Teachers tell Mount Vernon board burnout is driving departures; district says Renaissance testing was MTSS requirement

A STEAM Academy English teacher told the Mount Vernon City School District Board of Education on June 17 that pervasive burnout and rapid implementation of new initiatives have driven experienced teachers to consider leaving the district.

"We're reaching our breaking points," Laura Fishlock Claro said during public comment. She described 21 new initiatives assigned to her department this school year, additional elective assignments without consultation, and a move to standardized testing every five weeks. "We have moved to testing our students every 5 weeks with standardized tests that do not actually yield beneficial data," she said.

Fishlock Claro said the district required use of Renaissance reading alongside Achieve 3000, increasing student and teacher workload without giving teachers time to pilot or adapt the material. She urged trustees and the new superintendent to include teachers in decision‑making. "Teachers must be included in the discussions. Teachers must be trusted to utilize their expertise to benefit their students," she told the board.

In the superintendent's report that followed, administrators addressed the testing concern. Dr. Doggett said Renaissance testing was implemented as part of the district's multi‑tiered system of supports (MTSS) and was an item tied to the Judy Elliott report. He said the program was vetted in the fall by teachers, students and administrators and characterized it as a district‑level requirement connected to MTSS implementation.

Trustees did not vote on testing policy at the meeting. Several trustees acknowledged the public comments and restated that teachers should be involved in implementation discussions going forward.