|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Families pulling up to Mariano Castro Elementary School on Wednesday, Aug. 13, were greeted by the school’s new principal, Vern Taylor, a former Stanford University cheerleader, waving blue pompoms while directing traffic.
As students walked onto the Mountain View campus for the first day of school, they also saw dolphin balloons and piñatas, representing the school’s mascot. A bell, that sounded like a dolphin of course, rang to let kids know the school day was beginning.
Taylor said he was both anxious and excited to be in the new role. He is coming to Castro after serving for six years as principal of Jose Antonio Vargas Elementary School.
“I’m excited to work with the new staff,” said Taylor, who added that he is gathering input from the community, as well as meeting teachers and other staff members.
Fourth grade teacher Lauren Abbott said the pompoms and other decorations, including blue and silver balloons, were a way to build school spirit and “bring joy” to Castro. Music also played while students played on the playground or waited in their classroom’s designated line on the blacktop before classes began.
While waiting in a classroom line, parent Edna Cortez said she was a little nervous about her son’s first day of kindergarten, but was relieved that some of the children from her son’s preschool would also be attending Castro.
Castro, along with the Mountain View Whisman School District’s eight other elementary schools and two middle schools, returned to class for the 2025-26 school year on Wednesday. Enrollment stands at just over 4,700 students, up slightly from last school year’s count of 4,644, according to the district’s new superintendent Jeff Baier.
District-wide changes
Teachers, including Castro first grade teacher Beth Smith, say they are looking forward to carrying out the district’s new social emotional learning curriculum this year.
The district piloted two options last spring and chose CharacterStrong. The program is intended to help students “learn essential skills to navigate social, emotional, and academic challenges, both in school and beyond,” according to the district’s website.
With the full implementation this fall of state-mandated transitional kindergarten (TK) for all 4-year-olds, the district expanded the program from eight classes at five schools last school year to 11 classes at six different schools this year, according to the district.
The TK expansion spurred the creation of a new position: director of Early Learning and Afterschool Programs. Tara Vikjord Watan, the district’s former head of human relations, is filling the role, in which she is overseeing TK, MVWSD Plus+/Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (the district’s free afterschool and summer program for English learners and low-income students), and the Special Education Preschool.
Last year proved to be a difficult one for the school district, which saw its superintendent resign in the midst of several controversies. The district drew substantial ire over six-figure contracts for executive leadership coaching, meditation sessions for district leaders and work from an external public relations firm. It is also facing a state audit meant to investigate possible fraud, misappropriation of funds or other illegal fiscal practices.
“It was a tumultuous year last year, so I think about refocusing our efforts on students and their achievement,” said Baier. “I look forward to building relationships in the Mountain View community.”
The district will continue to provide free meals — breakfast and lunch daily — to all students as part of the state’s meal program.
Other admin switchups
There are several other new administrators in the district office and on school campuses.
Acantha Aragon Contreras has taken on Taylor’s prior role leading Vargas. She previously served as the interim principal of Castro for part of last school year.
Megan Pohlman is stepping up as Stevenson Elementary’s principal after serving as the school’s interim principal. She previously worked in the district office as director of equity.
