I don't know how many of our readers know that I began teaching at Mount Vernon ISD in the fall of 2018. One of my very first memories was walking into that first pep rally in the new gym.
The band and drumline filled the floor with music. Middle school students packed one side of the gym, high school students filled the other, teachers lined the walls, parents cheered from the stands, and a sea of purple reminded me very quickly what Tiger pride looked like in Mount Vernon.
It didn't take long to realize that athletics are about much more than wins and losses here. They are one of the ways this community comes together. Friday nights, volleyball matches, basketball games, baseball and softball seasons, track meets, golf tournaments, cross country races, and every other competition become opportunities for families, friends, and neighbors to rally around students who have worked hard to represent their school.
A year later, I took over the Audio/Video Production program at the high school. My first class had just 11 students, and together we began learning how to livestream Tiger athletics. Looking back, those first broadcasts weren't exactly award-winning. We learned as we went, solving problems one game at a time.
By the time I left the classroom, that small team had developed a system we were genuinely proud of. Multiple camera angles, quality audio, graphics, and dependable livestreams had become the norm. More importantly, students gained real-world experience while providing a service that allowed grandparents, alumni, and Tiger fans who couldn't attend games to stay connected with their hometown teams.
If I'm being honest, that's one of the things I've missed most since leaving education.
This fall, I'm excited to be back on the sidelines once again—this time representing MVNow.
Throughout the 2026-2027 school year, I'll be providing photography, highlight videos, and feature stories from Tiger athletics. Joining me is our newest Citizen Journalist, Phillip Higginbotham, who brings years of experience covering Texas high school football and a genuine passion for telling the stories behind the games. Together, we hope to provide some of the most comprehensive local sports coverage Mount Vernon has seen.
Our new Tigers page at mvnow.org/tigers is currently being completed, but we wanted to let everyone know what's coming. Once it launches, it will become the home for everything Tiger athletics, including:
* Game previews and recaps
* Player and coach feature stories
* Photo galleries
* Highlight videos
* Scores and statistics
* Season updates across multiple sports
* Special coverage throughout the school year
While Friday night football will certainly be a major focus this fall, our goal is much broader than that. We want to celebrate student-athletes across every sport because every season has its own stories worth telling, and every athlete deserves to be recognized for the work they put in.
One of the greatest privileges of operating MVNow has been highlighting the people who make our community special. Our student-athletes, coaches, band members, cheerleaders, trainers, and supporters all contribute to the spirit that makes Mount Vernon unique. We hope this new section becomes a place where families can relive memorable moments, alumni can stay connected, and the entire community can celebrate the next generation of Tigers.
If you're a parent, grandparent, alumnus, or simply someone who loves cheering on the Tigers, we'd love for you to follow along. Go ahead and bookmark mvnow.org/tigers so you'll be ready when it officially launches. And if you know someone who never wants to miss a score, story, or highlight, encourage them to subscribe to The MVNow Thread, our free weekly newsletter.
The 2026-2027 season is almost here, and we can't wait to tell the stories that unfold along the way.
After all, it's always a great day to be a Tiger.
