Mercer County Schools

Today’s Mercer County Schools Steering Committee Meeting was hosted at Conn-Weld, where members had the opportunity to tour the impressive facility with Community Outreach Coordinator Lisa James.

Representing Mercer County Schools were Community Connections Coordinator Jennifer Collis, Data & Information Specialist Amy Harrison, and MCTEC Assistant Principal Freddy Simon joined by local business partners including Jamie Hall (MCOI), Sherri Ingram (City National Bank), Terene Stiltner (Bluefield State University), Vartika Jain (Concord University), and Brian McCoy (Ramey).

We are grateful for the ongoing support of our business community. Their partnership—through school events, job-shadowing, internships, and real-world learning opportunities—helps prepare our students for bright futures right here in Mercer County. 💛🖤

#MercerCountySchools #CommunityPartners #StrongerTogether #MCSCounts #CareerReadyKids

Bus 602 (formerly 632), which is a special needs bus, is running 30 minutes late this morning, Wednesday, November 19th. This affects Mountain Valley, Bluefield Primary, Bluefield Intermediate, Bluefield Middle and Bluefield High.

Bus 682 is running about 10 minutes behind this morning, Wednesday, November 19th. This affects Spanishburg, PikeView Middle and PikeView High.

Bus 680, which is a special needs bus, is running about 30 minutes behind this morning, Wednesday, November 19th. This affects Mountain Valley, Bluefield Primary, Bluefield Intermediate, Bluefield Middle and Bluefield High.

Today, our former student and teacher Argonauts inspired the next generation at Princeton Middle and PikeView Middle!

Savannah Mongeni, Blake Blankenship, Eva Coleman, Finn Caudill, and Miles Munique shared highlights from their unforgettable JASON Learning expeditions to Boston, Houston, and Portland—from hands-on STEM challenges to meeting real scientists, engineers, and innovators.

Teacher Argonauts Jennifer McClanahan and Laiken Lucas encouraged educators to apply as well, reminding everyone that the Argonaut program isn’t just a trip—it’s a life-changing learning experience.

The JASON Learning Argonaut program is perfect for students who are curious about STEM, eager to explore, and ready for an adventure they’ll never forget.
We don’t yet know where the next expedition will go…but the application window opens within the next two months, and we can’t wait to see who steps up!

#JASONLearning #Argonauts #STEM #MercerCountySchools #FutureExplorers

Dr. Kristal Filipek and the Mercer County Schools Human Resources team are hosting a Job Fair today at the Mercer County Schools Warehouse! If you’ve ever considered joining our MCS family, stop by to learn more about open positions, meet our HR staff, and explore opportunities across the district.

Let’s make this week count!

Showing up—every day—helps students stay connected, confident, and on track for success. When we Strive for Five, we build strong habits that last a lifetime.

📅 Goal: Be in school all 5 days this week

💬 Why it matters:

✔ Better grades

✔ Stronger routines

✔ More support from teachers

✔ Fewer make-ups and less stress

✔ A sense of belonging and momentum

Everyday matters. Every student matters.

Let’s show up, lift each other up, and make this a great week in Mercer County Schools! 💙🤍

#StriveForFive #AttendanceMatters #MercerCountySchools #ShowUpForSuccess

Mercer County’s The Network: For Energizing Educators 💛The Network mentees and mentors met this week and gained valuable information for both new and experienced teachers alike! 💡Sessions included AI in the classroom, IReady, Math Strategies, Differentiation, and round table time for questions. 🌟Throughout the month, mentors and mentees will meet and debrief successes in the classroom, reflect on areas of growth, and discuss how the previous sessions have been helpful. #LoveMyWVSchool

Ninth grade students at PSHS received Desmos training today from Zandra Webb of Texas! GEAR UP SWV is bringing this hands-on math support to all high schools in Mercer County, helping students strengthen their skills and confidence.

#GEARUPSWV #GEARUPWorks

See, Share, Care💜

This week, November 16-22, is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week! We are proud that our schools throughout Mercer County are participating in various activities to educate our students and community.
A huge thank you to the incredibly talented MCTEC Graphic Design students! They generously lent their skills to create a powerful and moving campaign to help us raise awareness for this important issue. The images you see accompanying this post are all their original work!

