Dr. Karen Collins-Adams bring 40 years of educational experience to St. Louis Public Schools, having most recently administered the oversight of a 5.9-million-dollar Federal SEED grant for the Saint Louis University Rising Teachers Program, which included 20 school districts in the St. Louis area and Kansas City. She recently retired as a school principal from the Hazelwood School District and had previously served as the Director of Special Programs with the Normandy Schools Collaborative, supervising gifted education, school nurses, and the school counselor program. Additionally, as an adjunct professor at Webster University for 9 years and an Assistant Professor at Harris Stowe State University for one year, Dr. Collins-Adams provided educational and certification information to hundreds of classroom teachers.  

As native of New Orleans, with many years of experience as a principal at both the high school and elementary levels, she brings knowledge of curriculum, special education, budgeting, finance and community support to schools. Her educational background includes a Doctorate in Special Education and Educational Leadership from the University of Southern Mississippi, a Post-doctorate Paralegal in Legal Studies from Webster University, 2 Master’s degrees from the University of New Orleans on Special Education and Educational Leadership, a Bachelor’s degree with dual certification from St. Mary's Dominican College.