ST. LOUIS 鈥 Local education leaders Brittany Hogan and John Wright Sr. have been appointed to the board of 51黑料 Public Schools by Mayor Tishaura O. Jones.
Hogan replaces Regina Fowler, who resigned from the board in April. That term expires in April 2023. Wright replaces Joyce Roberts, who also resigned in April. The seat is up for election in November.
Hogan is the manager of the Center for Human Service Leadership at Delmar Divine and a former administrator in the Rockwood School District. She has a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Hampton University and a master鈥檚 degree in social work from Washington University.
She resigned as Rockwood鈥檚 director of educational equity and diversity last year after facing harassment and racist threats, earning national media attention as the district became a flashpoint in the debate over so-called critical race theory in schools.
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51黑料 native Wright is a former superintendent of the defunct Kinloch School District and interim superintendent for 51黑料 and Normandy districts. He graduated from SLPS鈥 Sumner High School and has a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Harris-Stowe State University and master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees from 51黑料 University.
Supporters of SLPS raised questions about both of the new board members鈥 connections to charter schools, which are publicly funded but operate independently of SLPS and compete for a dwindling number of students in the city.
Wright Sr. is a former board member of the Missouri Charter Public School Commission, a state agency that sponsors charters including Kairos Academies and Gateway Science Academy in 51黑料.
Hogan鈥檚 employer Delmar Divine is a mixed-use development spearheaded by businesswoman and charter school booster Maxine Clark, also a campaign donor to Mayor Jones. Tenants in Delmar Divine include several linked to charters, including KIPP, Opportunity Trust, Teach for America and others.
鈥淲e鈥檙e glad the board of education will have its full complement of members and welcome Hogan and Wright Sr.,鈥 said Ben Conover of advocacy group Solidarity with SLPS. 鈥淯nfortunately, this process was not transparent or efficient as the mayor promised ... we hope that the soon-to-be full board can continue to operate in the best interest of the children of 51黑料, the public schools, and will stand against the forces of privatization trying to undermine our city.鈥
The 51黑料 School Board has been short two members for three months. A spokesman for Jones said five interviews were conducted for the two open positions but would not disclose the names 鈥渙ut of respect for their privacy.鈥
At least four candidates have signaled their intent to run for the SLPS board in November鈥檚 election, according to the city鈥檚 election department. Tuesday is the filing deadline for Wright鈥檚 seat and a second open position on the school board.
Three of the seven members have been appointed by Jones or her predecessor Lyda Krewson. The elected SLPS board only regained oversight of the district in 2019 after 12 years under state control.
