By Antonio D. French
Filed Thursday, June 14, 2007 at 12:03 AM
Mayor Francis Slay has selected Melanie Adams, former executive director of Teach for America, as his pick on the transitional board. Labels: Appointments, Schools
"This is going to be a challenging assignment for Melanie," wrote the mayor on his blog. "It took decades for the St. Louis Public Schools to fall into their current state. It will take some time to fix them.
"But, it is my hope that the new transitional school board can bring people together from all over the City to make sure the fundamental right to a quality education is fulfilled for all children in St. Louis."
Adams currently works at the Missouri History Museum under Robert Archibald, the museum's president and a former member of the school board.
Coincidentally, the St. Louis Board of Education voted last month to withdraw from its contract with Teach for America. [Correction: Contrary to early reports, the board did not cancel the Teach for America contract. They only called for a review.]
Aldermanic President Lewis Reed will be announcing the final selection to the three-person transitional board on Thursday.
16 Comments:
Since Slay picked her, she can't be an advocate for the interests of the majority of SLPS students!She will be "used" to help set up an elite school system for the "haves" with public funds while helping to facilitate the movement of the majority of SLPS students out of the city!I believe the courts will derail Slays and V. O'Briens scheme!
6/14/2007 8:25 AM
Adams is a good choice. She's young and active in city life. She's demonstrated that she can handle difficult situations (like Teach for America or not, being the ED couldn't have been a cakewalk) and focus on what is really important - our kids.
6/14/2007 9:11 AM
If she had the qualifications and the interest, why didn't she run for election? Does she only want the job if it's handed to her easily and there's no accountability? Doesn't sound as devoted as those who put themselves through the wringer of facing the public and winning on their votes.
6/14/2007 10:00 AM
Yeah, if she really cared she would paint her face, curse loudly at public meetings and act more like a fool.
6/14/2007 10:40 AM
I remember Robert Archibald.
I remember he was part of Slays refom slate that hired expensive consultants to close schools and outsouce jobs.
I remember that he didn't bother to run for re-election.
I'm sure Melanie Adams will remember that Archibald is her boss.
6/14/2007 10:47 AM
Also active in Focus St. Louis.
The ones who honored Darnetta Clinkscale after losing how many accreditation points in ONE YEAR?
6/14/2007 10:52 AM
I hope Melanie follows Bob Archibald's instructions. Rather than Peter Downs what a riot.
6/14/2007 12:08 PM
The school board did not vote to cancel the contract with Teach For America. The board voted to review it's contract with the possibility of amending or ending it. It is not expected to end the contract. The district needs flexibility so that the district does not have to eliminate normal teachers while retaining more than the necessary number of Teach for America personnel. This story is based inacurate reporting by the PD. Please get this right.
6/14/2007 1:03 PM
One thing for sure Teach for America is in to replace the Teachers Bourisaw is trying to get to strike if she doesn't get to keep her job.
6/14/2007 1:46 PM
I think that Lewis Reed should appoint Jim Shrewsbury.
6/14/2007 1:47 PM
God Bless You Melanie Adams.
You will need every ounce of strength that the Almighty can pour into you. You are about to be treated to a spectacle of the worst type of social behavior imaginable, and most of it directed against you - no matter what you do.
One thing is certain, your life is about to change. God Bless You. Try to do some good for the children. Please.
6/14/2007 1:56 PM
Anonymous 1:46 p.m., ridiculous statement! Get real, get factual, and perhaps even get a life!
Just because college and university students do well in their studies doesn't mean they are able to teach. Most have no sense of pedagogy nor any training in it.
Just because someone can speak Russian doesn't mean they can teach it to another. Knowing and teaching are not parallel abilities.
6/14/2007 1:56 PM
ksdk says---
Also, Lewis Reed, the president of the board of aldermen, has chosen Richard Gaines as the third member of the board. Gaines served on the school board for the St. Louis Public School District in the 1980s.
6/14/2007 1:59 PM
In 2001 Gaines was fighting for the rights of people to vote:
"We're not charging specific fraud or specific partisan politics or specific racism, though we aren't naïve," Richard Gaines, a coalition official, said. "What we are charging is that it is not easy to vote in this town if you are black. There's always another form to fill out or another official to see or another office to visit. That has to change."
As much as I believe the takeover is disenfranchising st. louis voters, at least Gaines sounds like someone who would be cognizant of that effect.
6/14/2007 2:06 PM
Black Leadership Roundtable. Isn't this where we started from?
6/14/2007 2:07 PM
Didn't Ms. Adams also help organize some big convention a few years back, which ended up bankrupting the organization she belonged to?
6/17/2007 8:47 PM
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