The St. Louis Public Schools board will have at least two new members following the April 8, 2025, municipal election.
Embroiled in controversy following the firing of former superintendent Keisha Scarlett, and facing a possible large budget deficit, 12 St. Louisans have filed to run for the three school board seats that will be open.
Board President Antionette ‘Toni’ Cousins, who has faced calls to resign her position following a chaotic late summer leading into the school year including the Scarlett dismissal and bus transportation woes, is running for re-election.
Vice President Matt Davis and board member Natalie Vowell have stated that they will not seek re-election.
On her Facebook page, Cousins posted on Dec. 23, 2024, “A Funny thing happened today: I officially filed for re-election to SLPS Board of Education. Now let’s hear what the people of STL City have to say!”
Through a posted quote, Cousins wrote that “quitting is not an option.”
Cousins, who was elected to the board in 2021, is a Beaumont High School graduate and serves as an Affordable Housing Outreach Manager with the Missouri Housing Development Commission.
The candidates who filed for SLSP board are:
Karen Collins-Adams, a former Hazelwood School District principal who directs the Rising Teachers program at St. Louis University. She is a former director of Student Support Services for Normandy Schools Collaborative in the county, and is married to former SLPS Superintendent Kelvin Adams,
Krystal Barnett, CEO and founder of Bridge 2 Hope, a nonprofit backed by the Opportunity Trust that helps parents advocate for their students at school board meetings.
Tavon Brooks, a real estate agent who works on violence prevention initiatives with the non-profit Mission STL,
Zach Davis, a Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School social studies instructor.
Allisa (AJ) Foster is a graduate of SLPS and the University of Missouri-Columbia. She participated in the Opportunity Trust’s School Board Fellowship program in 2024. She works at Digital Promise, a non-profit focused on digital equity for students.
David Jackson, a former SLPS board member from 2007-15, and owner of DLJ Construction Services.
Brian Marston, director of Web Technical Strategy at Washington University’s School of Medicine.
Robert Mason, CEO of real estate development firm DoubleWolf Enterprises.
William (Bill) Monroe, a retired police officer who served on the SLPS board from 2013-17.
Teri Powers, a former Democratic committee member for the 24th Ward who lost in her bid for 24th Alderperson in 2019.
Andre Walker, a financial adviser with Walker Wealth Management.
SLPS accreditation challenged
With the board election looming, one member of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education says to provisional accreditation.
“I’m very concerned as I read the paper daily here in St. Louis about the failures of the St. Louis public school district,” Kerry Casey of Chesterfield said during a board meeting, according to a Missouri Independent report.
“There is hardly a day that goes by that we’re not reminded of it.”
The department released its annual report on school performance in November, and announced that accreditation status of any school district in the state would not be lowered based on student performance until 2027.
“Waiting two more years when kids are failing and schools are failing to improve literacy rates, et cetera, almost borders on negligent,” Casey said.
Casey’s proposal did not receive a second from any fellow board member and did not come to a vote.
Welcome to the latest edition of SLPS Mission Impossible. Good to see a dozen people that are glutton’s for punishment. Not to be out scandaled, the Ferguson -Florissant School are on the cusp of a sordid sexual harassment law suit that involves their superintendent. Where do thes BOE’s find these people with checkered resumes?
Ms Casey, you need to resign because if you base what is going on in our school’s on what is written in newspapers,, then why even have a state board of education? For your information, it is clear all you do is sit back in your each chair, read thr paper and make judgements. Get out of your chair and com to vthe St. Louis Public Schools and experience that teachers are teaching and students are learning. In addition, your fellow board members rebuked you both by criticism and failing to even giving your motion a 2nd.
I’m one of the 12 candidates. I’m the proud parent of two SLPS students. I have an education degree and was the director of North St. Louis YouthBuild, a construction training and GED program. You can learn more about me on my campaign site at https://brianhmarston.com.