Phoenix Jackson, from her press kit.
ST. LOUIS 鈥 The chief communications officer for 51黑料 Public Schools who planned to also live in Texas was awarded an annual salary of $200,000, public records show.
Phoenix Jackson, who describes herself as 鈥渁 Spirit helping other Spirits evolve, expand, and heal through my books, private spiritual readings, life guidance, and entrepreneurial endeavors,鈥 started with the district on July 1 and has already departed, according to her online .
The offer letter from SLPS is addressed to Kelley Phoenix Jackson with a salary of $200,000. As a condition of employment, Jackson was required to hold a valid Missouri substitute teaching certification. The state education department has no record of certifications under that name.
Lori Willis, who served as SLPS鈥 chief communications officer for several years, left the job last fall with a salary of $142,993, according to documents obtained by the Post-Dispatch through a public records request.
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Jackson had no school district experience and did not go through an interview process before getting the job at SLPS, according to multiple district administrators. She is chief executive officer of The Phoenix Affect, 鈥渁 Denver and Houston based integrated design, communications and public relations agency known for its expertise in online and public brand development.鈥
鈥淲ell in the last two months I have accepted and transitioned partly to a new city for my new career as Chief Communications Officer of Saint Louis Public Schools. Yes, I still own and still live in my family home in Houston. That isn鈥檛 going anywhere, but I also have a condo in the city of 51黑料. I will float as needed between two lives and I love that for me. That鈥檚 every Sagittarius鈥 dream: freedom with balance,鈥 Jackson wrote last month in social media posts that have since been deleted.
Jackson鈥檚 hiring brought scrutiny to SLPS鈥 spending practices under Superintendent Keisha Scarlett, who came from Seattle to lead the district in fall 2023. The 51黑料 Board of Education placed Scarlett on paid administrative leave July 25 pending a third-party investigation.
In the last year, the school district brought in more than 20 new administrators and consultants with connections to Scarlett and her last employer, Seattle Public Schools.
The chief communications position at SLPS was by Ray and Associates headhunting firm with a salary range of $165,000 to $185,000.
The firm鈥檚 managing director Karen Hall, former superintendent of Maplewood Richmond Heights School District, did not respond to requests for comment. SLPS has paid Ray and Associates $55,654 this year, according to the district鈥檚 financial records.
Other public records released Tuesday further point to financial dealings at SLPS under Scarlett.
Lucretia Brown was hired as SLPS鈥 chief academic officer in March with an annual salary of $180,000. She resigned at the end of June and was awarded $44,809 in severance.
Charles Burton worked at SLPS since 2003 and resigned in December as chief of human resources at an annual salary of $156,000. The district awarded him a severance package of $78,000. In January, SLPS hired Burton as an independent contractor for $10,000 a month for 30 months.
Burton was hired in April as the chief of human resources at Webster University.
