Mercer County Schools

🌞 Summer Learning Spotlight 🌞
Erin Stump (upcoming 5th grader at BIS) and Audrey Stump (upcoming 2nd grader at BPS) had an unforgettable adventure in Destin, Florida! 🐐🐦 They interacted with goats, budgies, and many other animals while learning fascinating facts—like what giraffes need in their diets and the importance of rhino conservation. 🦒🦏 They even witnessed dolphins splashing and playing in their natural habitat! 🐬 What an exciting way to mix fun and learning this summer! 🌊📚

This morning, Mercer County Schools’ Elementary and Secondary leadership teams convened to engage in strategic planning focused on student achievement. The agenda included critical discussions on assessment, instructional priorities, and academic outcomes for the 2025-2026 school year. Our commitment to data-driven decision making ensures every student has the opportunity to succeed.

Emma Weiss and Ethan Thompson proudly represented Mercer County Schools at the National GEAR UP Conference this week! They explored leadership strategies, learned how to overcome physical and mental challenges, and discovered the power of teamwork in achieving success. Pictured with principals Mike Collins and Anna Lilly, they are bringing back valuable skills to share with their peers! #GEARUP #StudentLeaders #MercerProud #TeamworkMatters

🌞 Summer Learning Spotlight 🌾
Emmett (rising 5th grader), Eli (rising 3rd grader), and their youngest brother Easton—a future Mercer County Schools student—spent part of their summer learning about farm life at their great-grandmother’s house! From exploring the outdoors to meeting a friendly donkey, these brothers got hands-on lessons in responsibility, nature, and where our food comes from. 💚

Even more valuable was the time spent with family—proving that some of the best learning happens outside the classroom and with those who love us most. 🐴👵🌻

#SummerLearning #FamilyTime #MercerCountySchools #FarmLifeLessons

Some of our Mercer County Schools employees, along with Board Member Jim Bailey, attended the grand opening of the Ridge Runner Fund Zone Splash Pad today! 💦 A fun and refreshing way to celebrate community partnerships and summer fun!

📚 We’re still accepting applications for Pre-K for the 2025–2026 school year!

Did you know? Children who attend high-quality Pre-K programs are more likely to be reading on grade level by 3rd grade and graduate high school on time. Give your child a strong start! 🌟

#PreKMatters #EarlyLearning #MercerCountySchools #EnrollNow

Link to application: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=S7AZ4AwzekaLrgn7FzdNakNPkGzaCuhCiiCqIWHw9QhUMURLVUlDR1oyQ0VRWEVaRzgyM0xLQkYzTy4u

Get ready, Mercer County! ⚾️ We're absolutely thrilled to announce that Mercer County Schools has put together a team to play the incredible Bluefield Railbirds Alternative Baseball Organization in an upcoming game!
Mark your calendars! Join us on August 2nd at 11 AM at Hunnicutt Field for a fantastic time. Come show your support for these special athletes and celebrate inclusion in our community! We can't wait to see you there!
#MercerCountySchools #BluefieldRailbirdsABO #CommunitySupport #InclusiveBaseball #SaveTheDate

📚 Elementary and Pre-K Supervisor Amber Riffe, along with several dedicated Mercer County teachers, attended the Pre-K and Elementary Social Studies Standards Roll-Out Sessions! They’re bringing back valuable insights to help shape engaging, standards-aligned instruction for our youngest learners. 🌟 #MercerCountySchools #SocialStudies #EarlyLearning #TeacherLeaders

Mercer County Schools remains committed to fiscal responsibility and transparency. Treasurer Leslie Wellman, along with accountants Lauren Crook and Jordan Angell, recently met with Lacey Pettry from the WVDE Office of School Finance and David McClure of Education Consulting Team, LLC. Mr. McClure, a former Greenbrier County treasurer, continues to support our district as a mentor. Together, this team is ensuring our financial practices are sound and aligned with state standards. #FiscalResponsibility #TeamMercer

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Ernie Adkins met today with the Title I team—Pam Clark (Title I Supervisor), Rhonda Rogers (Title I Supervisor), and Denise Johnson (Title I Secretary)—to plan for the upcoming school year. Key topics included Federal Programs Monitoring and strategic planning to support student success across Mercer County Schools.

