When the 2024-25 school year came to a close, Mt. SAC Early College Academy (MECA) underwent major changes, including adjustments to its operations, leadership, and the introduction of new classes.
The most noticeable change was to MECA’s administration, with the roles of Principal and Assistant Principal being taken over by Nathan Slaymaker and Sara Martinez. As soon as school started, Slaymaker and Martinez engaged with students.
“I’ve already met quite a few of the senior students,” said Slaymaker. “I hope to have individual meetings like that with every single student here, just so I can get to know everybody.”
When Martinez started, the clean environment quickly impressed her. “That was definitely a huge thing that you don’t see at other high schools at all, there’s trash everywhere,” said Martinez. “[MECA students] realize that there’s responsibility, and they care about that. This is their environment.”
While Slaymaker and Martinez settled into their administrative roles, they made adjustments to some of MECA’s procedures. During free periods, students must check in via scanning stations scattered around campus. They can scan in with their student ID outside the office, in the media center (room 10), and in the Wellness Center (room 12).
Off-campus passes are returning this year. However, the Minga app is no longer in use. Instead, they should have received an off-campus ID card from the office if they turned in their application. Before leaving campus, the office will collect their ID, and they must retrieve it when they return to campus. If students fail to check in during a free period or retrieve their off-campus ID, then they risk getting a truancy on their attendance record.
Additionally, school houses are officially in the past, being replaced by grade levels, similarly to other high schools. This is part of a change to increase school spirit, as well as the addition of Renaissance Rallies, where students will get awarded for their academic achievements.
Martinez also brought up the idea of creating a school band, something she and Slaymaker remember from their old schools. “Both of us came from traditional high schools, and we both were like, ‘Oh, I’m gonna miss that.’ We both miss the band. I miss those, like, pep rallies and spirited days,” Martinez said. “It’s like a dream of ours to do. And I think it would be beneficial for the students as, like, a stress relief.”
This year, MECA also welcomes a new teacher, Samantha Lujan, who is taking over ceramics, art, and the new Esports class.
Along with MECA’s new staff, there have been multiple room changes. Gabriel Nichols’s classroom, along with the ASB Student Store, are now located in Room 1, next to the art and ceramics room. The Wellness Center, run by Jasmine DeHaro, has now been relocated to Room 12 near the quad. Due to these changes, Michael Reyes’s classroom has moved to Room 20, or Nichols’s old room.
The Media Center has also moved back to Room 10, its third location in the span of three years.
Room 6 has been transformed into the new weight room for the new strength and conditioning class run by Matthew Johnson, where students who are taking the class have the opportunity to work out.
With these new changes, MECA staff and students are ready for the year ahead.
“I’m just really excited to be here,” said Slaymaker. “It’s a really collaborative thing between administrators, staff, teachers, and students, and we all keep working together to make MECA a great place.”
