Superintendent's Summary

Dr. Jack Parker

I am proud to share that we began this school year with a 96% staff retention rate. In today’s educational environment, that is extraordinary. More importantly, it reflects something powerful about Mt. Vernon — our people believe in this community, in one another, and in your children.

Public education is not getting easier. The needs of students are increasingly complex, and expectations continue to rise. Yet with the right support systems and a strong sense of teamwork, this work remains deeply meaningful and just as rewarding as ever. When educators feel supported and connected, students thrive.

Over the past several years, we have made intentional investments in strengthening our district-wide behavioral supports. We have added valuable personnel, including a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, a Behavior Coach, Registered Behavior Technicians, Behavior Technicians, and Life Coaches. We have expanded Essential Skills classrooms, increased behavior support rooms, and developed our Behavior Program to provide structured out-of-school behavioral services when needed.

These additions are not simply programs — they represent our commitment to ensuring that every student has the support necessary to grow, learn, and succeed at their highest level.

At the heart of our work is a focus on relationships. We continue to train and coach all staff in Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), reinforcing our belief that strong, healthy relationships are foundational to student success. When students feel safe, known, and valued, they are more ready to learn.

Our efforts align with three strategic goals that guide our work each day:

1. Fostering a Sense of Belonging – ensuring every student and staff member feels connected and valued.
2. Enhancing Staff Recruitment and Retention – building a culture where outstanding educators and staff choose to stay and grow.
3. Elevating Student Learning and College/Career Programming – preparing students for meaningful opportunities beyond graduation.

We also protect time for important collaboration. On Early Release Wednesdays, our teachers work together in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to analyze student learning, share effective strategies, and continuously improve instruction. When educators learn together, students benefit.

Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation is strong because of the people who serve here and the families who partner with us. Thank you for your trust, your encouragement, and your continued support. Together, we will ensure that our schools remain places where students belong, educators flourish, and learning leads to bright futures.

Congrats to our MV Building Winners for Teacher & Staff of the Year

Congratulations to these outstanding building winners for Teacher of the Year (TOY) and the Staff of the Year (SOY)! The process began with staff members nominating up to three individuals for both TOY and SOY in their respective buildings. After the top three nominees with the most votes were announced, staff members evaluate them based on criteria such as dedication, teamwork, caring, student focus, commitment to lifelong learning, and innovation. Please help congratulate the building winners who have exemplified the previously listed qualities.

All building-level winners will advance as finalists for the District Teacher and Staff of the Year. An MVEF committee will conduct interviews and select the district recipients. Each building TOY and SOY winner receives two tickets to the Mt. Vernon Education Foundation's (MVEF) Gala on April 11, along with a custom-engraved glass sculpture and a $500 cash award sponsored by the Ryan Fry Excellence in Education Fund. Established in 2018 by Kevin and Jill Prefontaine in memory of Jill’s brother, Ryan Fry, the fund has provided more than $90,000 to support educators and staff in creating meaningful experiences.

Please join us in celebrating their outstanding contributions at the MVEF “Doubling Down on Tomorrow” Gala on April 11. Your attendance supports the Mt. Vernon Education Foundation while honoring our building-level winners. The evening will include formal recognition of these recipients and the announcement of the District’s Teacher and Staff of the Year, each of whom will receive $2,000 from the Ryan Fry Excellence in Education Fund.

Send a Staff Appreciation Card!

MV Community! Take a moment to send a personal note of thanks to ANY Mt. Vernon employee by filling out a simple “Because of You…” form! This free opportunity lets community members share a positive message with bus drivers, instructional assistants, food service staff, SROs, health service staff, teachers, administrators, and ANY MV employee. Just head to the “community” tab on all websites, and click on “Staff Appreciation Cards” or see mvcsc.k12.in.us/StaffAppreciation. Help make a staff member's day with a thoughtful message. It means more than you know! 

PARENT COMMUNICATION SURVEY RESULTS

We appreciate the more than 500 parents/guardians and community members who participated in the November Communications Survey. Based on the feedback received, several initiatives are being developed to continuously strengthen and improve district communication. Some notable survey data points are:

• 95% of surveyed parents have the ParentSquare (PS) app on their phone
• Among only parents and guardians, nearly 88% report feeling comfortable or very comfortable using PS, with more than 95% indicating at least some level of comfort. Fewer than 5% report discomfort, suggesting PS is broadly accessible for families.
• Public celebration and recognition of staff and students, as well as community-wide events are encouraged. 
• Quarterly updates on growth, capacity, and long-term planning, as well as major programs are appreciated.
• Training and guidance on the use of ParentSquare is encouraged.
• Parents would like additional touchpoints, specific to their child.
• Parent pride in MV is strong, with 69% reporting high levels of pride and nearly 89% expressing at least some pride.

TIPS FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS

• When you receive a post, did you know you can "appreciate" the post? Teachers put a lot of time into their communication, and it's always nice for work to be appreciated!
• Digest Setting = All non-urgent posts are delivered at 6 p.m. in one condensed email. This setting is in your notification settings. This can be especially helpful if you have multiple children.
• Many teachers communicate to parents through "Direct Messaging" in ParentSquare. This is a two-way communication option.
• In the recent communications survey, parents expressed a desire to reduce redundant messaging. For "urgent" communications, phone, email, text, and push notifications remain automatic to ensure timely delivery. For non-urgent messages, ParentSquare will no longer send text notifications, which should help minimize duplication.
• When teachers use the Form feature and your signature is requested, the name needs to be the same that appears in your Family One of Skyward. In other words, if your name is listed as "Michael" in Skyward, when you sign a ParentSquare Form, you need to use "Michael," not Mike.

Calendars

Sincerely,

MVCSC Superintendent Dr. Jack Parker

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MVCSC, 1806 W. State Road 234, Fortville, IN 46040 - (317) 485 -3100