September 11, 2026
This mini-PD walks through the five phases of the 5E science instructional model — Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate. For each phase, we'll look at three things: Its purpose, what it looks and sounds like (teacher moves and student moves), and a short real-classroom video that shows them in action. https://canva.link/the5einstructionalmodelminilessonsept2026
We will understand what it means during a walk-through from a teacher’s perspective and leaders’ perspective. As well as understanding common missteps and how to overcome them.
Directions: Allow the voiceover to play, then click the YouTube video to watch the 4- to 5-minute video (+ have quick debrief) = roughly 45-50 minutes total, plus 5-10 minutes for the closing discussion.
Contact:
Terilyn McChriston, Ed.S
Curriculum and Instruction K-12 Science Manager
As part of our District's effort to support new and newly hired Social Studies teachers, we are asking building leaders to help us identify any teacher on your staff who is new to teaching Social Studies (0–3 years of experience) so that the District can provide targeted coaching and support visits. Please submit their name, school, grade level, years of experience, and email address using the form below: New Teacher Social Studies Support – Information Form. This information will allow our team to reach out directly and schedule support visits tailored to each teacher's needs. Thank you for helping us ensure our newest Social Studies teachers receive the resources and support they need to be successful.
Principals, here are the week of 9/8/26 MTSS Lead Weekly Updates.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Register in PLZ, course #50609.
For questions or support, please reach out to eps@scsk12.org.
The Office of Employee Performance and Support is excited to offer a new Professionalism Professional Development designed to deepen teachers’ understanding of the Professionalism component of the TEM evaluation framework.
Foundations of Professional Practice, offered September 24, 2026, is intended for teachers who are new to the Professionalism Rubric or would benefit from a refresher. Participants will explore the rubric indicators, performance expectations, and examples of evidence and artifacts that demonstrate professional practice.
Register today!
- PLZ Course#: 50664, Section: 92259
Questions? Please 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 session in October.
All SY26-27 evaluation plans have rolled out successfully and are now available in PLZ.
For employees assigned to NIE or TEAM evaluation plans, an evaluator must be selected before the employee will appear in the evaluator's Staff Evaluation tab in PLZ. School leaders should monitor evaluator selections and follow up with staff members who have not yet completed this step.
Evaluation Track Assignments
At the beginning of the school year, educators are assigned to one of two evaluation tracks:
Novice Track
Educators are assigned to the Novice Track if they:
- Do not have a prior-year Level of Overall Effectiveness (LOE) score; or
- Have missing or incomplete evaluation components from the previous year, including observations, professionalism, or student growth measures.
Proficient Track
Educators who are expected to generate a Level of Overall Effectiveness (LOE) score during the current school year are assigned to the Proficient Track.
New MSCS Educators with Pending Tennessee LOE Scores
If your school has educators who transferred from another Tennessee district and are expected to receive a SY25-26 LOE score, please encourage them to notify Employee Performance & Support once their score becomes available.
Upon verification of the score in TN Compass, EPS will update the educator's evaluation track, as appropriate.
Future Evaluation Track Adjustments
Evaluation tracks will be automatically updated in mid-January to reflect verified SY25-26 LOE scores.
School leaders may monitor updated track assignments through:
- PLZ
- Evaluation KPI Dashboard
Questions or Concerns
Please review evaluation plans and track assignments for your staff. If you identify discrepancies or have questions regarding an educator's evaluation plan or track assignment, contact Employee Performance & Support for assistance.
The SY26-27 Growth & Achievement selection window will be open in PLZ from September 11 through October 2, 2026.
School Leader Action Required
Building leaders should collaborate with teachers to ensure an achievement measure is selected that aligns as closely as possible to each educator's primary teaching assignment.
Please ensure:
- All required Growth & Achievement selections are completed by October 2, 2026.
- Educators receive support in identifying the most appropriate achievement measure.
- Evaluators monitor completion progress throughout the selection window.
Guidance documents and step-by-step resources are available in PLZ under the Resources tab.
Need Assistance?
Employee Performance & Support is available to support schools throughout the selection process.
Phone: 901-416-2475
Email: Support-EPS@scsk12.org
The NIE Goal Setting Conference is open in PLZ!
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
Leaders,
Thank you for your active engagement during Leadership Development Week. We appreciate your continued commitment to professional learning and leadership development across the District.
