April 26, 2023 - During the April 25, 2023 Board of Education meeting, Deedra Sagerty was approved as the Chief Operating Officer for Special School District. Sagerty will begin in the position starting July 1, filling the position following Dr. Jeff Haug. Haug was recently announced as the new superintendent of Mehlville School District.
"I am absolutely thrilled and deeply honored to have been given the opportunity to serve as SSD's new Chief Operating Officer. It is a privilege to be part of an organization that is wholeheartedly committed to supporting and empowering students of all learning abilities to reach their full potential,” said Sagerty. “In this role, I am excited to foster innovation and promote equity by helping our employees develop and advance in their careers while also creating new opportunities for growth. With a talented and dedicated team by my side, I am confident that we will continue to provide outstanding services to our students and community. I am eager to hit the ground running and contribute to the success of SSD. Let's go SSD!"
Sagerty joins SSD from the Hazelwood School District (HSD) where she currently serves as the Director of Purchasing & Supplier Diversity. In this role, she oversees HSD’s bids, contracts, and proposals processes. Sagerty developed current purchasing policies and procedures current used by their district. She works directly with the supplier diversity strategy, program, and procedures. Sagerty is a driving force in their minority- and women-owned business program (MBW/WBE) and participated in SSD’s recent Business Diversity workshop held in March 2023.
Prior to that role, she served HSD as the Financial Services Supervisor. In this position, Sagerty conducted internal audits, assisted with the preparation of the District’s budget, and created finance and accounting function tools for support staff. She also has a wealth of knowledge, having worked for a number of years in corporate finance, including in accounting and operations roles for the Warner Media Company.
Sagerty holds a bachelor of arts in accounting from Lindenwood University and is a member of the National Association of Black Accountants since 2018. She also volunteers her time with recreational programs mentoring children.
