FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Karen Hylton: 314-345-4689

SLPS INTRODUCES FOUR SUPERINTENDENT CANDIDATES

(February 25, 2005)—The St. Louis Board of Education will select a superintendent soon to lead
Missouri’s largest school district. The candidates are Dr. Paula M Dawning, Dr. John Thompson, Dr. Deborah Jewell-Sherman and Dr. Creg E. Williams. The candidates will interact with key community leaders, parents, staff and students in a two-day series of meetings and forums scheduled for Feb. 24 and Feb. 25. Candidates will visit schools and interact with parents and staff.

Dr. Dawning is currently superintendent of the Benton Harbor Area Schools, an urban district that serves 5,300 K-12 students. Dr. Dawning manages a $50 million budget and is responsible for introducing reform and improving student achievement levels and community involvement. Her education credentials includes a BA degree in French, St. Mary’s College; ME in college and adult counseling from Boston University; MA degree in marketing and labor relations/personnel from the University of Michigan and Graduate, Broad Urban Superintendent’s Academy; and Ph.D in Humanities, St. Mary’s College.

Dr. John Thompson was most recently the Superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools where he was responsible for 35,000 students with a total operating budget of $480 million. Dr. Thompson provided leadership for the district through a major strategic plan. He also eliminated $40 million debt from the budget and achieved a triple A bond rating. Dr. Thompson created key parent communicators, parent advisory committees and initiated five parent educational resource centers. The district’s drop out rate also decreased under his administration.

Dr. Thompson education includes a BS in mathematics from Livingstone College; MS degree in educational administration from A&T State University; Appalachian State University, Ed.S in administration; and a Ph.D in educational administration from University of North Carolina.
Dr. Deborah Jewell- Sherman is currently superintendent of the Richmond Public Schools,
Where there are 25,000 students enrolled. Sherman is responsible for increasing the number of schools fully accredited by the Virginia Board of Education. She attained a graduation rate of 94% for the class of 2004 and led to an increased number of schools meeting the standards for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).

Her education includes BS degree in elementary education, New York University; MA in educational administration, Kean College in New Jersey; MA in administration, planning and social policy and a Ed.D in education from Harvard University.

Dr. Creg E. Williams is Deputy Chief Academic Officer of the School District of Philadelphia where he manages 215,000 K-12 students. He serves as the member of the executive team with 6 direct reports and a $500 million budget. He also oversees management of curriculum implementation, academic achievement, college awareness and preparation and extracurricular activities. He has direct oversite of direct academic development for 14 high schools. He co-developed a new model for site based teacher selection and aligned all high school courses with state standards.

Dr. Williams’s education includes: BA degree in applied behavioral sciences, National Louis University; MA in education and Ed.D in education from Roosevelt University.