Administration

Kevin Andert was appointed in 2024 as SSD's chief of career and technical education/operations. He joined SSD in 2014 as a facilitator of program certification and previously served as manager of college and career readiness. Prior to that, he worked as a career technical education (CTE) transition specialist for St. Louis Community College and as an admissions counselor for Ranken Technical College. 

Andert has a master’s degree in adult and higher education administration and a bachelor’s degree in political science.

314.989.8256 / kgandert@ssdmo.org

Doug Austin was appointed chief technology officer in June 2013. He began his career at SSD in 2004 as systems administrator and was promoted to the director of information systems in 2011, and to interim chief technology officer in 2012.

Prior to working at SSD, Austin served as the director of technology services for New Horizons Computer Learning Center.

Austin holds a wide range of certifications in security technologies, networking, enterprise systems administration and enterprise resource planning software technologies.

314.989.8699 / daustin@ssdmo.org

Mollie Bolton was appointed in 2024 as SSD's chief of teaching, learning and accountability. She had previously served since 2012 as SSD’s coordinator of curriculum and instruction. Prior to that, she worked as an SSD literacy coach, a reading specialist in the Ritenour School District and an SSD special education teacher.

Bolton has a doctorate in leadership in teaching and learning, earned a specialist degree in special education curriculum and instruction, and holds a master’s degree in special education. She is an adjunct professor at Maryville University and at Fontbonne University, and is secretary of the Missouri Literacy Association Board.

314.989.8517 / mbolton@ssdmo.org

Dr. Darryl Diggs was appointed in 2024 as SSD’s executive director of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). Diggs has been serving SSD as the Director of DEIA - Teaching and Learning, a role he has held since joining the District in 2022. As director, Diggs developed and led hundreds of professional learning courses in support of the District’s Equity Framework. Diggs began his teaching career as a middle school science teacher and after-school activities coordinator at Parkway Schools. Before joining SSD, he served as assistant principal at Parkway South High School and as Principal at Hardin Middle School in St. Charles.

Equity work has been a constant throughout his career. He has been a Diversity in Action and Diversity Summit leader. Diggs was recognized as a “40 Under 40” recipient by the St. Louis Business Journal in 2022 and received the North County Leadership Award as a member of the SSD Equity Team in 2023. He was also a finalist in the SXSW EDU LAUNCH competition in 2023 for his work with EduOpenings. Additionally, he is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated and co-founded Black Male Educators of St. Louis, Educational Conduits LLC, and EduConduits 501c3. Diggs also served as a board director on SHRM’s Diversity and Workforce Readiness initiative.

Diggs holds an Ed. D. of Education from Maryville University, a Master's in Educational Administration from Missouri Baptist University, and a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from the University of Missouri, St. Louis. He is also certified as a superintendent, principal, and teacher.

314.989.8321 / dsdiggs@ssdmo.org 

Kelly Grigsby was appointed in 2024 as SSD's deputy superintendent. Dr. Grigsby oversees schools and programs; career and technical education; and partner districts. She began her career at SSD in 2000 as a teacher at the student support center. She then worked as an administrative intern before becoming an SSD area coordinator in the Ferguson-Florissant School District. She previously served as the principal at SSD’s Ackerman School.

Grigsby earned a doctorate in educational leadership, holds an education specialist degree in educational administration, has master’s degrees in special education and educational administration, and a bachelor’s degree in criminology. She is an adjunct instructor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

314.989.8486 / kgrigsby@ssdmo.org

Jennifer Henry was appointed as SSD's chief communications officer in 2024, to oversee strategic communications and marketing efforts. She is an award-winning public relations strategist and writer with extensive professional experience in the nonprofit and public education sectors.

Prior to joining SSD in 2020, Henry spent over 14 years in the Francis Howell School District in a variety of communications roles. Before that, she provided communications support to a couple of local nonprofit and professional organizations. 

In addition to her work, Henry is an active member of the Missouri School Public Relations Association and has served as district director, secretary, and conference chair. Henry has earned multiple awards for her work in school communications, including the “35 Under 35” recognition from the National School Public Relations Association. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communications. 

314.989.8288 / jchenry@ssdmo.org

Dr. Chad Lent was appointed as the executive director of partner districts for SSD in 2024. This new position will collaborate with Dr. Tami Yates, existing executive director of partner districts, and Chaketa Moore, chief partner districts officer, to provide additional support to the staff and students within our partner districts. The addition of the second executive director position was approved by the Board earlier this spring as part of the executive leadership team restructure.

Lent began his career at Special School District in 2002 as a school psychologist. He served as an effective practice specialist in diagnostics, then as an area coordinator, and has been a partner district director since 2014 in Jennings and Riverview Gardens school districts. Before joining SSD, he served as a school psychologist in Springfield, KY.

