And the endorsements go to...
I’ve had a hard time getting my bearings in this school board campaign. It’s the first time I haven’t had my own candidates, worked with them on messaging, taught them about school board governance, and shared knowledge about the district. Initially, I wasn’t going to do any candidate stuff at all. I wanted to completely avoid an active role in this election, sit on the sidelines and just make a decision as a regular parent, City resident, and voter. I’ll be honest. I am still reeling from wholeheartedly backing a candidate four years ago who turned out to be a huge disappointment. Maybe some of you are feeling that way too. I felt like I shouldn’t go all in on any more candidates until I figured out what I missed then, and how I could prevent another miscalculation.
It took a while, but I got my head on straight. There’s no fool-proof way to predict who’s going to succumb to power’s evil ways. It’s impossible to know how people will shoulder the massive responsibility until they’re in office. And, after all, I’ve really only got the one regret. I am still extremely proud to know Emily Hubbard and Sadie Weiss who brought strong moral, ethical leadership and their voices of reason to the district.
I didn’t go through everything I did with the board and read everything I have about governance to keep it to myself when it really matters. The stakes are too high to sit this election out. I don’t want to cause a panic, but there are times I wonder if this will be the last school board election we ever have.
So, who’s up for the challenge?
Before I name names, can we all stay chill? Please? I’ve been watching the social media discourse and following the news coverage. We’re not doing a great job right now of actually listening. Not to each other and especially not to the candidates. There are far too many guilty-by-association assumptions arrived at too quickly.
Too many accusations.
Too many purity tests.
But the thing that bothers me the most? Too many attempts to define women based on their relationships to men. All of the women who are running are complex, complete human beings. You don’t have to like them all. You don’t have to vote for them all. You can even actively campaign against them if you want. But you do need to find something more substantive on which to base that decision than the men they are (sometimes extremely weakly) connected to. Eric Scroggins isn’t running a campaign. Neither is Dr. Adams. Let’s try to fit whole women in our heads before we go vote, ok? If you have questions about a candidate’s affiliations, reach out to them personally. Ask them about those affiliations. Let them tell their own stories. Let them own their choices. Then make a decision.
Obligatory disclaimer: These endorsements are mine alone. I am making them based on my interactions with the candidates, forums, MEC reports, and candidate campaign materials. I made these decisions solo and not in conjunction or consultation with anyone else. These opinions are mine and do not reflect the views of any organizations with which I am affiliated.
In the 2025 SLPS school board election, I am endorsing AJ Foster and Karen Collins-Adams.
These are the two strongest candidates by far. Both of these women have a clear sense of purpose and strong sense of self. They know, without a doubt, why they’re running. I get the sense that, for each of them, running for school board is more of a calling than something they woke up one day and decided to do.
These attributes are more important to me than an ideological stance or a platform bullet point. When I vote for school board candidates I’m looking for people who can overcome challenges while staying true to themselves. Back in December, I described it like this:
“A elected official’s term is mostly defined by the current moment, mostly shaped by external factors far beyond their control. They have to be responsive to matters as they arise and adapt to the needs of the people they represent. So, while stances on issues are important and every voter should define their own non-negotiables, they are but one small part of how candidates should be evaluated. Demeanor, character, and problem-solving style matter far more than an elected official’s opinion on any individual issue. When a new crisis appears on the horizon to interrupt a candidates perfectly crafted campaign platform what’s needed is the ability to evaluate the pros and cons; a desire to find nuance; and a commitment to direct and transparent communications with the general public. When everything turns upside down and there are new roadblocks or higher hurdles in place, it doesn’t really matter what they thought about a topical issue. It only matters if they can persevere through the challenge and pursue solutions.”
—from I blame it all on Barack Obama, December 9, 2025 by DRC
AJ Foster is an SLPS grad. She went to college, moved back to St. Louis, and started figuring out how to run for school board the minute she turned 24 and became eligible. She’s young and energetic and feisty in the best possible way. AJ has an insatiable thirst for knowledge that, right now, is pushing her to learn everything she can about school district governance, politics, and education policy. Yes, as ONE PART of her journey she participated in an Opportunity Trust fellowship about governance, but it’s not the ONLY thing she’s done. Not even close. I am so impressed by her desire to learn, but I’m even more impressed by her ability to take in information from a variety of sources, evaluate it, weigh ideas against each other, wrestle with implications, and draw her own conclusions. She works through conflict from a perspective of understanding and isn’t afraid to say ‘I don’t know’ or ask for help when things are unclear. These values and critical reasoning skills are integral to public education. We send our kids to public school so they can be informed by a broad assortment of perspectives and learn alongside people of all different backgrounds. I want SLPS leaders who can work with everyone while staying true to the district’s core principles. I want SLPS leaders like AJ Foster.
Karen Collins-Adams is a career educator with experience as a teacher, principal, district administrator, and higher education staff member. Her professional background is quite impressive and inspiring. School districts the size of SLPS are huge bureaucratic machines. It’s easy for a school board member to get lost in the business side of things — contracts, budgets, legal mumbo jumbo. To stay grounded, there have to be people on the board that know what its like to stand at the front of a classroom with 20 faces staring back and know how it feels to walk the halls of a school with the awareness that the health and well-being of hundreds of little people is at stake. Karen has decades of those experiences. But more importantly she has great people skills and she knows how to use them to make great things happen. The first time I talked to her I felt like I’d known her forever. I want SLPS leaders who can build relationships and leverage them to advance the district’s mission. I want SLPS leaders like Karen Collins-Adams.
Yes, I know there are three spots up for election. Right now, these are the two candidates I want to put my name behind. I’ve got my eye on a couple other candidates and I am eagerly looking forward to the March 9 candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters. If I decide to endorse a third candidate, you’ll hear it here first!