Let's recognize their commitment to making a difference and continue to support our most vulnerable neighbors. Stay tuned throughout the week for more highlights and updates on the activities happening across our schools!

#HungerAndHomelessnessAwareness #MCTEC #MercerCountyPublicSchools #MakingADifference #SeeShareCare

Today, our team – Director of Special Education Emily Huddle, Assistant Superintendent Rosemary Mitchell, Special Education Supervisor Jennifer Perdue, and PSHS staff Derek Belcher, Chris Presley and Laura Presley – are attending the STRIVE initiative training in Lewisburg!

STRIVE is an initiative to strengthen behavior response through targeted assistance — promoting regular attendance, increasing achievement, validating practices, and empowering support teams.
We’re excited to bring what we learn back to our district to support our students and staff!

Yesterday, some of our administrators and student support staff had the privilege of attending a powerful workshop at Tamarack, hosted by the West Virginia Department of Education and presented by Dr. Ruby K. Payne.
The session centered on her book 𝘌𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 and offered valuable insight into how we can better support students facing the challenges of poverty and instability.
Our team walked away with practical tools and strategies to help engage, stabilize, and uplift students so they can focus on learning and reach their fullest potential.
At Mercer County Public Schools, we remain committed to ensuring every student feels seen, supported, and empowered. Today reinforced that mission.
#MercerCountyPublicSchools #StudentSupport #RubyKPayne #WVDE #McKinneyVento
#StabilitySupportsSuccess

Dr. Ernie Adkins and our Elementary Supervisors met today with several elementary principals to collaborate on new strategies to better support students. These conversations are part of our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement and ensuring every child receives what they need to succeed..

A big thank you to ProStart Culinary Instructor Melissa Meachum and her talented students for providing a delicious breakfast at yesterday’s administrators’ meeting! Their culinary skills were on full display, and everything was absolutely outstanding. We appreciate their hard work, professionalism, and the pride they bring to MCTEC and Mercer County Schools!

Central Office staff participated in another outstanding leadership session today with Mike McClanahan of Ad Valorem, LLC.
Today’s training, “Leaders Bring About Change,” focused on the power of positive leadership and the difference one person can make in transforming a team, a school, or an entire district. Thank you, Mike, for continuing to inspire our leaders to grow, reflect, and lead with purpose!

Three amazing Mercer County Schools employees were recognized this evening at the Board of Education meeting as members of the 110% Club! Bus operators Greg Pruett and Sara Jones, along with MCTEC’s ProStart/Culinary Instructor Melissa Meachum, were celebrated for consistently going above and beyond their everyday duties. Mr. Pruett and Ms. Jones recently visited all elementary schools teaching students about school bus safety with Buster the Bus, helping keep our students safe through fun and engaging lessons. Ms. Meachum devotes personal time outside of school to prepare for events, lessons, and competitions—ensuring everything runs smoothly. She and her students also cater Board of Education meetings and school events, proudly showcasing their culinary skills and building community pride. 👏 Thank you for giving 110% every day! #MercerCountySchools #110PercentClub #ExcellenceInAction #EveryDayCounts

🇺🇸 This week, we honor our veterans and the importance of showing up — for our country, our community, and each other. With Veterans Day on Tuesday, there are four school days this week, and we’re encouraging students to Strive for Four! Let’s make every day count — show up, stay connected, and finish the week strong! #StriveForFour #StriveForFive #EveryDayCounts #AttendanceMatters #MercerCountySchools #VeteransDay #ThankYouVeterans

💙 Grant Awarded for School Safety!
School Nurse Heather White has received a $10,000 grant from the Community Foundation of the Virginias to provide “Stop the Bleed” kits—helping complete the goal of having a kit in every classroom in Mercer County!

🩹 “Stop the Bleed” kits contain life-saving supplies such as tourniquets, dressings, and gloves that allow trained staff to control severe bleeding in an emergency until professional help arrives.

Thank you to Nurse White and the Community Foundation of the Virginias for supporting the safety of our students and staff! 💙

#MercerProud #StopTheBleed #SchoolSafety #CommunityFoundation

We are proud and humbled by those who served. Thank you.