This school year, Mount Vernon High School welcomed back Mr. Ben Richards, an educator with a connection to the community. Mr. Richards, originally from Olentangy High School and a graduate of Ohio Northern University, has taught in multiple school districts across Ohio, most recently as the Superintendent at Tiffin School District.
For Mr. Richards and his family, this new role marks a kind of homecoming: his first teaching job was as an English teacher at Mount Vernon High School, and his wife is an MVHS alumna.
Sharing his vision for the new position, Mr. Richards emphasized his commitment to creating a safe learning environment for all students. “What I hope to accomplish is to make sure that we provide a safe learning environment for all students where we can focus on the learning.”
Mr. Richards went on to highlight the importance of preparing students for life beyond high school, adding, “I think what’s even more important is making sure that you guys are prepared for life after high school—when you’re going to be independent citizens of our society—and making sure you have the skills and confidence to be capable of doing that.”
These guiding philosophies shape Mr. Richards’ approach, bringing a fresh perspective to Mount Vernon High School. He aims to foster positive change in the school environment, focusing on both academics and the personal growth of students.
He also addressed the new cell phone policy implemented this year, stating, “It’s not to punish students. It’s really to help students focus on the learning because that’s what you guys come here for. Your job is to learn, and our job is to help you learn and facilitate that learning.”
In addition, Mr. Richards gave us a glimpse into future plans for MVHS. He mentioned, “We’re going to be surveying students in the somewhat near future to look for those things that students would like to see from school that maybe we’re not currently doing. We also want to get feedback from staff—what are the things they think we should do?”
Returning to his roots, Mr. Richards is ready to make an impact on the community he knows so well. Welcome back, Mr. Richards.
