Mary Elizabeth Grimes is a visionary leader with a distinguished record, from revitalizing nonprofit organizations to shaping the future of young people in St. Louis.
This year, her dedication to empowering young girls is being honored with the Salute to Excellence in Education Stellar Award, which recognizes educators and community leaders who have made a lasting impact on students and is presented by the St. Louis American Foundation.
“She feels like community — she embodies it and encourages it,” Khalia Collier said. “Mary Elizabeth is love.”
As president of Marian Middle School, Grimes leads more than 200 students from fifth grade through post-secondary education, ensuring they have the support and guidance to finish high school, succeed in college, and prepare for sustainable careers.
She focuses not only on academics but also on empowering faculty and staff to reach their full potential. Under her leadership, the faith-based school has seen significant growth and increased recognition within the community.
“It’s an honor to carry the mantle — it’s God’s work,” Grimes said.
Over the years, she has witnessed the many challenges her students face — struggles they may have navigated the night before or the very morning they arrive at school. For her, success begins with having the right people in place from the start.
“At Marian specifically, we are here to pour into them those things that are purposeful and to help them understand and embrace who God created them to be,” she said.
The recognition is also personal. She points to her late mother, a teacher, as the person who set her on this path.
“At this moment, I’m holding back tears,” Grimes said. “She was an educator who believed all children should have the opportunity to learn.”
Grimes has led Marian Middle School since 2014 and previously worked with a range of nonprofits. At Marian, she has focused on helping girls from underserved communities navigate the transition from middle school to high school, a time when many students fall behind.
The Stellar Award acknowledges that effort, but Grimes views the honor as part of a larger mission inspired by her mom. “My mother remains my truest example of what it means to be stellar,” she said. “Her passion for education continues to inspire me.”
Sheila Williams, Grimes’ older sister by a dozen years, said growing up, she would sometimes help their mother take care of her younger sister. But years later, there came a time when Grimes came to the aid of her sister.
Williams, a longtime educator, said she felt betrayed by a colleague, which left her hurt and resentful and prompted her to withdraw from all district activities and responsibilities. One morning, Grimes confronted her gently but firmly, asking whether, by stepping back, she had put her own hurt feelings ahead of her commitment to serving children.
Williams said the question struck a chord. She began to pray, and soon the anger and resentment gave way to a deep sense of peace. It was typical Mary Elizabeth Grimes.
“Mary’s greatest legacy is the example she sets for the Marian Girls,” Williams said. “Her life is a testament to walking in faith and living according to one’s beliefs.”
Olympic legend Jackie Joyner-Kersee calls Grimes a mentor, crediting her with helping shape the vision for the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Youth Center 25 years ago. At the time, the proposed center faced numerous hurdles and little outside support.
Grimes’ guidance and persistence helped Joyner-Kersee push through the obstacles and become the force she is in the St. Louis region today.
“She was relentless,” Joyner-Kersee said, describing Grimes as a natural teacher and a mother figure to those who need it most. “Her legacy lives in the people — the girls who are doing amazing things.”
Khalia Collier, owner and general manager of the St. Louis Surge women’s professional basketball team and vice president and chief of staff of basketball operations for the Dallas Mavericks, also speaks highly of Grimes. From the moment they met, Collier says, Grimes was a source of inspiration — someone whose kindness, patience, and generosity she admires and aspires to emulate.
“She took me under her wings to be my very best,” Collier said. She understands the importance of investing in women’s sports. As a proud Power Surge supporter, Grimes believed in Collier’s vision for the team and in the power of Black women supporting Black women.
Before leading Marian, Grimes built a career marked by transformation. She revitalized the Greater Missouri chapter of the March of Dimes, led Forward Vision, Inc., and held key roles at BJC Healthcare, Fair St. Louis, the St. Louis Sports Commission and KMOV-TV, earning a reputation for strengthening organizations and inspiring teams.
She has held senior marketing and sales positions at MTV, HBO, CBS and local stations.
Grimes’ dedication has earned wide recognition, with honors including prestigious awards. She also is a motivational speaker and writer. But her legacy is helping young women recognize their worth and purpose. Middle school is a pivotal time, she says, when students begin to question who they are and how their experiences fit into their sense of self.
She emphasizes the importance of connecting students to the history and legacy of leaders like Maya Angelou, reminding them of the shoulders they stand on and the strength they carry forward. Through her leadership, Marian Middle School has become a place where students see themselves fully — worthy, capable and ready to thrive.
Grimes believes no one is defined by their circumstances but by their purpose — the reason they were born.
“Like compost, what once seemed broken or discarded becomes the rich soil that grows something strong, radiant and beautiful in you,” Grimes said. “Your scars become a testimony, a roadmap, a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is a way forward.”
It is that perspective — rooted in faith, resilience, and love — that has guided her work and left an indelible mark on the lives she has touched. Collier and many others describe Grimes as a woman whose values and lessons will stay with them for a lifetime.
“She feels like community — she embodies it and encourages it,” Collier said. “Mary Elizabeth is love.”
The St. Louis American Foundation’s 38th Annual Salute to Excellence in Education will take place on Saturday, November 1st at America’s Center in downtown. For tickets or more information, visit www.stlamerican.com.