The PAC school board candidate forum was held on Thursday, March 27, at Vashon High School. Each candidate was asked to make a five-minute platform presentation supported by two optional slides and submit a written bio (up to 350 words).
Vision
Saint Louis Public Schools is the district of choice for families in the St. Louis region that provides a world-class education and is nationally recognized as a leader in student achievement and teacher quality.
Mission
We will provide a quality education for all students and enable them to realize their full intellectual potential.
Core Beliefs
- All children can learn, regardless of their socioeconomic status, race, or gender
- The African American Achievement Gap can be eliminated
- Parents must be included in the education process
- Competent, caring, properly supported teachers are essential to student learning
- The community must be involved in encouraging high achievement for all children
- The Saint Louis Public Schools are obligated to help students overcome any obstacles that may hinder their learning by forming partnerships with the entire community
This is the anti-platform platform presentation. In my opinion, it’s not helpful for each board member to have their own individual platform or for candidates to make grandstanding promises to get elected when, on their own, they won’t have the authority needed to deliver on them. The school board and superintendent are an eight-person team that operates by consensus. Fortunately, a shared vision, mission, and core beliefs for the district already exist. I cut and pasted the text for this slide from the SLPS website. This is what we’re all working toward.
“The course heretofore pursued by the Board I believe the proper one, and the only one it can pursue with safety; that is of counselling with their teachers in every proposed change, and following their advice. Heretofore there has been general unanimity among the teachers in respect to changes, and the initiatory steps have always been taken only after long and patient investigation had forced the conviction of its importance and necessity. The Board has heretofore been guided by the judgment of the teachers in this matter, and as it has never found its confidence misplaced nor abused, I hope the same principles will govern its course for the future.”
First Annual Report of the General Superintendent of the St. Louis Public Schools, John H. Tice, 1854, pp. 16-17
The district was founded in 1838. I’ve been trying to get SLPS enrollment numbers for 1840-2020 to overlay them on a graph of the city’s population during the same period. It’s a quest that’s been harder than I expected.
It highlights the importance of maintaining complete and accurate records, like meeting minutes, in case someone is trying to piece things together 100 or 200 years later. It’s also a reminder that seemingly objective numbers require judgment calls, like distinguishing among registration, enrollment, and average daily attendance.
Looking for the data for 1840 and 1850 led me dig into the first annual report, which was released in 1854. Reading it was a reminder that being on the school board means being part of long history, and that’s a real honor.
Also, history repeats itself, or at least rhymes. In that first annual report from the superintendent, I came across this great quote that makes me think of Nahed Chapman New American Academy.
The short version is “Trust teachers.” They’re the people closest to the work. They should have been consulted before any decision was made. It’s a hard enough time to be a new American without adding additional uncertainty and instability to the lives of these families.
I’m not running because I want to be in charge. I’m running because I want to serve. That raises the question “Who do I want to serve?”
I’ve been an SLPS parent since 2012. My own kids are going to be fine no matter where they go to school. I’m not running for them. I’m running for kids like the ones at Nahed Chapman for whom the St. Louis Public Schools are their best shot at a better life.
Another thing I got out of reading the first annual report is a sense of optimism. The district has faced difficult issues throughout its history going back to 1838 and we’re still here. Now it’s our turn to keep it going.
349-word bio
I’m the only candidate who has kids enrolled in the district. I’ve been an SLPS parent since 2012. Before becoming a parent, I volunteered at Mann Elementary in south city and Bryan Hill Elementary in north city.
I’m a first-generation college graduate with an education degree from Mizzou, in addition to degrees in math and philosophy.
I’d be a certified high school math and Spanish teacher, if I’d done my student teaching my senior year. Instead, I started a web development company because I fell in love with the idea that information wants to be free. I have more than 25 years of IT experience. I’m good at analyzing data and making systems more efficient.
The hardest and most meaningful thing I’ve done is being the director of North St. Louis YouthBuild, a construction training and GED program in the Hyde Park neighborhood. I worked with neighborhood residents, students, board members, union representatives, social workers, parole officers, politicians, government officials, donors, and volunteers to build the program from the ground up. We converted a two-story Sunday school to a two-family home. When we started, the roof was in the basement. We did a lot of raising up. In the classroom, some of the 18-to-24-year-old students entered the program with 4th-grade reading levels.
In other leadership roles, I’ve been the president of Metropolis St. Louis, The Commonspace, and my neighborhood association, and vice-president of BWorks. I have a solid track record of collaborating with people in north city, south city, and the central corridor to help make St. Louis a better place.
If I’m elected, I’ll work with the six other board members and superintendent to foster community trust and engagement through proactive communication and transparent, ethical governance; plan for long-term financial sustainability by making wise and equitable use of taxpayer money; and support our teachers and parents in the shared quest to help all students achieve their full potential.
Our public schools are the cornerstone of democracy. I’m running to be an example of engaged citizenship for my kids and others. Voters can learn more about me at brianhmarston.com.
