SSD to Hold Special Board of Education Election for Subdistrict 1
The Governing Council will hold a special election for the open Board of Education seat in Subdistrict 1, which represents Hazelwood, Maplewood-Richmond Heights, and Jennings school districts. The Governing Council, which elects the Special School District (SSD) Board of Education, was not able to elect a candidate for Subdistrict 1 at the March 6 meeting and declared an impasse due to lack of a quorum. According to bylaws, the Governing Council must hold a new election for the open seat at the next scheduled Governing Council meeting.
Candidate filing was open from April 3, 2023, through April 28, 2023. Three candidates submitted applications and will be voted upon during the Governing Council meeting on June 5, 2023: Stephanie Boykin, Curtis Faulkner (incumbent), and Carmen A. Stayton.
For more information, please contact Amy Doyle at adoyle@ssdmo.org or call 314-989-8419.
Click on the images below to learn more about the Subdistrict 1 candidates.
Stephanie Boykin
Ms. Stephanie Boykin has served as a teacher in the Columbia, Normandy, and St. Louis Public school districts. Her career includes military service with the United States Air Force, where she was a Communications Specialist and received 3 Meritorious Service Medals. She has also been an Assistant Director at SIU Edwardsville and an investigator with the Civil Rights Enforcement Agency. She holds a bachelor’s in education from Lincoln University and a master’s in education from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
As a volunteer, Ms. Boykin has supported Toys for Tots, KidSmart, the Hazelwood Green Team, Manasseh Ministry, and the Hazelwood School District. She has held board governing positions as her block unit President, Captain for Operation Brightside, member of the Anniversary Steering Committee for Lincoln University, and is a former member of MO-NEA.
Boykin would like to join the SSD Board because she “loves working with youth and supporting them in their endeavors brings me joy. Ensuring resources are being administered properly maximizes learning opportunities and my leadership and interpersonal skills would prove beneficial.”
Ms. Boykin resides in the Hazelwood School District.
Curtis Faulkner (incumbent)
Mr. Curtis Faulkner was elected to the SSD Board by the Governing Council in 2018. A native Texan, he has served as an engineer for American Airlines and General Dynamics as a sales representative for Lincoln National Life, R. J. Reynolds, Tandy Computers, and Toshiba.
Additional board service includes the St. Louis County Redistricting Committee in 2020, and the Hazelwood ISD Budget (2005-2010) and Bond Committees (2005). Mr. Faulkner has received several STAR awards from the Hazelwood School District.
Faulkner feels that “SSD provides the unique opportunity of facilitating professional, interactive services that lend to the growth and development of students with mental and/or physical challenges.”
Mr. Faulkner resides in the Hazelwood School District.
Carmen A. Stayton
Mrs. Carmen A. Stayton has been an educator since she began working in 2009. She taught in Jennings, Kansas City, and Special School districts, also serving as Dean of Students at South City Prep and as a teacher at Jamaa Learning Center. She is currently a math instructional specialist at Washington University’s Institute for School Partnership. Mrs. Stayton holds a bachelor’s from the University of Dubuque, a master’s in higher education/student affairs from the University of Northern Iowa, and a master’s in elementary education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Previous board experience includes serving on the St. Louis American Newspapers in Education Advisory Board, as a facilitator on the Jennings School District Trauma Action Plan Team, and on the Teach for America Alumni Advisory Board. She has been recognized for her contributions to the Prop H Hazelwood School District campaign, as one of the countywide Top Teachers in SSD, and as a Gold Apple recipient from the St. Louis American Salute to Excellence in Education committee. She also co-authored “STEEP: Building a Community of Practice of K-12 Educators in St. Louis, MO.”
Mrs. Stayton feels a deep connection to this work as her brother has special needs and she watched her mother navigate his support and care over 20 years ago. She says "I want to continue to advocate for students, families, and staff in our region. Children with special needs must have advocates for their now and their future. It will be an honor to serve my community as the SSD Subdistrict 1 Board Member.”
Mrs. Stayton resides in the Hazelwood School District.
Ms. Stephanie Boykin has served as a teacher in the Columbia, Normandy, and St. Louis Public school districts. Her career includes military service with the United States Air Force, where she was a Communications Specialist and received 3 Meritorious Service Medals. She has also been an Assistant Director at SIU Edwardsville and an investigator with the Civil Rights Enforcement Agency. She holds a bachelor’s in education from Lincoln University and a master’s in education from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Mr. Curtis Faulkner was elected to the SSD Board by the Governing Council in 2018. A native Texan, he has served as an engineer for American Airlines and General Dynamics as a sales representative for Lincoln National Life, R. J. Reynolds, Tandy Computers, and Toshiba. 
Mrs. Carmen A. Stayton has been an educator since she began working in 2009. She taught in Jennings, Kansas City, and Special School districts, also serving as Dean of Students at South City Prep and as a teacher at Jamaa Learning Center. She is currently a math instructional specialist at Washington University’s Institute for School Partnership. Mrs. Stayton holds a bachelor’s from the University of Dubuque, a master’s in higher education/student affairs from the University of Northern Iowa, and a master’s in elementary education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.