Dr. Crystal Waterman serves as superintendent to begin "Superintendent for a Day" series

A new, but familiar, face occupied the Mount Vernon City School District superintendent’s desk on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. Dr. Crystal Waterman, Edward Williams School principal, served as the superintendent for the day to begin Acting Superintendent Dr. K. Veronica Smith’s “Superintendent for a Day,” series. Dr. Smith served as the principal at Edward Williams.  

The District prides itself on developing and promoting talent from within, so faculty are put in positions of responsibility to foster their growth. The “Superintendent for a Day” series allows administrators at the school level to experience the duties of administrators on the District level.  

“I think our role as leaders is imperative at the building level, and this gives building leaders an opportunity to see what it takes to be successful,” said Dr. Waterman. “Likewise, Dr. Smith has an opportunity to see the day-to-day operations in our building as well. One of the things that I’ve noticed about Mount Vernon is that they are committed to developing people from within. This really gives us a great opportunity to build our capacity as school leaders.” 

This collaboration and sharing of responsibilities allows administrators to be prepared for an eventual promotion or other situations where they need to utilize their leadership skills.  

Dr. Waterman spent the entire school day at the District office and executed all the job duties of a superintendent, including speaking with the student-led Superintendent's Advisory Council.

“We have so many great leaders throughout the District, and we want to put them in positions to succeed,” said Dr. Smith. “This experience is beneficial for Dr. Waterman and the District as a whole, as it shows us areas where we can still grow, and where knowledge can be shared. We will continue this series throughout the remainder of the school year to highlight and continue to develop the great men and women leading our District.”  

For the remainder of the school year, principals throughout the District will take their turn as the superintendent for the day. This initiative allows principals to learn the complexities of the superintendent role, while Dr. Smith can spend extended time in individual schools, serving as their principal and helping further support our scholars.