Pierson for Clayton School Board

ehalf of some of the world's most interesting, creative and entrepreneurial people! I’ve also served on or represented several non-profit boards including Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts, KDHX Community Media, and STL Art Place. Serving on the Board is an opportunity to strengthen the relationships and support the people that make the School District of Clayton great. Our District is made up of incredible people: families and students place a premium on education; teachers and administrators work long hours and make great sacrifices; civic and government leaders support the District and the role it plays in our community. One important Board role is to help strengthen the ties between all of these groups. The Board should be a safe, supportive, listening environment where all stakeholders are challenged to achieve their greatest potential. It should provide critical guidance and financial oversight without micromanaging. In short, the Board should nurture relationships that make up the strong and diverse fabric of the School District of Clayton

As a member of the Board of Education, I have three priorities:

1. Student Success
In our District we have a very high percentage of "gifted" students but we also have a high and growing percentage of students who are underperforming. This “Achievement Gap” actually presents an opportunity if managed correctly. The diversity in the raw materials our innovative educators have to work with here allows them to pioneer approaches and solutions that can be exported to wherever the most difficult challenges exist. As a Board member, I’ll support the talented people who tackle this issue and work hard to find the resources they need to close the Achievement Gap and transform our world.

2. Educator Excellence
We moved to Clayton in 2010 for the teachers. Our 3 kids have very different needs, personalities and interests and Clayton educators have always responded with incredible skill and individual attention. The educators here have exceeded our sky-high expectations. I want every generation of District families to experience this, and that means supporting the teachers, professional staff and administrators on the front lines. We've got incredible talent here, and we can responsibly leverage our financial resources not just to keep them here, but also to help them develop to their world-class potential.

3. Financial Stability
Clayton’s historically strong tax base is a tremendous advantage. And as the premier business and residential center of the inner ring suburbs we are an attractive place to live, work and learn. But threats to how public education is funded throughout our region loom: loss of revenue due to TIF-supported developments, uncertainty over student transfer programs, and budget cuts resulting from unsuccessful tax levy efforts. As a Board member, I’ll work to develop relationships and coalitions outside the District to allow us to prepare for these challenges before they arrive. I’ll help the Board focus on these big picture issues and avoid the distractions of day-to-day operational tasks. And I’ll use my strengths as a negotiator and advocate to find and implement solutions to these financial challenges. I hope you will vote for me and help me to build the kind of supportive and relationship driven Board of Education that the School District of Clayton needs.