Candidates Seek Two Seats on STLCC Board of Trustees
Four candidates will vie for two seats on the St. Louis Community College Board of Trustees in the June 2 election. The election had previously been scheduled for April 7, but the date was moved pursuant to Governor Mike Parson’s Executive Order declaring a state of emergency in response to COVID-19.
Incumbent Kevin M. Martin, Ed.D., who also is the current board chair, will be challenged by Theodis Brown Sr. for the Subdistrict 1 seat. Candidates for the Subdistrict 4 seat are Mary Luebke and Patrick McKelvey. The Subdistrict 4 seat is currently held by Eleftheria “Libby” Fitzgerald, who is retiring after serving two terms on the board.
The winners will serve six-year terms.
Subdistrict 1 includes the Hazelwood, Ferguson/Florissant, Riverview Gardens, Jennings, Pattonville, Ritenour, University City, Normandy, Clayton and Ladue school districts.
Subdistrict 4 includes the school districts of Parkway, Lindbergh, Mehlville, Rockwood, Valley Park, Meramec Valley, Hancock Place and small portions of Jefferson and Franklin counties.
Subdistrict 1 Candidates
Kevin M. Martin serves as a middle school principal in the Parkway School District.
He was elected in April 2017 to fill an unexpired term on the STLCC Board of Trustees,
and currently serves as board chair.
Martin previously served as the assistant principal of curriculum and instruction at Hazelwood Northwest Middle School. He taught mathematics and served as an instructional and data coach for three years at Hazelwood East High School. He also taught mathematics and served as department chair at Sumner High School for three years while serving as a Corp Member through Teach for America-St. Louis.
Martin hopes to continue to be innovative and find new approaches to engage more members of the community with St. Louis Community College. He believes in solid decision making that is centered on the needs of all stakeholders and the community, and will continue to make STLCC a pivotal member of the larger community. As a first-generation college student, Martin strongly believes in providing opportunities and support for all to be successful.
He has been recognized by St. Louis Magazine as High School Teacher of the Year, and received honors such as St. Louis American Salute to Excellence in Education Award, North County Incorporated 30 Leaders in their 30s, and Saint Louis Public Schools’ Pettus Award of Excellence.
A resident of north St. Louis County, Martin earned a doctorate in education policy and leadership from University of Missouri-St. Louis. Most recently, he completed a graduate certificate in human resource management from Colorado State University. He has an educational specialist, superintendent certificate and master’s degree in education from University of Missouri-St. Louis, and a bachelor’s degree in business teacher education from Illinois State University.
Theodis Brown Sr. of north St. Louis County currently is the chief of the Castlepoint Fire Protection Association and also a trustee and retired Sergeant-at-Arms of the Castlepoint Community Association. He was elected to the board in April 2014 and then resigned in September 2015.
Brown is a former St. Louis County Government paralegal and a retired state abuse and neglect lead investigator who also serves as St. Ferdinand Township Committeeman. Brown is listed in the International Biographical Centre’s Outstanding People of the 21st Century and in both the 19th and 30th anniversary editions of "Who’s Who of American Law." He was listed in "Who’s Who in the World for 2015," and in "Who’s Who in America" in 2016. He also publishes St. Louis Private Eye Magazine.
Brown graduated from the St. Louis Police Academy in 1970 and formerly served as the chief of police and fire marshal in Kinloch. He is a 1977 graduate from the St. Louis Major Case Squad Police Detective Academy. He is a member of the Missouri Peace Officers Association, the Missouri State Investigators Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the St. Louis Police Veterans Association. He graduated from the St. Louis Fire Academy in 1978 and is a member of the Fire Marshal Association of Missouri. In 2008, Brown completed a six-hour State Certified Fire and Rescue Training Institute with the University of Missouri-Columbia. A freelance paralegal who studied at the Blackstone School of Law, Brown is also a member of the National Paralegal Association.
A graduate of Sumner High School, Brown is also a member of the Alumni Association of St. Louis Community College. Brown is married with five grown children.
Subdistrict 4 Candidates
Mary Luebke, professor emeritus at St. Louis Community College, served in a variety
of capacities while at the Florissant Valley campus.
Luebke was the coordinator for the Deaf Communication Studies/Interpreter Education program, chair of the Communications department and dean of Liberal Arts. She has been honored with a named scholarship for students of the DCS program.
Luebke has been involved in a variety of initiatives that served Deaf people and other people with disabilities. She was director of Communicate Plus, a non-profit organization for 10 years.
Luebke received the prestigious David L. Underwood Award at Florissant Valley in 2013, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Governor and the State of Missouri in 2001. She served on the governor-appointed Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for multiple terms.
“I have a lifetime career commitment to the mission of St. Louis Community College and want the students who come to us to receive the best experience possible as they begin or continue their educational journeys and reach their individual goals,” she said.
As a non-traditional student, Luebke attended STLCC and earned as associate degree. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in theater and a master’s degree in theatre/discourse analysis from Lindenwood University. She holds Missouri state and national certification in American Sign Language interpreting.
Patrick McKelvey of Oakville is currently an academic advisor at Southwestern Illinois
College and assistant women’s basketball coach at Fontbonne University. He previously
worked in student-athlete academic services at the University of Tulsa and the University
of Memphis.
McKelvey seeks to expand dual credit opportunities for St. Louis residents and provide more resources to current degree/certificate programs that lead directly to employment. McKelvey also seeks to bridge the gap between members of the community, local businesses and St. Louis Community College so all community members’ needs can be addressed.
“I decided to run for this position because I understand and appreciate the importance of having a strong community college,” he notes on his website. “In a time where every job is looking for a certification or degree, community colleges can offer fast and affordable education. I want to put my community college experience and bold ideas to work so I can help create a brighter future for all in the area.”
McKelvey obtained his primary education from the Mehlville School District. He has remained active in his community by creating and leading two digital organizations, one focused on voter registration of 18- to 24-year-olds while the second provides scholarships to help ease the financial burden of higher education for St. Louis metro residents.
McKelvey earned a master’s degree in educational, school and counseling psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He holds bachelor’s degrees in sport management and education from Mizzou. He also holds a master’s degree in sport and hospitality management from the University of Memphis.
About the St. Louis Community College Board of Trustees
The STLCC Board of Trustees consists of seven members who represents the four subdistricts
of the College service area. Subdistricts 1 and 4 are the two large subdistricts,
each represented by two trustees. Subdistricts 2 and 3 are smaller, each represented
by one trustee. The Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education appoints one
trustee. District voters elect board members periodically for six-year terms.
The board is responsible for determining the policies of the College within the legal framework established by statutes of the state of Missouri. The board makes all final decisions concerning employment, termination of services, expenditure of funds, contracts, establishment of new programs, student fees, tax levies and construction of facilities. Regular board meetings are open to the public.