Riverview Gardens Special Administrative Board

The State Board of Education today issued a proclamation to add two members to the Riverview Gardens School District (Riverview Gardens) Special Administrative Board (SAB) — Dr. Miranda Avant-Elliott and Reggie Jones. These new members begin their service effective immediately, expanding the SAB from three members to five. The State Board’s proclamation also dictates the SAB will reorganize and determine the SAB leadership within 14 days.

“Miranda and Reggie are both valued, trusted leaders in the Riverview Gardens community,” said Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven. “I appreciate them agreeing to serve on the SAB to bring their insight and vision to the district’s path to improvement. I also appreciate the State Board’s discussion today about the ongoing efforts to move forward collaboratively to best serve the students in Riverview Gardens.”

Avant-Elliott recently assumed the role of Educational Coordinator at the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis. Prior to that, she held several different positions during her time at St. Louis Public Schools, serving as a special education teacher and department head, interim principal and director of Fresh Start, and supervisor of college and career readiness. Avant-Elliott is an active, involved member of her community, serving in multiple roles with the Bellefontaine Neighbors Community.

Jones has served as Club Director at The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (Herbert Hoover) for 25 years. He is currently serving in his fifth term as Mayor of Dellwood and was elected last year to the office of Ferguson Township Committeeman. He has served on the boards of the East West Gateway Council of Governments, the St. Louis Metro Market, and St. Louis County Charter Commission. Jones previously served on the Riverview Gardens Board of Education in 2010.

Normandy Joint Executive Governing Board

The State Board of Education today also appointed a new member to the Normandy Schools Collaborative (NSC) Joint Executive Governing Board (JEGB). Valerie Patton will begin her service to the NSC JEGB effective immediately, replacing Karen Pierre who resigned from the JEGB in August 2021. Patton is new to her role as Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer and President at the Greater St. Louis Inc. Foundation. Prior to that, she worked at the St. Louis Regional Chamber of Commerce, serving as Senior Vice President of Economic Inclusion and Workforce Development Strategies and Executive Director of the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative.

“Valerie will bring a wealth of valuable perspective as well as strategic thinking and process improvement knowledge to the JEGB, and I appreciate her willingness to step up to serve the Normandy community at this important time,” said Commissioner Vandeven.

Role of SAB and JEGB

Both Riverview Gardens and the NSC are currently provisionally accredited. The SAB and JEGB are charged with providing leadership and governance to set academic achievement expectations and a timeline for reaching full accreditation.

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