly submissions are being completed.
Weekly Reflection Log:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=lBwpK7Bet0SJ6kuvFuzEqSVvF1hzmDpDgPPS98lG4QVURDkwSFdHM09CN1NOTUExNDU5OUVCM1NMRS4u&route=shorturl
The information collected through these logs automatically populates in the district's Power BI dashboard and provides valuable insights into how SEAs are supporting students and teachers across schools. C & I will begin reviewing this data regularly to monitor implementation, identify trends, and ensure alignment with district expectations for SEA utilization.
Thank you for your partnership in supporting the effective implementation of the SEA role and maximizing instructional support for students.
Please feel free to reach out to Heba Sammour at sammourh@scsk12.org if you have any questions.
Date: 09/10/2026, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Location: Microsoft Teams
Register in PLZ: Course# 50839, Section# 92607, by the close of business on 09/09/2026.
Alice Faye Duncan will lead a virtual professional development session using a variety of her award-winning picture book biographies and music books. The author will provide several best practices teachers can use to impact literacy and learning across language arts and social studies. Picture books inspire learning across all grade levels and are often removed from instruction too soon.
Training Outcomes (Know, Understand, Do):
Know: Participants will know more about using a variety of Alice Faye Duncan's award-winning picture book biographies and music books to impact literacy and learning across language arts and social studies for all grade levels. Understand: Participants will understand how to implement best practices and strategies to maximize student learning and engagement with several of Alice Faye Duncan's picture books. Do: Participants will effectively integrate picture books into impactful classroom learning experiences for Pre-K through high school students.
For questions, please contact: Dr. Rahmod Traylor, traylorr@scsk12.org Alicia Fields, fieldsa@scsk12.org Patrice Gallagher, gallagherp@scsk12.org
The Fall 2026 Professional Learning Catalog is now available! Explore professional learning opportunities designed to support your continued growth and development. View the catalog for available sessions, dates, and registration information. 
FALL 2026 Professional Learning Catalog.pdf.pdf
Flex Day courses for the 2026-27 school year are now available in Canvas. Review the Flex Day flyer for course information, requirements, and important dates. 2026-27 Fall and Spring Flex Days.pdf
Review the 2026-27 Professional Learning Tracks for guidance on professional learning hour requirements and available pathways for earning hours during the school year. Professional Learning Tracks.pdf
Building Leaders, it’s time to identify your leaders! Please select eligible educators to serve as ILT Content Leads and New Teacher Mentors for the 2026-27 school year. These roles strengthen instructional leadership and provide critical support for teachers across your building. Please review the requirements, identify qualified candidates, and complete the appropriate submission process. For additional information, please click here.
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.
Note: 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.
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? Please email eps@scsk12.org.
All Returning Observer participants must successfully 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, 2027.
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 email eps@scsk12.org.
We are excited to announce that the TEM Teacher Training Series is now open for ALL teachers. This series supports educators in identifying teacher and student actions that guide effective instruction at performance levels 3–5 of the TEACH indicators.
Fall Sessions:
- Indicators 1 & 2: September 14, 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
- Indicators 3 & 4: September 21, 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
- Indicators 5, 6, & 7: October 5, 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
To sign up, search for course number #50609 in PLZ.
Questions? Please reach out to eps@scsk12.org.
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 if you have any questions or concerns regarding TEAM certification for 2026-2027.
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.
08.31.26.Principal Health Screeening Calendar.pdf
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.
08.31.26.MedicationTraining.pdf
CPR/AED/NARCAN Training
Please review the CPR/AED/NARCAN Training Flyer.
8.31.26.CPR.AED.Narcan Classes.pdf
School Care and Immunization Training
Please review the School Care and Immunization Training Flyer.
08.31.26.SchoolCareandImmunizationTraining.pdf
Healthy Teams
Please review Healthy Teams for 2026-2027.
District Approved Medical Service Vendors
Please review the list of approved vendors.
08.31.26.DistrictApprovedMedicalServiceVendors.pdf
Assigned School Nurse Absence
Please review the information regarding assigned school nurses' absence.
Save the date for the 2026 Student Leadership Conference:
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/
Freedom Award Student Forum
The National Civil Rights Museum’s Freedom Award Student Forum is a celebration for and by young trailblazers. This year’s hybrid event is open to school groups nationally as an opportunity for educators and students in 5th-12th grade to be inspired by the purpose-driven lives of Freedom Award honorees. The Student Forum is held Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, 10 a.m. Central.
The Freedom Award Student Forum will feature its distinguished Freedom Award honorees. The Museum extends the invitation classrooms virtually to engage, via a moderated YouTube chat room, with up to 2,500 in-person students and educators. Teachers and youth group leaders who plan to have their students experience the Student Forum must register online while space if available.
Registration: https://civilrightsmuseum.org/freedom-award/student-forum/
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 p.m.
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.