SDUC Newsletter 4/18/25

Good afternoon University City Staff, Families, and Community,

It has been an exciting and inspiring week in The School District of University City! From the powerful screening and discussion of Farming While Black, to the incredible performances by our middle and high school choir students at the St. Louis Chamber Chorus, and the success of our District Resource Fair, there’s so much to be proud of across our schools. These events are beautiful reminders of the joy, talent, and purpose that thrive within our community.

In the spirit of continued growth and service, I also want to inform you that a vacancy has opened on the Board of Education as of April 18, 2025. Bridget McDougall, who has served on our Board for over two and a half years, has stepped down due to an unexpected family matter. We extend our sincere gratitude to Bridget for her dedication and commitment to the University City community. The Board will be accepting applications for appointment to this open seat from today, April 18 through May 2, 2025.

We encourage interested and qualified community members to consider this opportunity to serve and support the students, staff, and families of our district.

Additional information and application are available at ucityschools.org/boe.

Last night, we were proud to celebrate the reelection of Laverne Ford-Williams and to welcome Guerin Pichon and UCHS Student Representative Whitaker Staudt as new members of the Board of Education.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Matt Bellows for his six years of dedicated service on the Board. We also thank UCHS Senior Fatima Thabet, who has served as our student representative since April 2024, for her commitment and contributions throughout the past year.

On Tuesday, the District’s Education for Sustainability & Agriculture Program hosted a special screening of Farming While Black at University City High School. The event, based on the book by Leah Penniman and directed by Mark Decena, highlighted the growing movement of young Black farmers and their commitment to sustainable agriculture

We are deeply grateful to Decena and renowned farmer and food justice activist “Mama” Karen Washington for joining us virtually and sharing their wisdom during an inspiring community Q&A. A special thank you also goes to the amazing Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) farmers who shared their stories, products, and passion with our community. Your presence brought depth and meaning to this experience and left a lasting impact on all who attended. And, of course, thank you to our Brittany Woods Middle School Sustainability Students, who under the leadership of Sustainability Facilitator Anne Cummings and Sustainability Teacher Rubina McCadney brought this impactful event to life!

To learn more—and to continue supporting our local BIPOC farmers—please visit: www.ucityschools.org/stlbipocfarmers.

Our talented middle and high school choir students had the opportunity to perform alongside the renowned St. Louis Chamber Chorus in the world premiere of Old Roots, Fresh Blooms, a powerful new work by composer Kerensa Briggs.

The concert was a moving celebration of our students' dedication and artistry. We are deeply proud of their achievement and extend special thanks to Choir Teacher Caroline Ibnabdeljalil.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for our Spring Family Resource Fair at Jackson Park Elementary! Hosted by our Student Services Department, the event brought together over a hundred families for an evening filled with connection, support, and fun.

From free shoes and books to raffles for bikes and Cardinals tickets—plus a wide array of wellness resources—there was something meaningful for everyone. Families had the opportunity to connect with local agencies and explore services related to mental health, physical health, and overall well-being.

We are so grateful to our incredible staff, community partners, and vendors who helped make this event such a valuable experience for our families.

As we continue to reflect on these remarkable events, we are reminded of the strength of our University City community—where collaboration, passion, and commitment to our students and families are at the heart of everything we do. It’s inspiring to witness the positive impact we are all making together. Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to shaping the future of our district.

In Service of Our Children,

Sharonica L. Hardin-Bartley, Ph.D., PHR

Superintendent

Address: Ronald E. McNair Administration Building | 7700 Olive Blvd., University City, MO 63130

Contact: cco@ucityschools.org