End of Year Letter from Acting Superintendent Dr. K. Veronica Smith
Greetings Mount Vernon,
As we continue to celebrate the end of the 2023-2024 school year, I would like to take a moment to congratulate all of our scholars for their hard work and dedication to their academics this year. They have all displayed tremendous work ethic and effort to get to where they are today and be ready for the next step. I am very proud of each and every one of them.
I am so appreciative of our teachers and what they have done this year. I am incredibly grateful for the passion and commitment they bring to their classrooms every day. Thank you for all that you have done throughout the year to improve our students’ education.
This school year has been a busy and exciting one with many triumphs. We have emphasized an importance on getting back to the basics of reading, arithmetic and writing in our scholars’ education, and we plan to move forward to mastery in the coming school year.
We have expanded partnerships with many organizations, including Iona University and the City of Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon High School has also expanded its Career and Technical Education Department to include EMT and cosmetology programs, providing diverse opportunities for many of our students.
The District has emphasized to our scholars the significance of a good education and stressed the importance of physical and mental health. We have expanded upon several initiatives to support students and their needs, including the No Place for Hate program and our annual health fair.
I hope that everyone has a fun and fulfilling summer. I encourage all of us to spend quality time with our loved ones and take this time to relax and recharge. I also encourage our scholars to spend time over the summer reinforcing what they have learned during the school year. Whether it’s through reading, or engaging in educational activities and conversations, keeping scholars' minds active during the summer will ensure a smooth transition back to school in the fall and make them more successful in the classroom.
The Mount Vernon City School District family would like to extend your family a happy and healthy summer vacation. I look forward to seeing our students' smiling faces in the 2024-2025 school year!
Kindest Regards,
Dr. K. Veronica Smith
Acting Superintendent of Schools
On Thursday, February 13, the Mount Vernon City School District Parent Liaison Team hosted a parent and guardian workshop entitled Chronic Illness, Loss, and the Impact on Your Child. Their guest presenter was Ms. Jennifer Ricca, MS, CCLS, Children, Teens, and Family Manager for the Cancer Support Community Greater NY & CT.
Today, Friday, February 14, 2025, marks the two-year anniversary of Dr. K. Veronica Smith’s first day as Acting Superintendent. Join the Mount Vernon City School District in wishing her a happy anniversary! In these two years, the District has emphasized its commitment to its scholars. Through the Back to Basics, Forward to Mastery approach, where teachers are getting back to the fundamentals of teaching and learning, the District has seen great academic improvements, leading graduation rates and test scores to trend upward.
View the leaderboard for the Career and Technical Education Stock Market Challenge being held in Career and Financial Management classes here!
Bryce Marable is a Mount Vernon STEAM Academy senior who shows perseverance through hard work and dedication to his academics. Experiencing a significant change after transferring from outside of the District to STEAM, Bryce has demonstrated that his education and securing a bright future come before all.
Acting Superintendent Dr. K. Veronica Smith celebrated her birthday (February 9) at The Education Center with staff and administrators of the Mount Vernon City School District. Staff dressed down for the day, enjoyed cake and wished Dr. Smith a happy birthday. Happy Birthday Dr. Smith!
Yanick St. Cyr and Anna Valinda Mendy, Mount Vernon High School 12th-grade Nursing Assistant Program students, volunteered at the Southern Westchester Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) SkillsUSA Regional Competition on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at the Center for Career Services. Yanick and Anna are also in the SkillsUSA Club at MVHS.
The Mount Vernon City School District’s superintendent search survey, conducted by Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA), has been extended to Monday, February 24, 2025, at 11:59 p.m., to allow for further engagement with the community. HYA will present their leadership profile report at the Board of Education on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.