University Academy Announces Selection of New Superintendent

University Academy Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Dr. Tiffany Anderson has been selected as the new Superintendent of University Academy, starting July 1, 2009. Board chair, Bush Helzberg explained, "We are extremely excited that Dr. Anderson will be our next Superintendent. She will build on the solid foundation that Ms. Cheri Shannon has created and the result will be improvements in the educational experience we are delivering. Dr. Anderson believes strongly that all students can achieve at the highest levels."

The University Academy board engaged in a national search to identify a leader that could further bring to fruition the vision of University Academy which is to be one of the best urban charter public schools in the country. Ms. Shannon recently announced that she will be taking the position as the next Executive Director of the Missouri Charter School Association.

Dr. Anderson is currently Superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools in Virginia, where she has been Superintendent since 2005. She leads a district that serves aproximately 10,000 students and covers 20 schools in four different localities. During her tenure in Montgomery County, all 20 schools in the district became accredited and multiple schools were recognized under the Governor's Competence to Excellence Award in 2008 and 2009. Dr. Anderson has led numerous initiatives aimed at college preparation. Dr. Anderson authored a book, "Closing the Achievement Gap", has written several articles on high performing school cultures, is an adjunct professor at Radford University and is one of only 5% African-American female Superintendents in the nation.

Prior to becoming a Superintendent in Virginia, Dr. Anderson was an Assistant Superintendent and Director of Desegregation in the Rockwood School District in St. Louis, Missouri. While in Rockwood, she led initiatives to reduce achievement gaps and increase graduation rates for minority students. Previous to that position, Dr. Anderson was a principal in St. Louis City. A native of St. Louis, Dr. Anderson explained that she is excited to be back home within driving distance of her family. Dr. Anderson is married to Dr. Stanley Anderson, an OB-GYN physician.
-END-

The Board of Directors consists of a group of individuals who volunteer their services to University Academy. As board members, the state of Missouri charges them with the responsibility of providing educational opportunities for the children of UA by determining policies and evaluating results. In carrying out its responsibilities, the board is guided by the desire to use the resources of its community, its staff, and its students to provide the highest quality education permitted by its financial resources. In reaching decisions, the board will attempt in every case to act in the best interests of its students.  

Community Forum

The board will hear comments from community members. These comments may relate to any item on the agenda or other issues which need to be brought to the attention of the board. Individual comments are limited to five minutes. Time allotted for the community forum will be fifteen minutes.