Jerome B. Jones, the first African-American St. Louis Public Schools superintendent, is being remembered as a champion of education, inclusion and opportunity following his 4th of July death in Washington, D.C.
“Education defined my father. It was who he was,” his daughter Merrill Jones said.
Jones was struck by an SUV while crossing a Washington street on June 26 before he passed on July 4 (2008). He was 71.
“All of us are devastated by the loss of such a brilliant mind,” said Charlene Jones, SLPS external engagement officer (no relation).
She credits the late Jones with giving her and other blacks opportunities in SLPS administration that had never existed in district history.
“He did so much for SLPS from the time he got here until the time he left,” Jones said.
Born in Baltimore, Jones served as SLPS superintendent from 1983-1990. After “retiring” for a few years, Jones returned to teaching as a Howard University professor of education. He founded and directed the college’s Department of Educational and Administrative Policy.
Furthering the tragedy of his death, Jones’ first day at his new position as dean of academic affairs at the University of the Virgin Islands in St. Croix would have been Monday, July 7. His 71st birthday was July 1.
“I believe he had just reached the pinnacle of his career when he was struck down,” his daughter said.
She said he had planned to establish a law school at the university.
“He was so excited about the new job,” said Dr. Henry Givens Jr., Harris-Stowe State University president and one of Jones’ closest St. Louis friends.
“He had shipped everything there. It’s just unthinkable. He will be sorely missed.”
Givens said Jones “saw the great potential” of Harris-Stowe and used the university for staff development programs.
“That demonstrated the commitment he had to Harris-Stowe.”
Jones’ commitment to SLPS and the city of St. Louis was also demonstrated in his ability to rally the community behind the school district.
“The city had not passed a bond issue supporting the school district since April 1976,” Charlene Jones said.
“He got one passed the very first November (1983) he was on the job, and the next six years bond issues were passed. The city had confidence in him.”
Dr. William Jones, no relation but a close personal friend, said the late former superintendent “provided a lot of opportunities for black folks in St. Louis.”
He gave many black physicians, dentists and other professionals their first chance to participate in the district, something almost exclusively reserved for whites before his tenure.
As for African Americans in executive positions in the SLPS headquarters, Dr. Jones said that without Jerome Jones’ influence, “none of them would have been down there.”
Ida Woolfolk, who served as Jerome Jones’ assistant for community outreach for several years, said SLPS “was at an all-time high” under his guidance.
“He was extremely assertive when dealing with business people,” she said.
Woolfolk also said the late Jones gave minorities opportunities in the district “and was unusually supportive of women.”
“He saw no difference between men and women, blacks and whites,” Woolfolk said.
Unfortunately, there were factions in the city that did have disagreements with Jones – including the teachers’ union.
Virvus Jones, the city’s second black comptroller (also no relation), remembers the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s scathing article on Jerome Jones’ use of his district expense account.
Jones said the article influenced the Board of Education’s decision to oust the superintendent, which was an aim of the teacher’s union.
“He wanted to hold teachers accountable for student performance – and this was when the president of the teacher’s union (Evelyn Battle) told me teachers had nothing to do with how a student performs in class,” Virvus Jones said.
“He was the best superintendent St. Louis Public Schools. The demise of the St. Louis Public system can be traced to his firing.”
Charlene Jones said morale and test scores “were extremely high” on Jones’ watch.
“He was a no-nonsense superintendent, but was very popular.”
Woolfolk said when he notified her that he was moving from St. Louis, he said, “I’m leaving the same way I came – with my head up.”
Two daughters survive Jerome Jones, Merrill Jones of Washington, D.C., and Allison Jones of Atlanta.
