Dr. Jack Parker
Celebrating a Year of Growth and Achievement
This school year has been one of incredible progress and pride across the Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation.
At Mt. Vernon High School, students achieved higher SAT scores, increased college credit attainment, and benefited from more dual-credit credentialed teachers. With a graduation rate of 97.53% and recognition by U.S. News & World Report as one of the Best High Schools in the nation, our high school continues to set the bar for excellence. Our sports and performing arts programs also shined, reflecting student talent and dedication.
Mt. Vernon Middle School earned national recognition from the American School Counselor Association as a Model Program, and our newly launched middle school Esports team had a strong debut season.
At the elementary level, students showed outstanding performance on the IREAD assessment, demonstrating the strength of our early literacy efforts.
Looking ahead to next year, we’re preparing for the shift to a four-tiered model with the reopening of our intermediate school and the launch of our brand-new elementary building. These projects, supported by our Community Champions, were completed without increasing the debt service tax rate.
Finally, we celebrate the Class of 2025—the largest graduating class in Mt. Vernon history. Their achievements are a source of pride for our entire community.
Thank you to our students, staff, families, and community for a fantastic year, and enjoy your summer!
Celebrating Unified Champion Field Days at MVCSC
In May, Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation (MVCSC) proudly hosted three separate Unified Champions Field Days — one each for preschool, elementary, and secondary students — bringing together learners of all ages for joyful celebrations of fun, connection, and inclusion.
Unified Champions is a Special Olympics program that promotes inclusive school environments by fostering acceptance, respect, and dignity for all students. These events encouraged students with and without disabilities to play and compete side-by-side on the same teams, creating a space where everyone could participate—regardless of their athletic, intellectual, physical, or functional abilities.
MVCSC is proud to be a Special Olympics Unified Champion District, and these events are a shining example of our ongoing commitment to creating inclusive opportunities for all students.
Thank You!
MVCSC extends sincere gratitude to the Mt. Vernon Education Foundation and Greenfield Banking Company for generously sponsoring the Unified Champions Field Day t-shirts for all participants. These memorable events were made possible through the dedication of our incredible staff who planned and facilitated the activities, as well as the enthusiastic support of our middle and high school student volunteers. Their collective efforts truly brought the spirit of togetherness to life and made each Field Day a meaningful and memorable experience for all involved.
End-of-Year Breakfast Celebration for Staff
As the 2024-2025 school year came to a close, MVCSC hosted an End-of-the-Year Celebration for all staff. Many outstanding staff members were recognized for their achievements, years of service, hard work and dedication. MVCSC Administration and the Board of Trustees expressed appreciation to all staff, including the 2024 retirees and Teacher/Staff of the Year, for all their efforts to engage, educate and empower ALL students.
Congratulations and thank you to all our retirees this year. Stay in touch and enjoy your well-deserved retirement!
- Dean Falkenberg - Mt. Vernon Middle School Teacher - 36 Years of Service
- Delinda Deckard - Fortville Elementary Teacher - 32 Years of Service
- Shana Wolfenberger - Mt. Comfort Elementary Teacher - 31 Years of Service
- Anita Benoodt - Mt. Comfort Elementary Teacher - 30 Years of Service
- Tambra Bauchert - Mt. Vernon High School Teacher - 26 Years of Service
- Lisa Decker - Administration Custodian & Fortville Elementary Food Service - 21 Years of Service
- Kristi Norton - McCordsville Elementary Teacher - 20 Years of Service
- Mary Jean Denk - Mt. Comfort Elementary Support Staff, Food Service & Technology - 19 Years of Service
- Elizabeth Jenkins - Mt. Comfort Elementary Teacher - 12 Years of Service
Fortville Elementary Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
The grand opening of Fortville Elementary School was celebrated on May 15, 2025, marking a significant milestone for the Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation. The event featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony that highlighted the school’s commitment to fostering a safe and innovative learning environment for students.
