Crown Point's 'Mitch' St. Pierre earns highest school board honor

CROWN POINT | The New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA) has honored Michael "Mitch" St. Pierre, president of the Crown Point Central School District's (CPCSD) Board of Education, as the 2026 recipient of its highest award for school board service. St. Pierre, who also serves as president of the Champlain Valley Educational Services (CVES) board, was officially presented with the Everett R. Dyer Award for Distinguished School Board Service during NYSSBA's 2026 Annual Convention & Education Expo in Buffalo in mid-October. The annual award recognizes a current or former board member who demonstrates the highest level of positive impact on K-12 education and students in their school district. "With more than 30 years of service to his local school district and regional BOCES, including 20 years as president of both organizations, I can confidently say countless students have benefited from Mitch's leadership and dedication to ensuring they receive a strong educational experience," said Christine Schnars, NYSSBA president. "Mitch continues to set an example of service that we should all aspire to achieve as we serve our own school districts." St. Pierre's leadership was instrumental in advancing two of the most significant projects in CVES history, the new 155,000-square-foot CV-TEC Career and Technical Education Center in Plattsburgh and the development of the 107,000-square-foot Essex County Educational Center, which is slated to open in 2028. These facilities will expand access to high-quality career and technical education opportunities for students throughout the North Country region. St. Pierre has "balanced a demanding professional life with extensive volunteer service, bringing the same level of dedication, humility, and care to each role he undertakes," said CVES District Superintendent/CEO Dr. Mark Davey in his letter of recommendation. "His commitment to education, support for innovative programs and services, and leadership in advancing transformational projects that will serve students for generations reflect the very best of school board service." St. Pierre has a long history in Crown Point, moving to the community at age 6 and growing up on a dairy farm. He was the salutatorian of his graduating class in 1971. He helped operate his family's dairy farm nearly 30 years before founding a successful business in providing bovine hoof care. He has developed and manufactured products used by the hoof care industry which are sold both domestically and internationally. In announcing the honors district-wide, Crown Point Superintendent Tara S. Celotti said, "For 30 years, Mitch has been a fierce champion who shows up for our children, navigating the unique challenges (even writing a grant for CPCS to receive its first computer in 1997) and celebrating the deep strengths of our rural school community. "Over three decades of volunteer service and more than 20 as Board President, they have helped guide our district through shifting academic landscapes, championing yearly leadership turnover in the early 2000s, navigating budget challenges where state revenue and subsequent state aid increases/stabilization/decreases are the largest contributing factor to our budget, and leading through necessary facility upgrades and capital projects. He has always ensured that our rural students receive the exact same robust opportunities, modern technology in our CV-TEC programming and beyond, and high-quality education as those in larger suburban & urban districts…Please join the Board of Education and administration in extending our warmest congratulations and deepest gratitude to him for 30 years of unwavering, selfless devotion to our schools and community."

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Crown Point's 'Mitch' St. Pierre earns highest school board honor

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