Dr. Michael Maclin, the recently appointed superintendent of the Special School District (SSD) of St. Louis County, is acutely aware of his monumental responsibility.
“This is a simply amazing, magnificent organization,” Maclin explained.
“We have a staff of 6,000 who partner with 275 schools from nearly every district in the county serving almost 24,000 students on a half a billion-operating budget…all designed to meet the needs of our students.”
Recent estimates show that about one in six, or about 17% of children (aged 3 through 17 years) in the United States have one or more developmental conditions due to an impairment in physical, learning, language, or behavior areas. These disabilities may include speech, visual, language and hearing impairments, autism,serious emotional disturbances, traumatic brain injury or several other learning incapacities.
In 1957, St. Louis County voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum to establish a countywide local school district designed to support the educational needs of children with disabilities. This led to the birth of St. Louis County’s Special School District (SSD).
Maclin has been the district’s “acting superintendent” since October when its superintendent, Dr. Elizabeth Keenan, resigned after what the school district described as an “internal personnel matter.” Maclin, who was unanimously approved to be SSD’s 20th superintendent earlier this month, is the first person of color to serve as superintendent in the district’s 66-year history.
Born in Peoria Illinois-the birthplace of the late comedian, Richard Pryor- Maclin said his parents moved to the St. Louis region when he was a third grader. He attended a couple different school districts before he was enrolled in the Parkway School district-mostly because his parents were impressed with its educational system, he said.
Maclin said he and his only brother were raised in a household of old-fashioned values. His mother was a life-long University City kindergarten teacher and his father, also an educator at the collegiate level, ran a disciplined household.
“There were no menus for dinner, and they expected us to be in the house at a certain time,” Maclin recalled fondly.
Maclin was influenced by his parents’ vocation but wasn’t sure if he was destined for a career as an educator.
“What I did know is that I wanted to help people, I wanted to be a change agent,” Maclin said, adding: “Education chose me, I didn’t choose it.”
He initially set his sights on being a guidance counselor. The idea of providing student aptitude assessments and helping them identify their interests and abilities appealed to him. He became a teacher’s assistant with the Parkway School District, a guidance counselor and athletic coach and filled multiple teaching and administrative roles with the Hazelwood and Maplewood-Richmond Heights school districts before he was appointed principal at University City High School in 2012.
Those experiences caused Maclin to further embrace his role in responsive services (prevention, remediation, and crisis) for young people.
“I realized that I wanted to be the 411 before 911,” Maclin said. “I loved the counseling and therapeutic piece of it, having conversations with students. But as I got further into it, I began to see the loss for those who didn’t have a voice, the marginalized. So, wanting to speak out for them put me on this path.”
That “path” led Maclin to theSpecial School District. Within three years with SSD, Maclin served as the executive director of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) and as a key member of the district’s leadership team.
“I held the unofficial role of an assistant superintendent,” Maclin said, describing his multifaceted role with the school district. “By playing a strong role in the organization’s equity framework I had my hands in everything. I could be meeting with bus drivers in the morning and working on the strategic plan in the evening…I knew what all the pieces looked like.”
In a press release, SSD’s Board of Education President, Katie Pottroff, praised Maclin’s “extensive experience and a visionary leadership style.”
“We are thrilled to have Dr. Michael Maclin as our new superintendent. The Board firmly believes that his appointment will ensure continuity and alignment with the district’s current strategic plan. His proven leadership and dedication to education coincide seamlessly with our District’s mission, core values, and goals.”
Maclin’s lifelong academic credentials include a doctorate in teaching and learning, an education specialist superintendent degree, a master’s degree in educational administration, a master’s degree in guidance and counseling, and a bachelor’s degree in communications. He has served as an educational consultant to some of the largest school districts in the nation, including LA Unified, Dallas ISD, and Philadelphia. Additionally, he is an adjunct professor for Missouri Baptist University’s education doctoral program.
SSD’s press release announcing his appointment recognized Maclin as an “inclusive, collaborative leader” with experience in “leading instructional innovation, organizational and leadership development, implementation of technology initiatives, development of interventions and support programs for diverse populations.
Maclin said he’s honored to be selected as SSD’s new superintendent and looks forward to working with “District stakeholders” on improving academic outcomes, fostering operational excellence, and prioritizing resources, support, and increasing educational opportunities for ALL SSD students.
Realizing that his district serves some students he defined as “mentally and medically fragile,” Maclin said he looks forward to fulfilling his goal aimed at “empowering the staff and students with all the resources they need.”
“Collaborating with our dedicated educators, supportive families, and engaged community partners on our collective mission to empower students to excel to their greatest potential is rewarding, fulfilling work.”
Sylvester Brown Jr. is the Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow.