Dr. Keisha Scarlett, who was fired from her position as the superintendent of St. Louis Public Schools last month, has been unsuccessful in her appeal to be reinstated. The decision was made after the St. Louis Board of Education held a hearing and voted to terminate Scarlett’s employment for cause.
The board vote, which resulted in the termination of Scarlett’s contract, effectively put an end to her efforts to appeal and regain her position as superintendent. Six board members voted in favor of the termination, while only one member dissented, following Scarlett’s challenge to the original vote for termination in September.
The initial decision to terminate Scarlett’s contract came after the school board discussed findings from an external investigation into her employment, which led to a 6-0 vote in favor of notifying her of their intent to terminate her contract. Scarlett had only been in the role of superintendent since July 2023, during which time SLPS faced various challenges such as a budget deficit, uncertainties in student transportation plans, and unexpected staff departures.
The Missouri Auditor’s Office also launched an audit into the school district in August, adding to the challenges faced by SLPS. The district stated in a news release that the investigation into Scarlett’s employment is ongoing, and the results will be shared once the investigation is complete.
This decision marks the end of Dr. Keisha Scarlett’s tenure as the superintendent of St. Louis Public Schools, as the board has made it clear that her employment has been terminated for cause. The challenges faced by SLPS in recent months have been significant, and the board’s decision reflects their commitment to addressing issues that may arise within the school district.
