Jordan Teacher Leader Fellows wrapped up a two-year cohort with the inaugural teacher leader project exhibition. Each of the 16 teachers in the program shared the results of their research with colleagues, principals, and the District administration. Projects hit on a variety of topics, including promoting student growth in literacy, improving new-teacher mentoring, and offering more support to multilingual students.

The showcase marked the end of the two-year program to develop teachers professionally so they can lead, educate, and inspire colleagues without leaving the classroom. Congratulations to the first graduating class of Jordan Teacher Fellows!

• Tamara Baggett
• Jill Bodine
• Rae Boren
• Melissa Brunke
• Michael Draut
• Amy Geilman
• Lucía Martín García
• Jessica Hacking
• Christina Jacobs
• Kyle Jensen
• Lay Kou
• Xin Luo
• Holli Mattingly
• Haley McCall
• Kami Mecham
• Cassen Williams

Rose Creek Elementary School is celebrating its inaugural inclusion week. Each day during the week, students and staff dress up to support inclusion, support, acceptance, and understanding within the school. Tuesday was blue day, and the school was dressed in shades of royal, navy, sky, and midnight, showing support for people on the autism spectrum, including their schoolmates in the support classrooms at Rose Creek.

Great job leading with kindness and inclusion, Rose Creek!

Young kids took a walk on the wild side at the Jordan Child Development Center Spring Festival. These future students had a ball while they completed a scavenger hunt for hidden animals, strolled through a safari, created their own jungle, and tiptoed through a swamp. While the children were having fun, parents met with providers to learn more about resources and support available for children.

The Spring Festival is one of many events hosted by the Jordan Child Development Center to further its mission to empower families with the knowledge and tools to nurture their child’s growth and development.

Students from the Jordan School District Native American Program recently gathered for a powerful hands-on workshop led by Jacob Crane, Executive Director of the nonprofit Cultural Fire Events. Under Mr. Crane’s guidance, students crafted their own traditional hand drums using maple wood and deer hide. The event was designed to be more than a lesson on making musical instruments, it served as a way to build cultural bonds among the District’s Native American students. Mr. Crane, who has taught traditional dance for over 20 years, shared how these instruments bridge communities and preserve ancestral songs.

By the end of the session, each student walked away with a custom drum they had laced and stretched by hand. The workshop provided a space for students to connect with their identity and learn the technical skills of a centuries-old art form.

Great job to the staff in the Jordan Native American Program for creating such a meaningful event, and thank you to Jacob Crane for sharing his decades of expertise. This event was a great way for students to carry forward the traditions of native song and drum.

Three Jordan School District educators have been selected as winners in Western Governors University’s (WGU) “Fund My Classroom” initiative, receiving nearly $1,000 in specialized tools and equipment. Out of more than 650 submissions nationwide, teachers from Aspen Elementary, Mountain Shadows Elementary, and Majestic Elementary Arts Academy were recognized for their innovative approaches to student engagement. The program is designed to support K-12 educators by providing the necessary materials to expand curricula.

Melissa Coats at Mountain Shadows Elementary received phonics-aligned decodable books to improve reading fluency, while Angus Douglas at Majestic Elementary Arts Academy acquired resources for hands-on STEAM experiences, and Aspen Elementary’s Haley McCall received sensory room materials.

These awards highlight the dedication of JSD teachers in creating supportive and effective learning environments for their students.