Each month the Board of Education recognizes a student who makes an impact at their school in a special way. These students also lead the Pledge of Allegiance at the meeting. The October Student of the Month is Vida Shumaker, a 5th graders at EMIS. Her teachers and Admistrators had this to say, "Vida Shumaker has gone above and beyond with helping in the classroom, especially with Connections students, leading through SOAR Leadership Club, and embodying our school motto of being the one who is respectful, responsible, and kind.  Vida truly embodies what it means to be an Eagle every single day. As an outstanding student, she brings curiosity, focus, and a strong work ethic to the classroom. She approaches her studies with enthusiasm and consistently strives to do her personal best. Beyond her academic success, Vida’s character is what truly makes her shine. Vida is a true champion of kindness and inclusivity. Her kindness, integrity, and quiet leadership set a high bar for her peers. She represents the very best of our school community, and we are so proud of the example she sets for all Eagles!"  

MGSD believes the arts are an important aspect of developing the whole child. We enjoy the opportunity to honor an Artist of the Month at our Board of Education meetings each month. The October Artist of the Month is Jade David from EMIS. Her teachers and Administrators had this to say about her, "Congratulations to Jade David, our EMIS Artist of the Month! During our study of Hispanic heritage, Jade drew a self portrait that reflected personal style and symbolism, like the Mexican Artist Frida Kahlo. Jade consistently uses her artistic talents and creativity to express herself and inspire those around her. Beyond her creativity, she is kind, deeply respectful, and leads by example each day. Jade’s positive attitude, creativity, and dedication make her a wonderful role model for her classmates and a great asset to EMIS and MGSD. We are proud to celebrate Jade and all that she brings to our school community! Congratulations, Jade! Keep sharing your creativity and letting your talents shine!" 

MGSD loves recognizing those employees who go Above and Beyond the Call of Duty for our children by representing our core values. The October 2026 ABCD award was presented to Jennifer Abbott, Media Assistant at EMIS. Ms. Abbott is an exceptional team player who is always willing to jump in and help any way possible. Whether she is assisting a colleague, helping a student, supporting a school event, or taking on a task that needs to be done, she never hesitates to lend a hand. She consistently puts the needs of others first and approaches every challenge with a positive, can-do attitude. 

She has transformed our media center into a welcoming, engaging environment for learning. By staying current on reading trends and actively seeking student input, Ms. Abbott ensures our collection remains relevant and appealing to young readers. Just as importantly, she works to create an inclusive space where every student feels seen, valued, and encouraged to explore. 

She is also our resident Canva Pro! From signs and displays to promotional graphics, her design skills bring a unique polish and creativity to everything she touches. Ms. Abbott doesn't simply do her job—she pours her creativity, compassion, energy, and heart into it. She makes our school a more welcoming place, our media center a more exciting place, and our team stronger because she is part of it. 

For these reasons and so many more, Jennifer Abbott is absolutely deserving of the ABCD Award. She truly exemplifies what it means to go above and beyond for our students, our staff, and our school community. 

Each month the Mooresville Graded School District shines the Spotlight on staff, students, and community members for outstanding contributions to creating a better community! This month's Spotlight is on the MGSD Board of Education. The MGSD Board of Education was recently awarded the Gold Bell Award by the North Carolina School Boards Association (NCSBA). This award is the highest professional development honor available to boards of education. To qualify, 100% of the school board’s members must complete a minimum of 12 hours of qualified training through NCSBA professional development programs during the 2025-2026 school year.  

Achieving full board participation underlines a collective commitment to effective governance, ethical leadership, policy oversight, and sound fiscal management. Their commitment to professional growth ensures strong leadership for our district and better outcomes for the students, staff, and families we serve. 

In addition to the collective achievement as a school board, the following individuals were also recognized for obtaining individual milestones: Dr. Debbie Marsh, Bronze Award (over 600 cumulative hours of training), Greg Whitfield, Bronze Award (over 600 cumulative hours of training), Rakeem Brawley, Certificate of Advanced Achievement (over 200 cumulative hours of training), and Monica Bender, Certificate of Achievement (over 100 cumulative hours of training). 

We are immensely proud of all of our board members for setting a standard of accountability and excellence. Their dedication to continuous improvement reinforces our district-wide commitment to delivering high-quality education to every student!