Lent’s extensive administrative experience stems from multiple supervisory positions during his career. As a partner district director, he supervised all special education programming, services, and personnel in the districts he served.

314.989.xxxx / clent@ssdmo.org

Dr. Catina Lyles was appointed SSD's chief human resources in 2024, previously serving SSD as the partner district director to Ladue Schools.

Before her role in Ladue, Lyles held key leadership positions in the Lindbergh, Webster Groves, Maplewood-Richmond Heights, and Ferguson-Florissant school districts, where she played instrumental roles in program evaluation, budget administration, and fostering relationships with diverse constituencies. She also served on several cross-functional committees responsible for assessing, developing, and modifying district policy and procedures for Special School District of St. Louis County and in partner districts.

In addition to her leadership experience, Lyles brings a rich educational background, holding a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership and Education Specialist degree from Saint Louis University, along with a Master of Arts in Teaching from Webster University and a Bachelor of Arts in Special Education from Saint Louis University.

314.989.8277 / cllyles@ssdmo.org 

Chaketa Moore was appointed in 2022 as SSD's chief of partner districts. Prior to joining SSD’s leadership team in 2020, Moore served as the assistant superintendent of student, family, and community support services in the Riverview Gardens School District, where she supervised the guidance program, social worker services, student transfers, district intervention programs, students in transition, educational larceny, community resources, health services, and safety and security. She also served as the liaison to SSD for special education services. She also worked as a middle school principal and an assistant middle school principal in Riverview Gardens. She began her career in education as an SSD paraprofessional in 1997 and then worked as an SSD teacher for six years from 1999 to 2005.

Moore holds an educational specialist’s degree in leadership, earned a master’s degree in educational administration, and has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and special education.

314.989.8151 / cmoore2@ssdmo.org

Wendi Pendergrass was appointed SSD's chief compliance officer in 2024, overseeing these areas: student services; teaching, learning, and accountability; and workforce compliance.

Pendergrass has been SSD’s chief academic officer and an executive director of schools and programs. She began her career at SSD in 2001 as a teacher in the Bridges program, and also worked as an area coordinator in the Ritenour School District and as the principal at Bridges.

Pendergrass has an educational specialist degree in educational leadership and earned a master’s degree in educational leadership. Certifications held include elementary education 1-8, mild/moderate behavior disorder K-12, principal 9-12, and special education administration K-12. She is also an adjunct professor at Lindenwood University.

314.989.8327 / wpendergrass@ssdmo.org

Cindy M. Reilman joined SSD as the District’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in 2024.

Reilmann previously served the Ferguson-Florissant School District, where she held the position of assistant superintendent of business services/CFO. Before that role, she served as director of finance for the Francis Howell School District and as the director of business/CFO for the Fort Zumwalt School District. She has also worked as a school finance consultant for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). She began her career with the Missouri State Auditor’s Office. 
 
With more than 25 years as a school business official, Reilmann has invested many years as a servant leader with the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) International and Missouri ASBO, chairing and serving on committees, presenting at conferences, contributing to association publications, and encouraging school business officials to share their stories on the state and national levels. She is a 2022 ASBO Eagle Award recipient, which recognizes K-12 business professionals for exemplary leadership and service to their districts and the school business profession. Her expertise and dedication to professional learning have led her to earn the ASBO Meritorious Budget Award for the past 16 years (15 years for Francis Howell and for the first time ever in 2023-24 for Ferguson-Florissant), demonstrating her commitment to presenting an accurate and transparent budget to build trust and clearly communicate with stakeholders.

Reilmann holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Southwest Baptist University. Her professional certifications include administrator of school finance and operations (SFO), certified public accountant (CPA), and certified government financial manager (CGFM).

Alan Wheat was appointed in 2024 as SSD's chief of student services. He had previously served as the executive director of student services at SSD. During his career with the District, Wheat also was the SSD special education director in Riverview Gardens for three years, as well as a special education teacher at the middle-school level.

Wheat has a master’s degree in educational administration. He also is trained as an examiner for Midwest Excellence Institute (MEI), the official state-level partner of the National Baldrige Performance Excellence program.

314.989.8130 / awheat@ssdmo.org

Dr. Tami Yates was appointed in 2022 as SSD’s executive director of partner districts. Yates began teaching special education in 1998 and has held such positions as a special education administrator, executive director of special services, and director of special education. She worked at SSD for 12 years, before taking a position in the Fort Zumwalt School District. She returned to SSD in 2019 and moved into the role of assistant director of partner districts in 2020.

Yates holds a bachelor’s degree in special education, master’s degrees in education and educational administration, a specialist degree in educational administration, and a doctorate in leadership in teaching and learning.

314.989.8518 / tlyates@ssdmo.org