COE Faculty Profile

John E. Ingram, Ed.D.
Affiliate Associate Professor
Division of Educational leadership and policy studies

Dr. Ingram came to the University after having served the St. Louis Public Schools for 39 years in varied capacities. The positions held included: teacher, administrative assistant, principal, deputy to the assistant superintendent for elementary schools, associate superintendent for elementary, middles and secondary schools and associate superintendent for professional development.

John obtained his B.S. from Harris Teacher College. Following, he received his M.A., Ed.S., and Ph.D., from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While attending graduate school, John was a co-presenter at the American Educational Research Association held in San Francisco, CA., on the topic, “Perspective on School-Community Relations.” He worked as a project assistant at the Wisconsin Research and Development Center for Individualized Schooling. While at the Center, John was a field researcher in a “School-Community Relations Case Study” in Wanakee, Wisconsin. In addition, he was one of twenty-five teachers selected from around the country to become a part of the University of Wisconsin-Madison “Experienced Teacher Fellowship Program for Urban Cities.”

Currently in addition to teaching courses in the Division of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, John co-directs two innovative programs. One of the programs is titled “Career Transition Certification Program” which works with persons with degrees in art, music, science, mathematics and other disciplines who desire to become certified teachers. Dr. Gayle Wilkinson co-directs the program. The program is in its sixth year and is jointly sponsored by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the University of Missouri-St. Louis and the St. Louis Public Schools. The Parsons-Blewett Memorial Fund provides some funding for this program. Over 100 teachers are employed as teachers in the St. Louis Public Schools who have come through the Career Transition Program. The teachers work in the areas of art, music, mathematics, science and special education. These teachers are provided special seminar classes led by University of Missouri-St. Louis faculty and other personnel. Each teacher is provided a “teacher-coach” to serve in a mentoring capacity. This program has a retention rate of 86%.

The second program John co-directs is called the “Urban Leaders for Urban Schools” program. Dr. Lynn Beckwith, Jr. serves as co-director. Upon completion in December 2004 thirty-five St. Louis Public School employees will have received their masters degrees and/or principal’s certification. This program was designed to take candidates recommended by St. Louis Public School principals who demonstrated leadership potential through the regular university curriculum plus instructional enhancements. The enhancements took the form of Saturday seminars where outstanding educators locally, regionally and nationally provided unique exposures for these candidates. Currently, twenty-eight of the candidates have completed the program. Each candidate has passed the exam for principal’s certification. To date, one member has been appointed principal, three members serve as assistant principals and five members carry the title of literacy coach. The University of Missouri-St. Louis, the St. Louis Public Schools and the Parsons-Blewett Memorial Fund sponsor the Urban Leaders for Urban Schools Program. Drs. Beckwith and Ingram will work with the nine Urban Leaders assigned to administrative positions in a coaching/mentoring capacity.