Dr. Parker expressed appreciation to the 2019 Community Champions for their leadership and input during the reopening of Mt. Vernon Intermediate School for fifth and sixth grades—an initiative that ultimately led to the development of the new elementary school in Fortville. After the ribbon-cutting ceremony and self-guided tours, a dedicated time was provided for staff to walk through, followed by a successful community open house.
Class of 2025
Senior Spotlights!
The Mt. Vernon High School (MVHS) Class of 2025 closed their year in style, starting with Senior Honor Night where students accepted scholarships and awards. In total, the Class of 2025 was awarded an astounding $9,786,488 in scholarships!
Our seniors rolled up their sleeves and made a big impact across the district during Senior Work Day! From spreading mulch and pulling weeds to organizing classrooms and packing medical field trip bags to help keep younger students safe—this class truly showed what it means to lead by example.
The Class of 2025 took a trip down memory lane — walking the same hallways where their journey began with their official Senior Walkthrough. With high-fives, cheers, and plenty of smiles, our seniors visited their former elementary school, greeted by excited students and the teachers who first cheered them on.
The culmination of the school year was marked by the graduation of 366 seniors—a proud and emotional milestone for our students, families, and staff. This momentous occasion celebrated not only academic achievements but also the resilience, growth, and memories forged over the years. As these graduates step into their next chapter, they carry with them the values and spirit of MVCSC, ready to make a lasting impact on the world.
“Kindy 500” & “Fifth Grade Flashback 500”
Fortville Elementary School (FES) and McCordsville Elementary School (MES) recently revved up the excitement by celebrating the Month of May with their annual “Kindy 500” events — a beloved tradition fondly known as the cutest spectacle in racing. New this year was MES’s addition of a “Flashback 500” — a special event for fifth-grade students who missed their Kindy 500 due to the pandemic.
Dr. Spangler - CMA Music Teacher of Excellence & Grammy Music Educator Quarterfinalist
Dr. Kathryn Spangler, Mt. Vernon High School’s dedicated and dynamic director of bands, has struck a powerful chord on the national stage — earning not one, but two prestigious honors for her outstanding contributions to music education. Recently, she was named one of the top 30 music teachers in the United States by the Country Music Award (CMA) Foundation through its esteemed Music Teachers of Excellence program. In addition, she is in the running for another major accolade: the 2026 Music Educator Award presented by the Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Museum. Out of 2,000 nominations nationwide, Dr. Spangler was selected as one of just 200 quarterfinalists advancing in the GRAMMY Award process.
MV Staff Donate $1,500 to Zoey’s Place Child Advocacy Center
In January, Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation’s (MVCSC) Superintendent Dr. Jack Parker and Assistant Superintendent Mr. Chris Smedley visited Zoey’s Place Child Advocacy Center to learn more about the vital services the organization provides to children across Hancock County — including Mt. Vernon students. Moved by the center’s mission and impact, they returned inspired to take action and rally support for the organization. Little did they know, MVCSC staff would collectively donate $1,500 for Zoey’s Place Child Advocacy Center!
Township Assistance
Did you know that both the Vernon Township (vernontownship.us, 317-485-7327) and Buck Creek Township (buckcreektownship.com, 317-353-3570) offer a variety of support services to residents in need. Assistance is available for rent/mortgage, utilities, food, medical and burial needs, as well as household essentials like school supplies. For more information, please visit their websites.
Additional community resources, including local food pantries, can be found on the district website under the "Community" tab. Visit the "Local Links" page for more information.
Calendars
The 2026-2027 Academic Calendar aligns all four county school schedules in preparation for sending students to the future Hancock County Career Center (HC3), which will be housed at the Amplify Career Center.
Sincerely,
MVCSC Superintendent, Dr. Jack Parker
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MVCSC, 1806 W. State Road 234, Fortville, IN 46040 - (317) 485 -3100