🌟 Summer Learning Spotlight 🌟
Braxton Hampton, a rising 4th grader at Timberwood Elementary, spent part of his summer exploring the Dungeness ruins and watching wild horses on Cumberland Island, Georgia! 🐎🏝️

His adventure didn’t stop there—he also visited historic Jekyll Island and spent time at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, where he learned how marine experts care for sick and injured sea turtles. 🐢💚

What a fun and educational summer trip, Braxton! Keep exploring!
#WVLovesLearning #MercerProud #SummerScience

🌟 Summer Learning Spotlight 🌟
Timberwood students Avi Chahar (5th grade) and Georgia Chahar (1st grade) had an exciting long weekend at Niagara Falls—visiting both the U.S. and Canadian sides! 🇺🇸🍁 It was their first time going through customs and exploring another country. 🌍✈️

While soaking in the sights, they also learned some incredible facts:
💧 Over 600,000 gallons of water flow over the falls every second!
🌊 The water at the base of the falls is a whopping 170 feet deep!

What an unforgettable mix of travel, geography, and science! Way to go, Avi and Georgia! 👏
#WVLovesLearning #MercerProud #SummerAdventures

🌟 Summer Learning Spotlight 🌟
Glenwood sisters Kacilyn Cundiff (8th grade) and Makinyn Cundiff (3rd grade) had an unforgettable adventure during their summer break! While visiting Panama City Beach, Florida, they participated in a dolphin excursion where they searched for dolphins and watched them swim, jump, and play in their natural habitat. 🐬🌊

Along with the fun, they picked up some cool science facts—did you know dolphins only sleep for about 1 hour a day? During that short time, they float to the surface and shut down part of their brains to rest while staying alert enough to breathe. Talk about multitasking! 🧠💤

Way to combine fun and learning, girls! 📚☀️
#WVLovesLearning #MercerProud #SummerScience

🌟 Summer Learning Spotlight 🌟
Sean Tieman (7th grade, PVMS) and Allison Tieman (5th grade, Athens) are making the most of summer break by diving into some hands-on West Virginia history! 🗺️✨

They’ve explored Blackwater Falls, Fairfax Stone (where they stood in two states at once! 🤯), Seneca Rocks, and Smoke Hole Caverns—talk about an epic field trip!

Working on that WV history early...
Golden Horseshoe test, here we come! 🏅📚 #FutureGoldenHorseshoeWinners #WVLovesLearning #MercerProud #SummerAdventures #WVHistory

The Superintendent’s Leadership Team met this morning to prepare for an exciting 2025–2026 school year! From student success to staff support, we’re aligning our goals, refining our plans, and working together to ensure another year of growth and excellence.

Our Mercer County team who attended the JASON Learning National Conference shared their experience with the board, spotlighting exciting expedition sessions—from AI‑powered tools and PBL STEM workshops to strategies for integrating JASON content district‑wide. They’re ready to bring back fresh, hands‑on ideas for teachers and classrooms! 🌟 #MCSproud #JASONLearning #STEMExcellence

🌲 Our JASON Argonauts, students Finn Caudill & Miles Munique and teacher Jennifer McClanahan, shared highlights from their Oregon expedition at tonight’s board meeting! From whale-watching off Depoe Bay and spotting puffins at Cannon Beach, to using AI-powered camera traps in forests and studying birdlife in the Columbia River Gorge—they combined field science, tech & conservation. Proud of their curiosity and leadership! 🌊📷 #JASONArgonauts #STEM #MercerPride @jasonlearning

🎉 At tonight’s Board of Education meeting, two outstanding Mercer County Schools employees were honored as part of the 110% Club! 🏆 👏 School Nurse Candy Fulp and Social Worker Wendi Frost were recognized for going above and beyond in their commitment to student well-being. Their compassion, dedication, and tireless efforts help ensure our students feel supported, safe, and cared for every day. 💙 Thank you for making a difference! #MCSproud #110PercentClub #StudentWellbeing

📍Mercer County goes coast to coast!
Some of our principals, educators, and GEAR UP Coordinator are representing us at the National GEAR UP Conference in San Francisco! 🌉✨
They're diving into strategies to boost attendance, support student success, strengthen family engagement, and bring back ideas to empower our schools. 💡📚 #GEARUPWorks #MercerMomentum #StudentSuccess #AttendanceMatters #FamilyEngagement

We're proud to be one of West Virginia’s “Dynamic Districts,” with 3rd grade reading proficiency growing +8.4% annually — more than double the state average and triple the national pace. 📚✨
#ReadingSuccess #DynamicDistrict #MercerProud #WVEd