Dear McDowell County Schools Family,
Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year!
We hope you have enjoyed a summer filled with rest, joy, and time with those who matter most. As we begin a new school year together, we want to thank each of you for the passion, dedication, and heart you bring to serving the scholars of McDowell County Schools. Whether you are returning for another year or joining our family for the first time, we are excited to have you with us.
This year's theme is
MAKE
BOLD
MOVES!
Together, we will embrace opportunities to innovate, collaborate, and create exceptional learning experiences for every student. Every bold step we take—big or small—has the power to positively impact the lives of our scholars.
Tomorrow, our required compliance training will open on the online Vector platform. These courses are required by federal law, West Virginia Code, or West Virginia Board of Education policy. While completion is required for all applicable staff, we are pleased to offer flexibility for most employees.
With the exception of transportation staff, you may choose to complete your required Vector courses any time before Friday, August 21, 2026. Staff who complete the required training before August 21 will be able to use that day preparing their classrooms or work areas for the arrival of our scholars, outside of any scheduled meetings or professional learning sessions. We hope this option provides additional time to create welcoming, engaging spaces for our students as we prepare to begin another outstanding school year. *Transportation staff will complete the required trainings as a whole group on August 17, 2026.
Attached, you will also find our schedule for August 17–21, 2026, outlining the activities and professional learning opportunities planned for our opening week. We look forward to learning, growing, and celebrating together as we kick off another exciting year.
To help us celebrate our theme, we invite everyone to wear bold, bright colors, fun patterns, or neon attire on Tuesday, August 18, 2026 at our MCS Kickoff Event at Mount View High School! Let's fill the auditorium with energy, enthusiasm, and district spirit as we officially launch our
MAKE
BOLD
MOVES
! journey.
Thank you for all you do to make McDowell County Schools a place where students are known, valued, and inspired to succeed. We cannot wait to see the incredible things we will accomplish together this year.
We wish you a wonderful beginning and a fantastic 2026-2027 school year!
With appreciation,
Amanda Peyton
Assistant Superintendent of Schools
Here is the link to the Opening CE Schedule : https://aptg.co/_G5Y73
McDowell County Schools