Please review the MTSS Lead Updates for the week of 9/14.

Principals, please review the advisory for PE, Art, and Music.  

ACTION FOR SCHOOL LEADERS: Review the master schedule and staffing assignments to ensure adherence to state and location requirements.  Communicate to teachers, parents, and students, any schedule adjustments that are necessary to return to full compliance.   

Questions can be sent to Dr. Amy Maples, maplesa@scsk12.org.

As we kick off the 2026-2027 Literacy Commitment, our focus is on ensuring implementation is clear, consistent, and proactive. 

First Step: 

Attached are the English and Spanish Third-Grade Literacy Commitment Welcome Letters for schools to share with families and use during Parent-Teacher Conferences. 

Third Grade Fall Welcome Letter 2026-2027 - 09.01.26 (Spanish).docx 

Third Grade Fall Welcome Letter 2026-2027 (English).docx

If your school’s Literacy Commitment Lead has changed, please update this information in the Leadership Launchpad.

Coming Soon:

· Literacy Commitment Lead Huddle Dates & Times

· Literacy Commitment Toolkit

· Updated MSCS Literacy Commitment Webpage

Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our students and families informed, supported, and prepared. If you have any questions, please email Porsha Dixon, dixonpm@scsk12.org.

To support planning and scheduling, please review the SEA Professional Learning dates below. All sessions will be held virtually, and SEAs will have two attendance options for each session: 9:30-10:30 a.m. or 1-2 p.m. Please ensure SEAs have access to a quiet location and device to fully engage in the learning. Attendance is required for all SEAs, and participation will be tracked for each session.

SEA Professional Learning Dates

· September 30, 2026

· October 7, 2026

· October 28, 2026

· November 10, 2026

· January 13, 2027

· January 27, 2027

· February 10, 2027

· February 24, 2027

· March 24, 2027

Please reach out to Heba Sammour at sammourh@scsk12.org if you have any questions.

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 p.m. - 5 p.m.

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 a.m. to 1 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 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  

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Tarol Clements < CLEMENTSTP@scsk12.org> and Dr. Billy J. Walker, II < WALKERBJ@scsk12.org>. 

The SY26-27 Growth & Achievement selection window is open in PLZ.

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 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. 

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 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.

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 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 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. 

• SY26-27 NIE Goal Setting Conference Flyer

Goal Setting Conferences are due by October 23, 2026.

Questions? Contact 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.

Greetings!

Leadership Development Week (LDW) is next week, and we would like to remind you of the key dates and information. Please find the agendas for each session.

Final September LDW Master Agenda.pdf

LDW will take place September 21–25, 2025, with the following groups attending on the dates listed below:

• Monday, September 21, 2025 – Professional School Counselors
• Tuesday, September 22, 2025 – Principals
• Wednesday, September 23, 2025 – Assistant Principals, Vice Principals, and Deans of Students
• Thursday, September 24, 2025 – PLC Coaches and Instructional Facilitators
• Friday, September 25, 2025 – Central Office Staff

We look forward to a productive week of learning and collaboration. Please review the agendas for your designated day and come prepared to engage in the scheduled activities and discussions.

Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you next week!