Gov. Mike Parson emphasized a provision that will increase minimum teacher pay in state statute from $25,000 to $40,000 per year.
My journey in civic leadership began with one simple motivation: my children. Like any parent, I wanted to do everything I could to set my two kids up for success.
That’s why I became the first Black school board member of the Riverview Gardens School District in 1999. And it’s why, 25 years later, I’m still fighting for our kids as the state representative for Missouri’s 66th House District.
What I learned during my time as a school board member was that all children can learn, no matter what zip code, race, gender, income level they are classified by. It is up to the adults — the educators, parents, board members, and legislators — to create the right conditions to ensure children have the resources and support that allow them to flourish in the classroom.
When Senate Bill 727 was introduced in the Missouri Legislature this spring, I was torn.
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On one hand, it promised more money for Missouri schools and increased teacher pay.
On the other, I and some opponents of the bill — including many colleagues and longtime friends — worried about the bill’s expansion of “school choice” measures like vouchers and charter school funding.
So I dug in to really understand the issues and what was being proposed. I talked with my colleagues who I had served with on the education committee about my apprehension. I listened to teachers, parents, education experts and advocates to hear their concerns and solutions.
What I learned was that SB727 was about so much more than charter expansion in mid-Missouri. It was about fixing our whole education system, and it would have tremendous impact for students and teachers in my district.
Countless studies show that strong teachers are the No. 1 key to a child’s success. This bill recognized the enormous role of educators by permanently raising the baseline teacher pay to $40,000 per year.
It also doubled funding for early childhood education programs, laying a sturdy foundation for our youngest learners to have long-term academic success, ultimately improving the health of our entire community.
Most importantly, SB727 took a step towards rectifying the inequities ingrained in our schools. By changing the formula for how schools receive money, it sought to level the playing field, ensuring that a child’s ZIP code alone doesn’t dictate the quality of their education.
This legislation, which Gov. Mike Parson signed into law May 7, will not take money out of public schools. In fact it will add millions of dollars to our schools. In my district in North Ƶ County, it increases funding by $7.4 million to Hazelwood School District and $3.9 million to Riverview Gardens School District.
Yes, it includes school choice too. I proudly support district public schools — I am a product of University City public schools. I sent my children to Riverview Gardens public schools.
However, recently, my 13-year-old grandson begged me and his parents to enroll him in a different non-public school to better fit his learning style and interest in studying history. It was then I had to reconcile that my grandson and his parents know what learning environment, curriculum, and school community is best for him to learn. I realized school choice isn’t a bad thing. Why shouldn’t all parents have the right to find the best educational fit for their kids?
Bottom line: too many school systems in underserved communities are failing our children, and they’ve been failing for way too long. This is a systemic issue that requires systemic response. SB727 isn’t going to be a perfect fix, but it’s a step in the right direction. With over half of Missouri students (and 85% in some of my district schools) not learning the basic reading and math skills they need to earn a degree or certification for a living-wage job, doing nothing is not an option.
My support for SB727 wasn’t about party politics. It was about doing right by our kids. I’m standing up for every student, parent, and teacher in Missouri. This bill is to support the systemic solutions families and teachers have demanded for a long time: increasing teacher pay, increasing funding for schools, and giving parents freedom to decide what’s best for their child’s education.
And that’s way more important than politics.