When the St. Louis Public Schools board voted in a closed session to fire Superintendent Millicent Borishade, many parents were left blindsided, including Whitni Perry.
“All this drama is distracting from the real work that needs to be done — instructing the students and supporting the schools,” Perry said of the Oct. 24 firing.
Perry, whose 6-year-old daughter attends one of the district’s magnet schools, said she learned of the firing on social media. “That highlights a stronger need for communication within the board for the sake of the community,” Perry said.
Her reaction echoes a growing sentiment among parents and educators who say the district’s leadership changes have become too frequent and too opaque, and that the turmoil is diverting attention from students’ education.
Borishade’s removal marks the fifth superintendent change since 2022, a period of ongoing transition for the state’s largest urban school district. The board voted unanimously to terminate her contract.
The district offered few details about why it chose to part ways with Borishade, who was fired “without cause” following a four-hour closed session. Under her contract, she will receive roughly $750,000 in salary and benefits through June 2028.
The SLPS board hired Myra Berry, the district’s interim chief of human resources since 2023, as interim superintendent. Berry has been with the district for more than two decades, serving in both classroom and administrative roles.
Borishade’s tenure, though brief, was marked by difficult conversations surrounding the restructuring of the district’s aging and partially filled schools. In July, she presented a preliminary report recommending the closure of 37 buildings due to declining enrollment and deteriorating infrastructure. The proposal triggered backlash from the American Federation of Teachers Local 420, culminating in a no-confidence vote against her leadership.
Criticism arose when Borishade’s appointment was announced, noting that she was elevated to the permanent role in February without a national or local search.
For parents like Perry, these leadership shake-ups have become both frustrating and disheartening.
“It just seems like people get hired on as an interim and then get hired for the position,” she said. “There doesn’t seem to be a clear, fair process.”
Perry hopes the board will conduct a thorough, transparent search for the next leader — someone, she says, who has both experience and integrity. “Look for someone who has a proven track record of improving districts for all students and who can build trust in the community,” she said.
The repeated turnover at the top, she adds, has taken a toll on parents’ confidence — and on the stability students need to succeed in the classroom.
St. Louis Public Schools serves a student population that is roughly 76-78% African American, many from neighborhoods already grappling with inequities. Perry says she’s seen the impact firsthand, from staffing shortages to uneven resources across schools.
“The district has been on a downward spiral for years,” she said. “We need someone who’s going to be in it for the long haul. There’s so much that needs to be done.”
As SLPS moves forward with yet another transition in leadership, Perry says she’s not just waiting for answers — she’s demanding accountability and consistency from the people entrusted with their children’s education.