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Superintendent's Advisory Council begins formulating solutions for school improvement

The image depicts a classroom setting with several people seated at yellow tables, engaged in various activities. The background includes shelves, posters, and other classroom furnishings, suggesting an educational environment.
Superintendent's Advisory Council begins formulating solutions for school improvement

Students visited the Mount Vernon City School District office today for the third meeting of this school year’s Superintendent’s Advisory Council. Elementary and secondary students discussed areas of improvement for their schools and began formulating solutions.

After eating lunch, students listened to a presentation from Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) Brian Simmons, who explained that the programs in CTE are tailored to careers that solve problems. He shared the “Define, Design, Deliver,” framework, encouraging students to define the problem, design the solution and deliver the solution in a 60-second elevator pitch.

Students worked with their classmates before presenting to the Superintendent, who took notes throughout. Dr. Strickland pledged to address their concerns at their buildings as they continue the collaborative work of improving their schools.

Students even received special Superintendent's Advisory Council shirts to wear for their future meetings!

Two individuals, one wearing a camouflage jacket and the other a pink jacket, are standing in a hallway and interacting with something on the wall.
A group of students and an adult are gathered around a whiteboard, engaged in a discussion or presentation.
Two individuals, a woman and a young girl, are standing in a classroom setting with whiteboards and other educational materials visible in the background.
The image shows a group of people in an office-like setting, with a man sitting at a desk using a laptop and several other individuals standing or sitting around the room.
The image depicts a classroom setting with several people seated at yellow tables, engaged in various activities. The background includes shelves, posters, and other classroom furnishings, suggesting an educational environment.
A person is standing in front of a whiteboard, writing on it, while various artwork and photographs are displayed on the walls around them.
Two individuals, one with dreadlocks and the other with short hair, are standing in front of a colorful mural on a wall, appearing to be engaged in some activity.
The image shows a group of people gathered in what appears to be a government or political setting, with an American flag visible in the background.

 

Two individuals, one wearing a black jacket and the other a puffy black coat, are engaged in conversation in what appears to be a classroom setting, with whiteboards and other educational materials visible in the background.
A person in a gray hooded sweatshirt is writing on a whiteboard in a room with patterned wallpaper.
A young woman with braided hair is holding up a purple shirt with a logo on it, standing in a hallway with a fire extinguisher sign visible in the background.
A group of people, mostly young women, are gathered in what appears to be a school or community center setting, with colorful artwork and displays visible in the background.
A young boy in a black shirt sits at a desk with a name tag in front of him, surrounded by a collage of photographs on the wall behind him.
A man in a white shirt and glasses is seated at a table, working on a laptop computer, with various audio equipment and speakers visible in the background.
A young woman with braided hair stands in front of a wall, examining a painting or artwork displayed on the wall.


 

A colorful spinning wheel is projected onto a large screen in a room with tables and chairs in the foreground and people seated in the background.
Lottery for UPK-3 hosted at Board of Education

For the sixth year, the Mount Vernon City School District is offering prekindergarten for three-year-olds (UPK-3). A lottery was held on Thursday afternoon for the upcoming 2026-27 school year to occupy the 60 spots available.

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An end of the year message from Superintendent Dr. Demario Strickland

My first year as superintendent of the Mount Vernon City School District has been unforgettable, thanks to the support and dedication of our families, students, faculty, and staff. It has been my honor to serve this community and work toward building a brighter future for all of us. This was a successful year, and I want you to know that every bit of it was felt and heard. We faced real challenges and grew stronger because of them, and the progress we made together touched me deeply. It belonged to every family, student, teacher, and staff member who showed up and gave this district their best. 

A group of people stand on a stage holding certificates in front of a white screen, while an audience sits in a dark auditorium in the foreground.
PTA Council awards $1,000 Edith Kaplan Scholarships to 16 students

Sixteen students from the Class of 2026 were awarded with $1,000 Edith Kaplan Scholarships from the Mount Vernon PTA Council at the Board of Education meeting this Tuesday. The scholarships, raised through the Edith Kaplan Scholarship Dinner Dance, will help support the students' college goals, which were highlighted as they received the scholarships. 

A young boy and an adult man sit in the foreground with tables of snacks and people in colorful clothing in the background.
3rd annual Gentleman's Brunch hosted at Pennington School

Young Scholars in grades sixth through eighth, along with their fathers and fatherly figures, congregated in the auditorium at Pennington School for the third annual Gentlemen’s Brunch. Esteemed professionals from across the City of Mount Vernon visited to discuss what it means to be a leader and how to overcome hardships.