Mount Vernon school board recognizes student achievement, retirees

MOUNT VERNON — Senior Alex Murray collected and disposed of Mount Vernon City Schools’ electronic waste throughout the past year.

Another senior, Madelyn Sinsel, organized a winter clothing drive, teaming with Interchurch social services to impact dozens of local families.

These are the projects of two of a handful of Mount Vernon students who completed the Global Scholars Diploma program this year. It marked the culmination of the three-year experiential learning program from the Columbus Council on World Affairs.

The program’s stated goal is to develop globally competent high school students by building the awareness and skills needed to take action on a global issue and to become responsible citizens of the world.

The school board recognized the district’s global scholars, as well as other award winners and retirees during its meeting Monday.

The district’s other global scholars include Sophia Percy, who connected students with mental health resources, as well as Abigail Taylor, whose work involved diverse literature in elementary schools. Another scholar, Ella Ackert, reduced single use plastic waste locally, specifically plastic bag waste. Ackert made and distributed reusable tote bags.

During the first year of the program, global scholars are exposed to a multitude of cultures, global issues and careers, and interact with experts to build knowledge in a wide range of areas. The second year is more focused on skill building, ranging from how to communicate across cultures to how to find solutions to complex issues. The third year, which for the student recognized Monday was the 2021-22 school year, scholars are tasked to take action by choosing a globally-oriented issue and working toward solving it at a local level.

Much of the program was disrupted for this cohort of five students due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but nevertheless each persevered to complete the three-year path, supt. Bill Seder said. Next year, the district has 14 students on track to complete projects and the following year around 20.

Also Monday, Timm Mackley of Knox Educational Service Center awarded senior Beckett Pechon-Elkins with Knox ESC's selection for the 35th Franklin B. Walter All-Scholastic Awards Program.

The Ohio Educational Service Center Association established this program to recognize outstanding academic achievement, and one senior from each ESC in Ohio received the award in 2022.

“There was no question about it,” Mackley said of the decision to present the award to Pechon-Elkins.

The board recognized five retirees on Monday as well, who together dedicated more than a century to Mount Vernon City Schools.

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“It’s a bittersweet time of the year because we have a number of staff members who decided it’s time to retire,” Seder said.

One of the retirees this year is middle school math teacher Mindy Jones, for which teaching had been a second career after leaving commercial real estate. Seder said Jones also often took on the role of being a mother figure for her students, and her replacement for next school year is one of her former students.

While high school Spanish teacher Dena Hooley retired after 30 years, she is not necessarily planning on slowing down. Hooley said her retirement plans include beekeeping and learning programming so she can develop Spanish programs she has long wished she had for her students.

“So you’re really not retiring, are you?” Seder asked with a laugh.

Hooley replied, "Just having different fun."

Middle school computer technology and health aide Helen Rosser began her more than 30 years with MVCS in the computer lab. As technology developed, she became the go-to person for chromebook and other technology needs. Most recently, Rosser also took on the role of part-time health aide.

Middle school English language arts teacher Walter Lewis is known for finding ways to make his lessons engaging, whether that involved dressing up in costumes or learning the latest social media dance trend to connect with students.

Another retiree this year, East Elementary intervention specialist Sharon Derr, has been teaching long enough to have had her current students' parents as students.

A commonality among many of the retirees Monday included having spent the majority of their careers within MVCS.

The Ohio School Board Association helps districts recognize businesses that support them. This year MVCS recognized RCI Mechanical, Inc. for its contributions to the district and service to the community.

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