With the school selection season just around the corner, including General Choice Transfers, Optional Schools applications, and Early Online Registration, the MSCS Communications team wants to share tips to help you highlight the awesome things your school offers. 

Virtual training sessions for School Public Relations Organizers (PROs) will take place Tuesday, Jan. 23, Wednesday, Jan. 24, and Thursday, Jan. 25.

These optional training sessions will provide guidance, advice, and hands-on help with the following:

• Marketing your school via social media 
• Best practices to manage your school's social media accounts
• Identifying, updating, and maintaining login information for your school's social media accounts

Please click the link below (or scan the QR code) to sign up for the session that best suits your schedule. The deadline to register is Monday, Jan. 22, by 10AM.

https://forms.office.com/r/dC5yfHPAg1

Kierra Davidson

Victoria Brinkley

December Superhero Employee Winners

Congratulations to our outstanding December MSCS Superheroes! Click HERE to read their nominations.

• Instructional: Kierra Davidson – 3rd grade Math and Science teacher, Hawkins Mills Elementary
• Non-Instructional: Victoria Brinkley – Communications Manager, Communications

January Superhero Employee Nominations

January Superhero nominations are open! Click HERE to nominate your colleague.

In accordance with IRS guidelines, W-2 forms will be distributed to employees by Jan. 31. Active employees will be able to access their W-2 forms through the employee portal, while individuals who worked for MSCS in 2023 but are no longer with the District will receive their forms by mail. These forms will be mailed on or before Jan. 31. An update will be sent once the forms have been posted to the employee portal. 

EOC Support Sessions

We are delighted to extend an invitation to our upcoming EOC Support Session, meticulously designed to cater to the needs of high school EOC teachers in ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Please mark your calendars for the following dates:

• Jan. 17: "Standards & Student Work Analysis" – Kingsbury HS (9th Grade Building).
• Feb. 7: "Collaborative Planning & Deliberate Practice" – Germantown HS.
• March 6: "Standards & Student Work Analysis" – Location TBD

Teacher Development Week 2024

Please note the dates for Teacher Development Week: 

• Jan. 22 : Science Content Leads
• Jan. 23 : Math Content Leads
• Jan. 24 : English Language Arts and Social Studies Content Leads
• Jan. 25 : Early Literacy Content Leads

Click HERE to view the flyer. For more information, please contact Dr. Geneva Gordon at gordong@scsk12.org. 

The Semester 2 New and Novice Teacher Content Intensives are scheduled to commence on Jan. 29. The support sessions are planned for the following date ranges:

• Jan. 29 - Feb. 8
• Feb. 12 - 22

Be sure to check for further communication from Dr. Tiffany Boyle for additional details.

Communities In Schools of Memphis has developed a unique cohort for new teachers and is covering the entire cost for participants. In case you don't know, Communities In Schools of Memphis has a longstanding relationship with MSCS, including current partnerships with multiple schools this year. This program is open to new teachers in all schools though.

There are limited spaces, so teachers should complete the interest form quickly. Click HERE for more info about the Developmental Relationships Framework, which is the focus of the PD.

ELA Standards Guide for Grades 3-12

The ELA Department of Curriculum and Instruction is excited to introduce a new resource which has been developed to provide targeted support for deepening understanding of the TN ELA Academic Standards. An overview of the guides which includes details around the purpose, how to access, and use the guides is provided via the voiceover presentations included in this announcement. To learn more about your grade's ELA Standards Guides, click the appropriate grade band below:

• 3-5 Standards Guides
• 6-8 Standards Guides
• 9-12 Standards Guides

The Tennessee Literacy Success Act (TLSA) requires that teachers in the state of Tennessee demonstrate knowledge of foundational literacy skills instruction. The law outlines both training and licensure requirements. 

Training Requirements: Beginning Aug. 1, 2023, all current teachers in Tennessee with a TLSA qualifying endorsement (listed here) must complete a foundational literacy skills training course. To satisfy this requirement, educators can complete Course 1 of either the Early Reading Training or Secondary Literacy Training. 

Licensure Requirements: Beginning Aug. 1, 2023, candidates seeking to obtain, renew, or advance a teaching license with at least one qualifying endorsement (listed here) must demonstrate compliance with TLSA requirements when submitting licensure transactions. Educators may elect to demonstrate compliance using one of the below pathways. The trainings and assessment are free. Educators who do not complete this requirement will not be able to renew or advance the license, and it will become inactive.

• Foundational Literacy Skills Training: Complete Course 1 of either the Early Reading Training or Secondary Literacy Training.  

OR 

• Assessment: Pass the Tennessee Early Literacy Assessment (TELA), which is now available online.  

The Tennessee Literacy Success Act (TLSA) requirement deadline is quickly approaching! All MSCS educators, school leaders, and district staff must meet this requirement deadline by March 31, 2024. 

If you have completed this requirement and submitted your certificate as requested, you may disregard this message.

Please upload your course completion certificate to TN Compass and to this MSCS form: https://forms.office.com/r/Gs1YWkcY1Q

Please note the step sheet detailing how to upload to TN Compass:

Steps to Upload the Literacy Success Act Certificate of Completion

f you have any questions, feel free to contact us at HRCompliance@scsk12.org.

If you have completed this requirement and submitted your certificate as requested, you may disregard this message.

Please upload your course completion certificate to TN Compass and to this MSCS form: https://forms.office.com/r/Gs1YWkcY1Q

Please note the step sheet detailing how to upload to TN Compass:

Steps to Upload the Literacy Success Act Certificate of Completion

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at HRCompliance@scsk12.org.

Mileage Increase

In accordance with the Shelby County Board of Education travel regulations, approved local travel mileage will be reimbursed at the current IRS allowable rate. The mileage reimbursement rate will change to 67 cents per mile, which is an increase of 1.5 cents.

This means starting with your January 2024 approved miles driven, you will be reimbursed at the new rate.

Please notify all affected persons at your location of this change. If you have any questions, please contact Kimberly Engram, Finance Department at 416-5597.

Your assistance is appreciated.

NOTE: Please be reminded that mileage reimbursements are only paid for the current month. Reimbursements for past months will not be honored.

Want to learn more about writing instruction using Wonders and myPerspectives resources? Then join us for one of the vendor-led writing sessions in January. Learn more about the resources used in the Writing Plans! Deepen your knowledge around the many instructional writing materials and state writing test practice resources that support writing in our ELA classrooms. Click HERE to learn more and register today!

Wonders Writing sessions:

Session Title: Writing in the K-5 Wonders Curriculum (Elementary)

Date: Jan. 22 

Time: 4-5 PM

myPerspectives Writing sessions:

Session Title: Writing Opportunities in the myPerspectives Curriculum (Secondary/6-12) 

     (6-8)

• Date: Jan. 23 
• Time: 4-5 PM

    (9-12)

• Date: Jan. 25
• Time: 3:30-4:30 PM

Questions? Email ci_ela_team@scsk12.org

Growth and Achievement Updates

NOTE: THOSE DESIRING TO UPDATE THEIR OCTOBER CHOICE AND/OR DID NOT MAKE A PREVIOUS G&A SELECTION. THIS IS NOT REQUIRED FOR ALL EDUCATORS.  

By Jan. 12, an additional growth and achievement container will be visible for educators in PLZ under the "My Evaluation" tab inside the Growth and Achievement tab entitled "Revised Growth and Achievement". Any educator who desires to update their October selections or make a selection for SY2023-24 will be able to do so until Jan. 31.  

Be reminded both the educator and evaluator must sign off in the new container to indicate the desire for a change.

For additional questions contact EPS at eps@scsk12.org or 901.416.2475.