As a follow-up, please access the Leadership Development Week Resource Folder below for session materials, tools, and resources. This folder will serve as the central location for LDW resources throughout the year.
Leadership Development Week Resource Folder: Resource Folder for Leaders
For questions or additional support, please contact performanceandleadership@scsk12.org.
Thank you for your continued leadership and engagement.
Learn the essentials of MSCS' new online curriculum, as well as how to enroll students, and run reports in Edgenuity. This session is recommended for PSCs, Graduation Coaches, and all District personnel who support students using Edgenuity for Grade Repair, Credit Recovery, Credit Accrual, or Homebound instruction. The VSOL Department is hosting multiple in-person trainings on Monday and Tuesday, September 14 and 15. Reference this flyer for training details and PLZ sign up information.
(flyer link: https://scsk12-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/griffinrj_scsk12_org/IQBcYGKI_fVYQoiUwbowh5wAAY-zv7WxUoxmIFB-Sucz4X8?e=aHOrBQ )
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.
09.07.26.Principal Health Screening 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.
09.07.26.HandwashingAdvisory.26.27.pdf
Medication Training
Please review the Medication Training for 2026-2027.
09.07.26.MedicationTraining.pdf
CPR/AED/NARCAN Training
Please review the CPR/AED/NARCAN Training Flyer.
09.07.26.CPR.AED.Narcan Classes.pdf
School Care and Immunization Training
Please review the School Care and Immunization Training Flyer.
09.07.26.SchoolCareImmunizationTraining.pdf
Healthy Teams
Please review Healthy Teams for 2026-2027.
District Approved Medical Service Vendors
Please review the list of approved vendors.
09.07.26.DistrictApprovedMedicalServiceVendors.pdf
Assigned School Nurse Absence
Please review the information regarding assigned school nurses' absence.
Physical Education Survey
Please review the proper procedures for completing the Medical Emergency Log. The log must be completed and submitted by the last school day of each month.
Please be sure to review Student Government (Policy 6065).This policy applies to middle 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.
Please provide the contact information for your school's Student Council or Student Government Association by Friday, September 25, 2026.
Sign-Up Link: MSCS Student Council and Student Government Advisors 2026-27 – Fill out form
PLZ Information Student Council Advisor Training | Student Government Association & Student Council Advisor Workshop
Tuesday, September 29, 2026 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Course #47247; Section # 92621
Location: Central High School 306 S. Bellevue Memphis, TN 38104
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Billy J. Walker, II <Walkerbj@scsk12.org>.
The Office of Student Experience is pleased to invite your school to participate in the 2026 Student Leadership Workshop on Monday, October 5, 2026, at the University of Memphis Student Center.
Theme: Ignite Your Impact: Where Student Leaders Shape Tomorrow
This conference will bring together student leaders from across the district for a day of inspiration, learning, and collaboration. Students will explore leadership, mental wellness, advocacy, and community engagement while developing the skills needed to make a positive impact in their schools and communities.
Event Details
- Date: Monday, October 5, 2026
- Time: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Location: University of Memphis Student Center
- Transportation: Provided and bus schedule will be sent after confirmation of attendance.
What We Need From You
- Select ten (10) students who demonstrate leadership potential or would benefit from this experience.
- Assign one staff member to serve as the group chaperone.
- Complete the registration form by September 23, 2026
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/0zp1kFb337
Should you have any questions, please contact Dr. Tarol Clements < CLEMENTSTP@scsk12.org> and Dr. Billy J. Walker, II < WALKERBJ@scsk12.org>.
Use of ESL Staff for Substitute Coverage
To maintain compliance with state and federal requirements, ESL teachers should not be utilized for substitute coverage.
Schools are responsible for scheduling ESL teachers and English Learners appropriately to ensure that all required daily service hours are provided. ESL teacher positions are funded to deliver direct explicit ESL instruction, create and maintain Individualized Learning Plans (ILPs) and monitoring forms, and collaborate with content teachers. ESL staff should not be assigned to cover general education, content-area, or proximity courses during times they are scheduled to provide ESL services.
ESL Screening and Parent Notification Requirements
Per TDOE Rule 0520-01-19 and Program Policy 3.207, after the start of the school year, newly enrolled NELB students must be screened with 14 days of enrollment. Please contact your ESL advisor if you need support with this process.
