April 14, 2025
Missouri Sen. Brian Williams and DESE Commissioner Karla Eslinger joined local education leaders and community members at UMSL’s Ed Collabitat for a day of dialogue and student engagement, hosted by the College of Education’s Center for Character and Citizenship. Williams brought energy and humor to the gathering, which included more than a dozen local superintendents discussing workforce development, school funding, and regional collaboration. Eslinger emphasized communication between schools and state leadership, urging superintendents to share challenges and feedback to improve education policies.
The event concluded with a powerful presentation from five students on their MyImpact Challenge project. Representing 19 regional high schools through the Aspirations Network, they collected over 1,500 books for the St. Louis County Juvenile Detention Center and advocated for education reform within the facility. Their work highlighted the role education plays in reducing recidivism and promoting opportunity. Students will showcase their project again on May 19 at UMSL’s statewide MyImpact Challenge, competing for a $2,000 grand prize.
