After months of leadership turnover and growing scrutiny from state officials, St. Louis Public Schools is entering another transition period under newly appointed Superintendent Dr. Myra Berry.
The district’s Board of Education voted unanimously last month to appoint Berry after she served as interim superintendent following the firing of former Superintendent Millicent Borishade in October.
Berry takes over as the district faces declining enrollment, vacant school buildings, financial pressures and an upcoming second-phase state audit examining district operations. Since 2022, several leaders have cycled through the superintendent’s office, contributing to instability across the district.
A more than 20-year veteran of SLPS who began her career as a special education teacher at Turner Middle School, Berry said the district is focused on rebuilding trust, improving transparency and strengthening neighborhood schools.
Berry spoke with The St. Louis American about stabilizing the district, rebuilding public trust and her plans for the future of SLPS.
St. Louis American: What is your plan for dealing with vacant school buildings and possible school closures?
Dr. Myra Berry: We are developing a plan to reshape the district around the needs of the community. That includes looking at how buildings can be better utilized — whether that means reopening schools in neighborhoods where enrollment and demand have grown, or partnering with developers on projects that benefit families and the community. For example, we are exploring attainable housing opportunities for teachers, families and even unhoused families. We have three plans that we are going to present to a small committee in June.
American: How do you plan to rebuild trust between SLPS and the community?
Berry: For too long, the district operated in isolation, but internally, we understand we cannot do this alone. Rebuilding trust starts with communication and transparency. We are not in a space where we can be anything but transparent because of what has happened in the past. We have to build trust through community input and engaging directly with our SLPS families.
American: How do you plan to stabilize the district’s finances?
Berry: The district plans to ask voters to approve a $200 million tax-free bond issue on April 27, which Berry says would allow SLPS to reinvest in schools and neighborhoods without seeking additional funding beyond that request. In the past, bond issues focused on things like stair treads or windows. Now we want to show how we are going to rebuild our district. I want the community to see where their tax dollars are going. The district is also building partnerships across the community to help invest in SLPS and restore confidence in how resources are managed.
American: What are your plans to attract more families and make the district more appealing?
Berry: My long-term vision is for SLPS to become a district of choice, where families feel confident sending their children to any school in the system. One goal is ensuring every graduating senior has access to an internship opportunity that could help offset college expenses and eventually connect students back to careers in St. Louis. Every school should be just as good as the school down the street or across the Delmar Divide. That means every school has to be well-resourced. Community feedback will play a major role in shaping what families want and need from neighborhood schools.
American: What is your strategy for improving literacy and academic performance?
Berry: Literacy will remain one of the district’s central priorities, with an increased focus on phonics instruction and early reading intervention. We need to make sure that by the time students reach third and fourth grade, they have everything they need to become successful readers
American: What other approaches are you taking to improve staff recruitment and retention?
Berry: SLPS is working to change perceptions about the district and highlight the strength of its educators. We are really trying to get people to want to work for SLPS. I would put our teachers up against any teacher across the state. I’ve seen the magic they are doing in classrooms. We have some wonderful educators, and we also need the community to understand just how dynamic our teachers are.