Joyce
Roberts’ home in North St. Louis City is full of life,
literally.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>On every surface sits a pothos vine, hardy succulent or some other happy house plant.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>All of her life, Roberts, a retired school administrator, has planted seeds of education in the minds and hearts of St. Louis students. So it’s not surprising that her home is a garden like the community of educated young people she’s sowed.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>On September 16, Roberts will receive the 2011 Lifetime Achievement in Education Award at the St. Louis American Foundation’s 2011 Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship & Awards Gala. The dinner and gala will be held at the America’s Center.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Before retiring in 2005, Roberts served as assistant superintendent for professional development at the St. Louis Public School District. Her career spanned from teaching preschool to leading the national award-winning Pierre Laclede Elementary School as principal for 10 years.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“I’ve been a teacher for two-thirds of my life, and I am still excited about the possibilities it brings,” she said. “I’ve done a variety of things, but in all of that, I just view it as a teacher with more responsibility.”
Teaching was something automatic for her,
starting at a young age, she said. The greatest influence on her
life was her mother.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“She believed in the power of education,” Roberts said. “She only finished the 12th grade, but it was instilled in each and every one of us that education would allow us to do and be anything of our choosing.”
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>After attending Harris-Stowe and Truman State universities, she began her teaching career at Pierre Laclede. When the school district made some personnel shifts, Roberts was moved to another school.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“It was a great feeling to come back to the place where I started and serve as the principal for 10 years,” she said.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Under her leadership and the hard work of the staff, parents, and community supporters, the students at Laclede made a huge leap in academic achievement.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>In 2003, the state recognized the school as one of the top 10 most improved schools. After receiving the Missouri gold-star recognition, the school received the Blue Ribbon U.S. Department of Education national recognition. At that time, Roberts said, President George W. Bush was running for reelection and had initiated the No Child Left Behind criteria. Bush made a personal visit to the Blue Ribbon school award winner.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“Having the president of the United States come to recognize us for being outstanding achievers I would say would be the proudest moment in my career,” she said.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The biggest lesson of her career is that the best kind of leader is a servant leader.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“What you’re doing is outside of you; it’s bigger than you,” she said. “It’s the ability to move people to do the work. And the best way of doing that is to serve with humility and integrity.”
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Roberts said her role as a leader was to build capacity in others and to allow them ownership in the effort. In a 2005 video of Pierre Laclede, produced by the SLPS district, various teachers affirmed Roberts as this type of leader.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“Pierre Laclede is an outstanding school because we have a strong leader,” said Lavena Tomlinson, then a third-grade teacher, now deceased. “She lets you choose your path, and then she’ll help you in any way she can.”
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“She is not one of those principals that beats you down,” said Deborah Faye Dampier-Byrd, teacher. “She allows you to be in your position and take flight.”
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Robert A. Hudson, a retired school administrator, said he followed Roberts throughout his career because he believed in her leadership. At one time, they were principals together. Then when Roberts became assistant superintendent of low-performing schools, she asked him to come out of retirement to lead Carnahan High School and then again in the Wellston School District.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“She was a successful principal because she worked hard,” he said. “She believed in students and teachers. She set up a program where students could achieve.”
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Even in retirement, Roberts stays active as a consultant for several school districts, including SLPS and Riverview Gardens. She is the CEO and founder of For Kids’ Sake, a nonprofit organization that helps staffs undergo professional development.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Besides spending more time with her granddaughter, she is also completing her dissertation at UMSL for her doctorate of education and administration. She said she hopes the dissertation will give insight into effective ways of closing the achievement gap.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Mentoring and coaching school leaders is at the top of the how-to list.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“Principals are responsible for a host of things,” she said. “As a new person coming in, it’s an awful lot to do. When you don’t exactly get it right and you are not encouraged in the right way, you may lose your footing. School districts should redouble their efforts to ensure that’s not happening.”
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“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The St. Louis American Foundation’s 2011 Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship & Awards Gala will be held Friday, September 16, at the America’s Center, with the reception starting at 6 p.m. and program at 7 p.m. “font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>
“mso-bidi-font-style: normal;”>For information and tickets, please call 314-533-8000 or visit stlamerican.com.
