The beginning of a new school year always brings a renewed sense of purpose and direction. At Mt. Lebanon School District, we began the year with a new strategic plan: Leading the Way (2025–2031). This future-focused plan is the result of a collaborative process that spanned several months and brought together the voices of thousands of students, staff, families, and community members. A powerful theme emerged: the importance of helping students grow as leaders and ensuring that our district continues to lead the way in public education.

That vision is captured in the plan’s central theme: Mt. Lebanon L.E.A.D.S., an acronym representing our five focus areas:

L – Leading for the Future

E – Engagement

A – Academic Excellence and Innovation

D – District Systems and Supports

S – Safe, Supportive, and Inclusive Environment

While each pillar is important, I’d like to shine a spotlight on the second focus area: Engagement. In the Mt. Lebanon community, we know that schools thrive when we foster strong, meaningful connections with the people who reside here. To our team, engagement means more than communication; it means partnership. It means creating opportunities for collaboration, participation, and listening. It means ensuring every voice is valued, from students and families to staff and
community residents.

Our strategic plan outlines several ways we plan to deepen these connections between our schools and the community: from creating leadership summits and job-shadowing experiences for students, to building partnerships that support project-based learning focused on real-world, community-embedded problems.

We also remain committed to strengthening outreach beyond our school buildings. That includes sharing updates with residents through social and print media, involving community voices in focus groups and surveys on key initiatives, and offering new ways to stay informed.

For our longtime residents, we’re proud to offer the Mt. Lebanon School District Gold Card, which provides free or discounted admission to school events for individuals 62 and older. We’re also strengthening our connection with alumni by sharing information on our website and engaging with graduates through our annual Great Alumni Award.

This year and beyond, Mt. Lebanon School District is leading the way, not only in academics and innovation, but in how we bring people together to support the success of every student. Whether you’re a parent, alumni, neighbor, or community partner, we invite you to join us in making Mt. Lebanon an even stronger, more connected place to live and learn.