Five candidates are running for three Northwest R-1 School District Board of Education seats on April 7. Candidate Michelle Coats is an incumbent, and challengers are Michelle Adams, Christine Eoff, Cindy Hayes and Nora Ross. Each seat is for a three-year term.
The school board members are unpaid.
Ross, 58, is a retired high school English teacher. She holds a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in education, curriculum and instruction. She has been a member of the High Ridge Rotary since 2022. Wright and her husband, Dan, have two children and five grandchildren. Wright worked for the district from 1990-1993 as a substitute teacher.
Eoff, 51, is a small-business owner and works part-time as a bookkeeper. She received an associate degree from Jefferson College. She has been on the board of directors for Cedar Oak, a sober living facility in High Ridge, since 2024. Eoff and her husband, Dwain, have two children and one granddaughter.
Adams, 58, recently retired after 11 years as the benefit specialist for Northwest R-1 School District. She holds a school business specialist certification through the Missouri Association of School Business Officials. Adams and her husband, Gary, have one son and two bonus daughters.
Hayes, 63, is the director of the Jefferson County Library. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and government from Western Kentucky University and a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Missouri in Columbia. She has been a member of the Northwest Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce for 22 years and has been on the board for 20 years. She served as chair for the local Relay for Life event for two years, served for one year on the Board of Jefferson County Community Partnership, was a founding member of the Jefferson County Genealogical Society, and was on the Board of Highway 30 Foundation for two years. Hayes has one child. Hayes’s niece, Erica Belcher, is an administrative assistant at Valley Middle School. Erica’s husband, Kyle Belcher, is a school resource officer at the high school and Hayes’s sister-in-law, LaDonna Hayes, works in food service at the high school.
Coats, 43, is a stay-at-home mom and volunteer. She is a 2001 graduate of Fox C-6, attended the University of Missouri in St. Louis for her undergraduate degree and earned a master’s degree in communication in media literacy from Webster University in 2012. She has participated in the Facilities Committee at Northwest R-1. She has volunteered at the Early Childhood Center, High Ridge Elementary and Woodridge Middle schools while her children attended. She has worked with her husband’s union, IBEW Local No. 2, to establish a wives’ club to further family participation. She was first elected in 2023 to the Northwest R-1 Board of Education. Coats and her husband, Bryan, have two children.
How should Northwest attract and retain quality employees?
Ross: Northwest can attract and retain quality employees by creating a culture where educators feel respected, supported and valued. First, we must prioritize fewer meetings and more protected plan time so teachers can focus on instruction and student success. Reducing unnecessary paperwork and streamlining administrative tasks will allow staff to spend more time teaching instead of complying with excessive documentation requirements. Retention also depends heavily on culture. We need more consistent encouragement, visible support from administration and genuine expressions of gratitude. Teachers and staff should know their work matters. Celebrating accomplishments, providing mentorship for new educators and offering meaningful professional development will strengthen morale and build loyalty. Strong leadership is essential. Employees stay where they feel heard and backed up in difficult situations. When we create a positive environment built on trust, support and appreciation, along with competitive compensation, Northwest will not only attract quality employees but keep them long-term.
Eoff: At Northwest R-1, attracting and keeping great teachers and staff starts with valuing and supporting them. Competitive pay and benefits matter, but so does creating a positive, respectful environment where staff feel heard and empowered. Offering professional development, mentorship, and growth opportunities helps the employees succeed.
Recognizing their hard work builds pride and loyalty. By fostering open communication, collaboration and a culture focused on student success and safety, Northwest R-1 can retain talented educators while showing our community a commitment to excellence. When our teachers and staff feel supported and proud of their work, every student benefits, and our schools and our community grow stronger.
Adams: Our teachers, paras, food service, custodians and support staff play an important role in our students’ success. Attracting and retaining quality employees starts with valuing the people who make our district successful.
It is imperative that we remain competitive in our compensation and benefits. If we want to attract and keep quality employees, our salaries and benefits need to reflect their professionalism and dedication.
Workplace culture is also key. Employees stay where they feel respected, supported and heard. That means seeking the staff’s input in a collaborative manner, so their suggestions are included in the decisions being made.
Also, stability in leadership builds trust within the workplace. As a board member, it is vital to work collaboratively with our new superintendent, Kyle Gibbs, as he establishes both his short- and long-term goals for the district.
