My family has been a part of the Francis Howell community for more than seven years. I’m a strong believer that our district is a leading one in St. Charles County because of our students, teachers, and staff. Growing up in the St. Louis area, my mom instilled in me the importance of education in creating a future for myself. That belief in education is what led me to spend my entire career in higher education, nearly 20 of those years at the University of Missouri St. Louis.

 

I’ve decided to run now because we are at a critical junction where we must choose strong, sound leadership for our school board going forward. We need positive leaders who respect both students and staff while looking out for each group. I’ve served on a number of different committees within the district and have spent a lot of time talking with teachers, staff, and administrators about ideas to improve the district. I strongly believe I have the skill set to address these issues and more. I’m looking forward to meeting community members and discussing ideas on what we can do to make our district the best it can be.

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My husband and I moved to the St. Louis area in 2002 and have been residents of St. Charles
and the Francis Howell School district since 2003. We have 2 children who have attended all
levels of school in the district, a 2021 graduate and a high school junior.

I have a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and a master’s degree in Operations Research from
Virginia Tech. I currently work for a Fortune 500 company, where I manages delivery
activities for a large customer. I am proud to be recognized as a collaborative leader with a
consistent track record for managing large teams and successful multi-million-dollar projects.

In my free time, I enjoy hiking, traveling, and spending time with my family. I am an active
member of Kirkwood Baptist Church, where I serve as a deacon, sing in the choir, teach youth
Bible study, and have spent several terms as chair of the Finance committee. On a Saturday morning, you can often find me enjoying a solo hike on local Saint Charles County trails.
 

I believe that the role of our public schools is to partner with parents to help our kids to
become strategic thinkers, lifelong learners, and compassionate citizens. I am passionate about creating the best possible outcome for all district students and I would be thrilled for the opportunity to serve this community as a member of the FHSD Board of Education.

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Website: https://easterling4fhsd.com/

It has been an honor to serve this District over the past three years, and I am hoping to gain your support again. First and foremost, I am a father of 3 amazing kids and a lucky husband of a wonderful wife.

 

My experiences as a former law enforcement officer, current business owner, and adjunct professor put me in a unique position to understand the complexities of school policy, law, and budgets that govern our district. I know these experiences have helped me be a balanced leader. This is evident in the leadership that I have brought forward over the past three years.

 

I am proud to have been part of the hard work that kept our schools open during the pandemic, while also offering options to families for online learning. The bottom line is that balanced leadership is vital for our district, not hyper-partisan politics. I know there are concerns about “Prop S” finances. Some issues were unavoidable (COVID), while others required the board to make changes in leadership. Lastly, I am proud that our District is currently ranked 8th in the state and #1 in the County (Niche, nationally recognized ranking).

Please let me know if you have any questions, I am an open book. You can contact me via my website: www.Douglas4Howell.com