Our Students Now: James 'Talent' Harris
![Talent Harris headshot picture]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1723486650/mtvernoncsdorg/yagkxzb2j9zrvgz0yti5/EA0A1780-X3.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1723486650/mtvernoncsdorg/yagkxzb2j9zrvgz0yti5/EA0A1780-X3.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1723486650/mtvernoncsdorg/yagkxzb2j9zrvgz0yti5/EA0A1780-X3.jpg","width":792}])
Our Students Now: James 'Talent' Harris
Soon after graduation from Mount Vernon High School in 1987, James "Talent" Harris became heavily involved in media, including television, comedy and radio. Talent Harris has headlined his own comedy shows and tours, as well as making special appearances on programs such as BET’s Comic View, HBO’s SNAPs and Def Comedy Jam. He also earned the position as host of New York’s 98.7 KISS FM’s Morning Show.
“Talent Harris has gone on to great success in media following his time in our school district, and he has showcased himself as not only funny, but also as an effective business-oriented individual,” said Acting Superintendent Dr. K. Veronica Smith. “It is a joy to see how many people he has made laugh in his career. He is also a great role-model to our students and shows that they can succeed in any field if they work hard and apply themselves to get there.”
Talent has also been involved in several other media ventures that include creating and producing podcasts and radio shows, co-hosting the Wake-up Club on 103.9 WDKX/Rochester New York, and on-air contribution for Buffalo’s WUFO FM station.
Name: James Talent Harris
Graduation year: 1987
High school: Mount Vernon High School
Current position: Comedian, actor and radio personality
Q + A:
What are you doing now with your life and career?
I am currently still active in all areas (comedy, acting and radio.)
How has MVHS/MVCSD prepared you for your career?
Actually, MVHS has prepared me by its diversity early in life, as I would come to tour the world and interact with all walks of life.
Who are some people who inspired or pushed you to be better during your time in the school district?
My counselors, especially Mr. Abatecolla in Division B.
What was your favorite part of attending the Mount Vernon City School District?
My favorite part of attending was our sports opportunities.
What is one thing from your time in the Mount Vernon City School District that stuck with you the most or helped you the most in your career?
Again, the one thing to help most was sports like basketball, as my first film opportunity would be a basketball movie.
What are you most proud of from your school experience?
I am the most proud of the people, many of whom are still in contact with to this day.
What do you know now that you wish you knew during your time in the school district?
I wish I knew I would be in TV or movies because I would have exercised use of the media department more.
What would you tell current students today to help them on their academic and career journey?
I would tell students that every day there counts and matters. I believe our younger selves definitely underestimate this part.
![One Mount Vernon Thumbnail]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1715964023/mtvernoncsdorg/i9ubu0f5iwmdwvjg9xk7/OneMountVernonThumbnail.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1715964023/mtvernoncsdorg/i9ubu0f5iwmdwvjg9xk7/OneMountVernonThumbnail.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1715964023/mtvernoncsdorg/i9ubu0f5iwmdwvjg9xk7/OneMountVernonThumbnail.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1715964023/mtvernoncsdorg/i9ubu0f5iwmdwvjg9xk7/OneMountVernonThumbnail.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1715964023/mtvernoncsdorg/i9ubu0f5iwmdwvjg9xk7/OneMountVernonThumbnail.png","width":1400}])
![Logo for news post]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1676045645/mtvernoncsdorg/mxqb393gnn11kr3i3ng4/Logofornewspost1.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1676045645/mtvernoncsdorg/mxqb393gnn11kr3i3ng4/Logofornewspost1.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1676045645/mtvernoncsdorg/mxqb393gnn11kr3i3ng4/Logofornewspost1.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1676045645/mtvernoncsdorg/mxqb393gnn11kr3i3ng4/Logofornewspost1.png","width":940}])
Dr. K. Veronica Smith, Acting Superintendent of Schools:
Unfortunately, as I am sure you have heard, there has been another devastating and senseless attack in a school in our country. Our hearts go out to the community, families and students of Apalachee High School in Barrow County, Georgia. The Mount Vernon City School District extends its sincerest sympathies to all those who were affected by this violence.
![Dr. Christopher Pearce]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1725565750/mtvernoncsdorg/uahhunjeminywk864nxn/IMG_0233.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1725565750/mtvernoncsdorg/uahhunjeminywk864nxn/IMG_0233.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1725565750/mtvernoncsdorg/uahhunjeminywk864nxn/IMG_0233.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1725565750/mtvernoncsdorg/uahhunjeminywk864nxn/IMG_0233.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1725565750/mtvernoncsdorg/uahhunjeminywk864nxn/IMG_0233.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1725565750/mtvernoncsdorg/uahhunjeminywk864nxn/IMG_0233.jpg","width":2200}])
Dr. Christopher Pearce, Principal at Mount Vernon STEAM Academy, is an alum of the Class of 1989 at Mount Vernon High School, and he has been an educator for the District since 2000. He began as a math teacher, then became a dean of students, an assistant principal, and finally a principal. He is at his second school as principal, having also led the former Benjamin Turner Middle School. He has committed the majority of his career to shaping the lives of students in the school district that he graduated from.
