Principal's Message

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! At Morton Middle School, we pride ourselves in providing a quality, well-rounded education with high expectations and a supportive environment where students can grow and thrive. We strive to provide a positive learning environment where all students can experience academic, behavioral, and social growth.

At Morton, our mission statement reflects the Aviator Expectations of the Vandalia-Butler School District-Morton Middle School is a respectful, responsible, and resourceful community that prepares students for lifelong learning. These behavioral expectations (Respectful, Responsible, and Resourceful) contribute to our goal of making our school a positive and productive place for students.   

As we move into the 2025-2026 school year, we plan to continue to highlight the positives that we see on a daily basis from our students. We have a ticket system in place which allows teachers and staff to recognize students who are displaying the Aviator Expectations. Students can turn in their tickets for a raffle for daily, weekly, or monthly incentives. In addition, we will continue to recognize outstanding academics, attendance, and behavior through our semester incentive program, Awards Assemblies, Aviators of the Month, Aviator Ace awards, and through membership in the National Junior Honor Society.

In order to enhance students’ opportunities for life-long learning and character development, we will also continue with our Advisory Program. Throughout a students’ years at Morton, they will stay with the same Advisory teacher. The Advisory period serves as a brief morning check-in each morning. Once a month, during extended Advisory period, the teacher may provide team-building opportunities and explore important topics for young adults. 

We strongly encourage all of our students to get involved in order to get the most out of their middle school years. We offer Student Council, Yearbook Club, Drama Club, SoundwAVEs Show Choir, Handbells, Honor’s Band, Fishing Club, MUSE Machine, Culture Club, Chess Club, Tennis (in the spring), and many other clubs for all grade levels. WEB Leaders (8^th grade mentors) and National Junior Honor Society are groups that students can apply to be a part of in 7^th and 8^th grade. Interscholastic athletics (volleyball, football, cross country, wrestling, basketball, softball, and track) begin in 7^th grade. Being involved can also include taking part in school activities, such as our Spirit Weeks, our “Dude. Be Kind.” initiatives, food drives, service activities, etc. These various activities provide opportunities to meet other students with similar interests, to help others, and to be a part of the Morton community. 

To share a little about myself, this is my 34^th year in education (20^th as a middle school principal), all of which have taken place in the Vandalia-Butler School system. During this time, I have been a part of the staff at Morton, Smith, and Butler, in the roles of teacher, coach, assistant principal, and principal. We live in the Vandalia-Butler community, and my two boys have also been a part of the Vandalia-Butler school system.  Therefore, I have been able to see firsthand, as a parent, the quality education and opportunities that my own children have received. Finally, my husband, Andy, coaches cross country and track for Vandalia-Butler. As you can see, we are greatly invested in the community and in the schools.

I encourage you to take an active part in your child’s education. Whether you are providing quiet study time, conferencing with a teacher, or attending your child’s sporting event or concert, we greatly appreciate and encourage the partnership between school and home. In addition, we have an excellent PTO here at Morton with many opportunities for you to volunteer.  Middle school is still an important time to be involved and aware of your child’s schooling, interests, and activities.

Please do not hesitate to contact me or any of the staff here at Morton with any comments, questions, or concerns. We want your child’s experience at Morton Middle School to be a great one, and if there is anything that we can do to help make that happen, please let us know. You can reach me at (937) 415-6647 or Shannon.white@vbcsd.com.

Sincerely,

Shannon White
Principal
Morton Middle School