One of the key organizing themes of the Ferguson Commission report was to advance equity by focusing on St. Louis area youth. This panel brings together Ferguson commissioners and area superintendents to discuss ways in which the findings from the commission have inspired change and the challenges these practitioners and community leaders face in advancing racial equity.
Welcome
Mark S. Wrighton, Chancellor
Moderator
Rose Windmiller, Associate Vice Chancellor, Government & Community Relations
During her 29-year tenure at Washington University, Windmiller has held various positions in the Office of Government & Community Relations and was promoted to associate vice chancellor in 2015. She is responsible for the university’s state and local public policy agenda, and she represents the university’s interests in Jefferson City, the City of St. Louis, and St. Louis County. She also oversees Washington University’s public charter school sponsorship compliance efforts.
Windmiller serves as Washington University’s representative to the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education (CBHE), serving on its Presidential Advisory Committee. She sits on the boards of numerous local and regional organizations and in November 2014 was appointed by Governor Jay Nixon to serve on the Ferguson Commission. Following this appointment, she served as co-chair of Forward through Ferguson in 2016.
Windmiller earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and a master’s degree in public administration from St. Louis University.
Participants
Kelvin R. Adams, Superintendent, Saint Louis Public Schools
Adams is in his ninth year as superintendent of schools for Saint Louis Public Schools. He oversees more than 26,000 students in grades Pre K–12 and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the district’s 4,200-plus employees and $400 million budget. Prior to joining Saint Louis Public Schools, Adams held positions as chief of staff, associate dean/interim dean and charter school liaison, high school principal, middle school principal, and executive director of middle schools. Adams received his PhD in educational leadership in administration from the University of New Orleans in 2005. He earned a master’s degree in elementary education from Xavier University in 1991 and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and special education from Northeast Louisiana University in 1978.
Joseph Davis, Superintendent, Ferguson-Florissant School District
Davis began his teaching career in the Wayne County Public Schools in Goldsboro, North Carolina. A graduate of Beddingfield High School in Wilson, North Carolina, Davis attended North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in computer science. After receiving his teaching license through East Carolina University (ECU), Davis continued at ECU, earning a master of school administration degree (MSA) and an educational specialist degree (EdS). He also earned a second master’s degree in education and a doctorate in administration, planning, and social policy, both from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education.
Karen I. Hall, Superintendent, Maplewood Richmond Heights School District
Hall took the helm as superintendent at Maplewood Richmond Heights School District in July 2012, following 19 years as an educator and administrator in both Maplewood Richmond Heights School District (assistant superintendent) and the Pattonville School District, where she was the principal at Willow Brook Elementary School. Before that, she worked as an elementary school assistant principal in both Pattonville and Ritenour School Districts and as a teacher in the Kirkwood School District. Karen has her EdS from Lindenwood University and is currently pursuing her doctorate of educational leadership. She has a master’s degree in educational administration from Saint Louis University and a bachelor’s degree in education from Fontbonne University.