Today Advocates for Kids, an informal group of African-American citizens concerned about the education of St. Louis children, announced its endorsement of three candidates for St. Louis Public School board. The group threw its support behind Flint Fowler, Joseph Keaveny and Joe Moramarco.
Frankie M. Freeman, chairman of Advocates for Kids, said that James Buford, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Metropolitan St. Louis, had chaired a subcommittee that reviewed the credentials of all candidates for school board and conducted extensive interviews with many of them.
Also on the subcommittee were Sandra Moore, chair of the Black Leadership Roundtable and president of Urban Strategies; Claude Brown, of the NAACP; William Carson, of the Vashon Education Compact; Veronica Bell, of the Desegregation Monitoring Committee; Melanie Adams; and Sheila Bader.
The subcommittee, acting as private citizens rather than representatives of their respective organizations, unanimously recommended Fowler, Keaveny and Moramarco.
“Our basic criteria for supporting candidates is pretty straightforward. We want candidates who are committed to rapid reform in the schools,” said Freeman.
“We want candidates who are committed to working collaboratively with other board members and community leaders. And, we want candidates who show a willingness to support the new superintendent. These are our paramount considerations.”
Of the three candidates receiving the group’s endorsement, Freeman said, “These three candidates meet our criteria. Each of them has been involved in the community as volunteers for years and has demonstrated a sincere commitment to the whole city.”
Flint Fowler’s career has been dedicated to the service of children. He currently serves as executive director of Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club of St. Louis. Previously, he was managing director for INROADS/St. Louis Inc. and founding executive director of Operation Teamwork and Saint Louis University’s Upward Bound Program.
His community service has included membership on the St. Louis Symphony’s Community Partnership Program Advisory Board; St. Louis Zoo Board of Commissioners; Board of Trustees at John Burroughs School; St. Louis Mental Health Board of Trustees; and the Charles Drew Community Advisory Board, American Red Cross. He volunteers for Fair St. Louis and the Boy Scouts of America.
Fowler has earned a B.A. from Washington University in psychology and African-American studies, an M.A. in psychology with emphasis in minority mental health from Washington University, and a Ph.D. in education from Saint Louis University.
Joseph Keaveny is a senior portfolio manager with US Bank-Asset Management. Previously, he served as senior compliance examiner for Mercantile Investment Services and as director of compliance at Eisner Securities.
Keaveny is very active in local civic affairs. He is a board member and two-term president of Parkview Agents; board member and two-term president of Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council; treasurer of Skinker-DeBaliviere Housing Corporation; treasurer of St. Louis Firefighters Lifesaving Foundation; 28th Ward Democratic committeeman; and treasurer of the St. Louis City Democratic Central Committee.
Keaveny is a lifelong resident of the city. He has been married to Karen Myles Keaveny for 24 years, and they have four children. He received his B.S. in business administration from the University of MissourinSt. Louis and his MBA and law degrees from Saint Louis University.
Joe Moramarco works as the quality manager at Rockwood Pigments, a local paint manufacturer. Moramarco earned a B.S. in chemical engineering from Rice University and has extensive training in quality assurance practices and procedures.
He has been an active member of St. Joan of Arc parish council and St. Cronan’s parish council. He is active with Metropolitan Congregations United and is vice-president of the South Side Cluster, the Congregations Committed to Community Concerns.
He, his wife and four sons have been committed city residents since 1985. They lived for many years in southwest St. Louis and recently moved to the Gate District of the city.
“The men and women involved with Advocates for Kids have provided the community leadership on education reform. This is an important endorsement,” Moramarco said.
“I am grateful and honored to have their support, and I look forward to working with them to reform the St. Louis Public Schools and give our children the education they need and deserve.