They help students when they get scrapes on the playground. They assess if a sniffle is more than just a sniffle. They prepare school staff to recognize and appropriately respond to potential emergencies. And they assist with the planning and implementation of care for students with chronic and medically complex conditions. They are our dedicated, professional school nurses.

Today is National School Nurse Day! Jordan School District applauds our devoted team of nurses and thanks them for all they do to keep the school environment safe and healthy. Their hard work is so vital, allowing all students to achieve academic success.

Thank you school nurses for improving the quality of our schools each and every day!

In light of recent events, we wanted to make the community aware of the following resources available at Herriman High School for anyone in the District.

• Crisis counselors from Jordan School District are available at Herriman High School for anyone who may need them today and tomorrow.
• The Utah State Board of Education Student Assistance Support Team will also be available at the school.
• Additional crisis counseling support teams from the State Department of Health will be at the school from 1 – 4 p.m. as well.
• You may come to the school any time to use these services. A phone number has been established at Herriman High School for those who may want to schedule time with a counselor or psychologist. Call 801-567-8532.
• Please be aware of resources available for reporting concerns about someone in crisis and about suicide prevention, even when school is not in session.
• The Jordan Family Education Center provides free counseling services to students of all ages and adults in Jordan School District. They can be contacted at 801-565-7442.
• Please take a look at support service resources for students and their families on our Comprehensive School Counseling Program site.
• The SafeUT Smartphone App for Android and iOS is a free and confidential way to report issues of school violence, bullying or concerns about someone in crisis. We encourage you to learn more on the University of Utah’s SafeUT site. The reports will go directly to administrators and counselors who can respond during and after school hours and on weekends.
• The Utah Suicide Prevention Coalition has valuable information for families regarding suicide prevention, warning signs to watch for and reporting advice.
• The State Board of Education offers resources, through the Utah Education Network website.

Two Jordan School District teachers were recently recognized for their outstanding contributions to education by Rep. Mia Love at a ceremony in West Jordan.

Annette Stewart from Jordan Ridge Elementary School and Melinda Mansouri from the Jordan Academy for Technology and Careers South Campus received Congressional Recognition during Rep. Love’s Congressional Awards Ceremony at the Mountain America Corporate Offices.

Honored by the Utah Veterans of Foreign Wars as Teacher of the Year, Annette Stewart has been teaching in Jordan School District for 38 years. She has been a 5^th grade teacher at Jordan Ridge for the past 31 years, sharing her love for American History and patriotism with the many students she has taught over the years.

Melinda Mansouri has been recognized as the Utah Association for Career and Technical Education Teacher of the Year. She was the original author of the Advanced Website Creation Curriculum in the state of Utah and has developed courses in web design, mobile app development and game development. Melinda has been a teacher in Jordan School District for 23 years.

Congratulations to Annette and Melinda for receiving this special recognition from Rep. Love and for your dedication to teaching students in Jordan School District.

She has a unique way of getting students excited about math, engineering and science in and outside of the classroom. Now an Oquirrh Hills Middle School educator is being honored for her teaching talents. Carly Stirland is MESA Teacher of the Year for the State of Utah. Ms. Stirland started the Math, Engineering, Science Achievement Club at Oquirrh Hills five years ago when she began her teaching career. Since then, there has been so much excitement surrounding the club and its fun educational activities – enrollment has gone from 54 to 136 students. Fellow educators say Ms. Stirland always has a positive and upbeat attitude and firmly believes more females are needed in STEM related fields.

Ms. Stirland is always challenging young minds. For example, in one classroom project she asked students to build a robot that would deliver notes to different teachers around the school. In another challenge, her ninth-grade engineering class had to design a high heel that would hold the student’s own weight, using only foam core. The students then held a red carpet fashion show during lunch.

Congratulations, Ms. Stirland. We are excited to see what the future holds for you and the students you teach.

They work tirelessly to support students in schools throughout Jordan School District and this week is set aside to say thanks. It is National School Counseling Week and we are so proud of the important work these professional men and women do each and every day.

School counselors have a tremendous impact helping students achieve success and plan for future careers. They are always there for students seeking advice or for those who simply need someone to listen. Each counselor serves hundreds of students and they make a difference in young lives with their kindness, counsel and understanding.

Please take the time to say thank you to your school counselor today.