ESL Exit Ceremony Celebration
We are proud to celebrate students who exited ESL services in the 2025–2026 school year.
Please join us for the Exit Ceremony on Thursday, September 24, from 6:30–7:30 PM at Greater Imani Church, 3824 Austin Peay Hwy, Memphis, TN 38128.
Let’s honor our students' hard work and achievements together!
ESL Course Code Assignments
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. Additionally, assigning the correct course codes also allows teachers to receive monitoring forms in compliance with the TDOE.
Co-Teaching and Sheltered ESL services require an ESL course code in addition to the content course code. Reference the course code documents linked below to find the specific co-teaching ESL codes by grade level. For scheduling support, contact your assigned ESL advisor.
K-5 ESL Course Codes 6-8 ESL Course Codes 9-12 ESL Course Codes
October 1 Deadline
October 1st is the deadline to finalize the student count for the TDOE. The district’s EL count will not include students who are not identified and properly coded in EIS by Oct.1. Please work with your ESL teachers to ensure students are identified and screened by this date.
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities & Key Dates
In-Person PDs are offered at the Office of Multilingual Learners (OML) unless otherwise indicated – 5151 Scottsdale Ave, Memphis, TN 38118
September 16- Flashlight360 1st Grade Teacher Training, Virtual, 3:00-4:00p
September 17 - Nat Geo Lift Training (9-12 only), Virtual on Teams, 3:00-4:30 PM
September 18- ILP Monitoring Forms Open in ELLevation
September 29- ESL 101 for New and Novice Teachers, "What Does Effective ESL Teaching Look Like?", Wooddale High School, 4-5:30 PM
October 7 – October ESL Monthly Meeting for all ESL Teachers, Self-Paced; available on Nearpod
Use of ESL Staff for Substitute Coverage
To maintain compliance with state and federal requirements, ESL teachers should not be utilized for substitute coverage.
Schools are responsible for scheduling ESL teachers and English Learners appropriately to ensure that all required daily service hours are provided. ESL teacher positions are funded to deliver direct explicit ESL instruction, create and maintain Individualized Learning Plans (ILPs) and monitoring forms, and collaborate with content teachers. ESL staff should not be assigned to cover general education, content-area, or proximity courses during times they are scheduled to provide ESL services.
ESL Screening and Parent Notification Requirements
Per TDOE Rule 0520-01-19 and Program Policy 3.207, after the start of the school year, newly enrolled NELB students must be screened with 14 days of enrollment. Please contact your ESL advisor if you need support with this process.
ESL Exit Ceremony Celebration
We are proud to celebrate students who exited ESL services in the 2025–2026 school year.
Please join us for the Exit Ceremony on Thursday, September 24, from 6:30–7:30 PM at Greater Imani Church, 3824 Austin Peay Hwy, Memphis, TN 38128.
Let’s honor our students' hard work and achievements together!
ESL Course Code Assignments
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. Additionally, assigning the correct course codes also allows teachers to receive monitoring forms in compliance with the TDOE.
Co-Teaching and Sheltered ESL services require an ESL course code in addition to the content course code. Reference the course code documents linked below to find the specific co-teaching ESL codes by grade level. For scheduling support, contact your assigned ESL advisor.
K-5 ESL Course Codes 6-8 ESL Course Codes 9-12 ESL Course Codes
October 1 Deadline
October 1st is the deadline to finalize the student count for the TDOE. The district’s EL count will not include students who are not identified and properly coded in EIS by Oct.1. Please work with your ESL teachers to ensure students are identified and screened by this date.
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities & Key Dates
In-Person PDs are offered at the Office of Multilingual Learners (OML) unless otherwise indicated – 5151 Scottsdale Ave, Memphis, TN 38118
September 16- Flashlight360 1st Grade Teacher Training, Virtual, 3:00-4:00p
September 17 - Nat Geo Lift Training (9-12 only), Virtual on Teams, 3:00-4:30 PM
September 18- ILP Monitoring Forms Open in ELLevation
September 29- ESL 101 for New and Novice Teachers, "What Does Effective ESL Teaching Look Like?", Wooddale High School, 4-5:30 PM
October 7 – October ESL Monthly Meeting for all ESL Teachers, Self-Paced; available on Nearpod