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Superintendent Search report presented during Board of Education Meeting

Superintendent search presentation.
Superintendent Search report presented during Board of Education Meeting

The firm in charge of searching for the next superintendent of the Mount Vernon City School District will be looking for specific traits based on community forums, community surveys, focus groups and individual interviews. According to Edward McCormick and Dr. Karen Geelan from Hazard Young Attea Associates (HYA), those characteristics include:

  • Effectively plan and manage the long-term financial health of the District
  • Foster a positive, professional climate of mutual trust and respect among faculty, staff and administrators
  • Recruit, employ, and retain effective personnel throughout the District and its schools

Mr. McCormick and Dr. Geelan presented an executive summary report about the superintendent’s search to the Board of Education on Thursday, February 27, 2025, sharing the strengths and challenges of the District before presenting the survey results. They highlighted dedicated staff and diverse community as areas of strength of the district.

A total of 810 people participated in the survey, answering the questions:

  • “What do stakeholders value regarding the schools? What strengths do they desire to retain and build upon?” 
  • “What are the issues this District currently faces, and will face in the next three to five years?” and 
  • “What personal and professional characteristics are expected in a new Superintendent?”

The findings show that the community is looking for an experienced effective leader who is passionate and committed to student achievement, Dr. Geelan said. Other desired qualities include being innovative, creative, courageous, decisive, confident, collaborative and politically savvy. 

Superintendent search presentation.

 Mr. McCormick discussed HYA’s superintendent’s search process; which includes three to four weeks of engaging with the community to understand their desires, six to eight weeks of recruiting candidates and three to four weeks to select a suitable candidate.

The Board will conduct initial interviews and final interviews after HYA searches for candidates and vet them by conducting preliminary interviews and background checks. 

Click here to view the presentation from the Board of Education Meeting. 

Visit our Superintendent Search page to find information and reports regarding a timeline for the search and desired leadership characteristics.
 

Dr. Strickland outlines 'Excellence by Design' priorities for the new school year
Dr. Strickland outlines 'Excellence by Design' priorities for the new school year

Mount Vernon City School District Superintendent Dr. Demario Strickland is putting literacy, attendance and student voice among the district’s top priorities for the new school year, while rolling out new technology, expanding access for families and pledging continued transparency about district finances. Dr. Strickland laid out those priorities in his Aug. 25 Superintendent’s Report, describing a districtwide effort to strengthen instruction and the systems that support students. The work is being framed by a new theme, “Excellence by Design,” which he said reflects a deliberate approach to improvement.

Three women stand behind a table with baby manikins in the foreground, while a colorful bulletin board is visible in the background.
Mount Vernon City School District lunch monitors trained in CPR, first aid and AED response

Thirty-eight Mount Vernon City School District lunch monitors returned to school this week with an important new set of skills: the ability to respond when a child or adult faces a potentially life-threatening emergency. The monitors, along with two Central Office staff members, were trained Wednesday in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid and the use of an automated external defibrillator during the District’s first Superintendent’s Conference Day of the 2026-27 school year.

 

A server in an apron offers a sample of food to a woman wearing a lei, while a cafeteria setting with other people is visible in the background.
MVCSD food service staff get a taste of year ahead during professional development retreat

Mount Vernon City School District lunch monitors, head chefs, managers and other food service workers kicked off the new school year with their annual professional development retreat, which served up valuable training, teamwork and a taste of what’s ahead for 2026-27. Staff members from Sodexo – the District’s K-12 food services provide -- gathered at Mount Vernon High School for the various activities, including food tasting, as they prepared to welcome students back from summer vacation. The annual professional development sessions help employees review procedures and regulations while strengthening the teamwork necessary to provide exceptional service to students.

Mount Vernon's Jewel Box
Mount Vernon's Jewel Box - Welcome Back to School!

Welcome back to school! This week, The Mount Vernon City School District greeted students and staff with warm smiles for another exciting school year. Teachers quickly began diving into curriculum, starting off the academic year strong. You can also view Mount Vernon’s Jewel Box on our Facebook, Instagram or YouTube! #ExcellencebyDesign