Saint Louis Public Schools Board names Dr. Myra Michelle Berry superintendent

The Saint Louis Public Schools Board of Education voted to appoint Dr. Myra Michelle Berry as superintendent, Board President Dr. Karen Collins Adams announced at a news conference, saying the board has “strong confidence” in Berry’s leadership after her tenure as interim superintendent.

Dr. Collins Adams said the board deliberately chose not to pursue a national search because of cost and because, in the board’s view, Berry had already demonstrated the leadership the district needs. “Do we already have the leadership we need to guide Saint Louis Public Schools forward? Over the past several months, Dr. Berry answered that question through her actions,” Collins Adams said.

Berry, who has served as interim superintendent since Oct. 17, thanked the board and the community and framed her approach around four core priorities: attendance, literacy, financial stability and operational effectiveness. “This is not just the position. It is responsibility. It is a calling and a commitment to every child,” Berry said.

On finances, Berry acknowledged a significant budget challenge and said reaching a balanced budget will take time. She announced two budget forums — one she said will be at Deshaun High School on April 16 and an online forum on April 21, both starting at 4:30 p.m. — and said stakeholders and a planning committee will be consulted with a proposal aimed for board consideration around August. Her remarks included conflicting references to budget years; transcript text contained multiple year figures and she also corrected herself during the exchange.

When asked whether “reconfiguration” meant school closures or consolidations, Berry said the district must consider ways to reshape and repurpose under-enrolled buildings and increase enrollment, calling it a set of forthcoming conversations rather than decisions. “We have many of our schools that are under enrollment. So how do we get enrollment up in those buildings, and what is it gonna take?” she said.

Collins Adams said an invitation-only ad hoc superintendent transition advisory committee will be formed to include community leaders, press, parents, the teachers union and others to advise on priorities and pacing. Collins Adams and Berry said they had recently been introduced on the Missouri House floor and described positive responses from some state legislators.

The board’s appointment was conveyed as a formal vote; the press conference and transcript do not include a motion text, mover/second or a vote tally. The district’s communications office invited follow-up questions through its media relations team.

What’s next: Berry said the district will engage stakeholders over the coming months on budget and planning and expects to present a board proposal by August; the ad hoc transition advisory committee will be announced soon.