03/11/25
Fostering Collaboration: St. Louis Day Convenes Leaders To Forge Stronger Relationships
On November 18, The Opportunity Trust helped to convene 116 legislators, business leaders, and civic changemakers for St. Louis Day, a pivotal moment in shaping the future of education, public safety, and economic development in Missouri. Discussions highlighted the urgent need for stronger schools, safer neighborhoods, and policy-driven solutions, reinforcing the direct link between education reform and regional success.
Key takeaways included the role of strong schools in driving economic growth and public safety, and the importance of sustainable school governance and accountability. With Missouri’s legislative session underway, these conversations will shape bold new education policies that directly impact students, families, and the future of St. Louis.
An Unprecedented Gathering of Leaders
For Missouri to thrive, education, public safety, and economic growth must work in tandem. In partnership with the Regional Business Council and Greater St. Louis Inc., The Opportunity Trust convened key state and local leaders to align priorities and advance solutions.
“Forty percent of the state’s GDP [gross domestic product] comes from St. Louis. We really want to do things that get St. Louis straightened out because I think that ripple effect to the rest of the state is significant,” Governor Kehoe said.
The event’s core discussions explored key regional priorities:
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City Overview: An overview of the city’s current landscape led by Mayor Tishaura Jones.
- Public Safety: A discussion on public safety by St. Louis Police Chief Robert Tracy and Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore.
- Education Reform: An in-depth examination of education reform facilitated by The Opportunity Trust Founder and CEO Eric Scroggins.
- Infrastructure Growth: A conversation on airport expansion led by Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, Director of the St. Louis Lambert International Airport.
- Economic Development: An overview of the 2030 Jobs Plan spearheaded by Jason Hall, CEO of Greater St. Louis, Inc.
Together, these discussions highlighted the interconnected nature of a thriving St. Louis: strong schools drive safer neighborhoods, workforce readiness, and economic development, creating a foundation for sustained long-term progress.
Education Reform as a Public Safety Solution
A central theme of St. Louis Day was the interplay between education and public safety. Research consistently shows that higher educational attainment leads to lower crime rates, while student success – increased high school graduation, college and/or industry certification attainment – reduces economic disparities.
Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore shared how his office tackled a 6,700-case backlog and prioritized serious offenses, leading to a decade-low homicide rate in St. Louis. However, long-term success requires more than just criminal justice reform—it requires stronger schools.
We are no longer in the top 10 most dangerous cities in the US. While we’re working to make St. Louis safer, we’re also working to make it stronger. Through economic development that uplifts families, supports businesses, and helps local communities, we’re working to make our neighborhoods stronger.
Mayor Tishaura Jones
By expanding quality public school choices, investing in educator pipelines, and advocating for accountability that leads to improved learning outcomes for children, The Opportunity Trust is working to ensure schools in every community improve to meet needs of children and families. This focus on education improvement ultimately will result in a thriving St. Louis region.
Policy Leadership and What Comes Next
Education reform is at a crossroads in Missouri. Reed Hastings, co-founder of Netflix and former California State Board of Education member, emphasized that public school choice and governance structures are critical for long-term progress.
“What I have seen across the country is that the percentage of kids in charter schools is the biggest indicator of the 20-year improvement across the entire district, including the non-charter kids and the charter kids. St. Louis is nearly 40% kids in charters, and you see more progress,” Hastings said.
National education leaders, who transformed struggling school systems in cities across the country, joined Eric Scroggins for a panel discussion:
- Jeffrey Riley, led the turnaround in Lawrence, Massachusetts, as the state’s Commissioner of Education.
- De’Shawn Wright, former Chief Policy Advisor to Newark’s Mayor Cory Booker, helped navigate state intervention in New Jersey.
- Kira Orange Jones, former Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education member and CEO of Teach Plus, played a pivotal role in New Orleans’ post-Katrina education transformation.
Orange Jones stressed that governance discipline, accountability, and autonomy are essential for sustained progress. Notably, Louisiana was the only state to surpass pre-pandemic reading levels in the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), highlighting the impact of its targeted educational reforms.
We agreed to be disciplined about governance. We created and sustained a governance framework that enabled decision-making to remain closest to families and students. We agreed to the autonomies necessary for entrepreneurial leaders to make decisions and the accountability to hold them to results.
Kira Orange Jones
The Opportunity Trust has been instrumental in systemic progress, passing four major education bills in five years—a breakthrough after a decade of legislative stagnation. As Missouri’s legislative session unfolds, St. Louis Day reinforced the need for strong partnerships between policymakers, business leaders, and civic organizations to drive lasting change.
Follow us on LinkedIn to learn more about our initiatives and explore our Learning Hub for data and insights on education in St. Louis. You can also visit St. Louis Metropolitan Police’s Crime Statistics Dashboard to see the latest updates on public safety efforts in the city.