![Two students smiling at their desk.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1725467549/mtvernoncsdorg/wrfdncvgrggedqjshwph/SecondDay-School-24-25-36.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1725467549/mtvernoncsdorg/wrfdncvgrggedqjshwph/SecondDay-School-24-25-36.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1725467549/mtvernoncsdorg/wrfdncvgrggedqjshwph/SecondDay-School-24-25-36.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1725467549/mtvernoncsdorg/wrfdncvgrggedqjshwph/SecondDay-School-24-25-36.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1725467549/mtvernoncsdorg/wrfdncvgrggedqjshwph/SecondDay-School-24-25-36.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1725467549/mtvernoncsdorg/wrfdncvgrggedqjshwph/SecondDay-School-24-25-36.jpg","width":2200}])
High school students filled the hallways, with their new schedules in hand, as schools in the Mount Vernon City School District held their first full day of school on Wednesday, September 4, 2024. High schoolers began to get back in the flow of school and continued meeting their new teachers and reorienting themselves into a new school year.
![Mount Vernon City School District kicks off the 2024 - 2025 School Year]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1725387323/mtvernoncsdorg/hh2aggd5yyymym65l1uz/2024-25FIRSTDAYOFSCHOOL-20_1.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1725387323/mtvernoncsdorg/hh2aggd5yyymym65l1uz/2024-25FIRSTDAYOFSCHOOL-20_1.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1725387323/mtvernoncsdorg/hh2aggd5yyymym65l1uz/2024-25FIRSTDAYOFSCHOOL-20_1.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1725387323/mtvernoncsdorg/hh2aggd5yyymym65l1uz/2024-25FIRSTDAYOFSCHOOL-20_1.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1725387323/mtvernoncsdorg/hh2aggd5yyymym65l1uz/2024-25FIRSTDAYOFSCHOOL-20_1.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1725387323/mtvernoncsdorg/hh2aggd5yyymym65l1uz/2024-25FIRSTDAYOFSCHOOL-20_1.jpg","width":2200}])
Elementary and middle school students pranced into their school buildings while waving goodbye to their parents on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, for the first day of school. Smiles filled the hallways as students and teachers greeted each other with warm welcomes to kick off the 2024 -2025 school year.
![Carlos Ramirez]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1725037136/mtvernoncsdorg/xgsrdvw8f17dpxoxr3le/CopyofLogofornewspost7.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1725037136/mtvernoncsdorg/xgsrdvw8f17dpxoxr3le/CopyofLogofornewspost7.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1725037136/mtvernoncsdorg/xgsrdvw8f17dpxoxr3le/CopyofLogofornewspost7.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1725037136/mtvernoncsdorg/xgsrdvw8f17dpxoxr3le/CopyofLogofornewspost7.png","width":940}])
MVCSD Director of Technology Carlos Ramirez was selected this summer to serve on the College of Westchester’s College Advisory Council for the School of Information Technology.
The College Advisory Council advises the College of Westchester on the workforce demands in the current climate to help guide academic programs and review learning outcomes and objectives. Their goal is to ensure that students are prepared to enter the workforce upon graduation.
![Faculty and staff are setting up for success with the First Professional Development Day of the year]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1724960339/mtvernoncsdorg/hubwzmhcb6qswak8fdoz/ProfessionalDevelopment-6.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1724960339/mtvernoncsdorg/hubwzmhcb6qswak8fdoz/ProfessionalDevelopment-6.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1724960339/mtvernoncsdorg/hubwzmhcb6qswak8fdoz/ProfessionalDevelopment-6.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1724960339/mtvernoncsdorg/hubwzmhcb6qswak8fdoz/ProfessionalDevelopment-6.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1724960339/mtvernoncsdorg/hubwzmhcb6qswak8fdoz/ProfessionalDevelopment-6.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1724960339/mtvernoncsdorg/hubwzmhcb6qswak8fdoz/ProfessionalDevelopment-6.jpg","width":2200}])
Faculty and staff are setting up for success with the First Professional Development Day of the year
Faculty and staff throughout the District engaged with their colleagues in various hands-on activities on Thursday, August 29, 2024, to train for the upcoming school year and engage in professional development during Superintendent's Conference Day.