Hayes: Besides the obvious answer of offering higher, more competitive wages and better benefits, the best way to attract and retain quality employees is having great leadership that can create a positive workplace culture and support the employees.
Coats: I believe that as a board we have worked hard to increase our teachers’ pay, improve safety across the district and also improve our facilities. While we still have work to do to bring out teacher salaries to be more competitive with our surrounding Jefferson and St. Louis County districts, I believe we are on track while being fiscally responsible, given the uncertainty of the state and county funding future.
What is your assessment of the School Board’s performance in the past year?
Eoff: The Northwest R-1 Board of Education has done commendable work over the past year navigating a complex environment. At the same time, challenges like declining enrollment, school choice being pushed legislatively at the state level and more families choosing homeschooling makes this a critical time to focus on clear communication, strong student advocacy and ensuring every student can succeed.
Ross: I feel their choice for superintendent was great. I also feel there needs to be more transparency and opportunities for parental involvement.
Adams: Over the past year, the school board has faced several difficult decisions, particularly regarding staffing. I believe the board has worked to fulfill its responsibility to keep the district financially stable while continuing to support students and staff.
I believe there is always room for improvement. Clear communication between board members and district administrators is crucial, especially during challenging times. When the community and employees understand not only what decisions are being made, but why, it builds trust and confidence in leadership.
Hayes: I would say that the board is doing a great job based on several factors: the district has a balanced budget and has had no issues with a budgeting audit; they avoid micromanaging by focusing on school policy and oversight of the superintendent; most importantly, this board has not been in the news, or made any decisions that have raised concerns from the community.
Coats: We have increased our Annual Performance Report by 10 percent. We have increased teacher pay. We have made all of our buildings safer. We can always find and will continue to improve.
Why should voters elect you to this position? What are your goals?
Ross: Voters should elect me to this position because I bring experience as a teacher, a parent, a community member and a former student. I understand our schools from every angle and care deeply about their success. My focus will be on supporting our teachers by ensuring they have the time, resources and encouragement they need to thrive. I am committed to maintaining strong fiscal responsibility, so taxpayer dollars are used wisely and transparently. I will work to strengthen academic standards while also expanding career and technical education opportunities to prepare students for both college and the workforce. Finally, I believe increasing meaningful parental involvement is essential to student success, and I will advocate for stronger partnerships between families and our schools.
Eoff: I am running for the Northwest R-1 Board of Education to bring transparency, strong communication and a renewed focus on the district’s reputation. Parents and taxpayers deserve clear, consistent information and meaningful engagement, and I will make sure their voices are heard. I will advocate for every student’s access to a high-quality education while championing our outstanding teachers, staff and the incredible work happening in our schools. As a parent with experience in private, public and homeschool education, I understand the diverse needs and challenges families face. I will work closely with the superintendent, teachers, board colleagues and stakeholders to create a safe, supportive and welcoming environment for all students. My goal is to ensure that Northwest R-1 continues to grow stronger, builds community pride and remains a district where students, families and staff can thrive together.
Adams: I recently retired after 11 years of service to the Northwest R-I School District as the benefit specialist. Throughout my employment, I participated in insurance committee meetings and attended board meetings, which provided valuable exposure to the broader operational and governance aspects of the district. I believe this experience gave me a well-rounded understanding of how school systems function beyond day-to-day responsibilities.
While serving in this role, I earned my school business specialist certification through the Missouri Association of School Business Officials. This certification strengthened my expertise in school finance and business operations and reflects my commitment to supporting public education.
If elected, I believe we have a fiduciary obligation to be responsible stewards of taxpayer money. We need to balance our fiscal responsibility by prioritizing students’ needs, ensuring district resources are used efficiently, and being balanced with fair and competitive compensation for our school staff.
Hayes: I am a graduate of Northwest and have a child who currently attends. I am approaching this position as a chance to give back to my community. I have lived in the community for most of my life and have a long record of community service. I have no agenda in joining the board other than to serve and represent the other parents in the district.
Coats: After three years on the board, I have learned so much. Attending board meetings as a parent can be overwhelming and confusing. But what I am most proud of is our improvement to safety, commitment to our staff, and most importantly, our kids. My children have attended the Northwest R-1 School District from Parents as Teachers, the Early Childhood Center, elementary and now middle school. I have a deep vested interest in trying to make sure all kids and families have the same access to the wonderful education and experience we have had.