Art McCoy, Ph.D., is an internationally recognized educator and champion of children. He is Founder and President of S.A.G.E.S. L.L.C. and 501c3, with the mission to “Sever Attainment Gaps Existing in Society.” He also is STL.works Leader for the Regional Business Council.
At age 19, he began his career as a mathematics teacher in the Rockwood School District after graduating Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science, reportedly as the youngest certified teacher in Missouri. He served as a secondary level principal from age 22 to 25. After receiving a Doctor of Philosophy, he was named Pattonville’s K-12 Gifted Director at age 25. In December 2010, McCoy became the youngest and first African-American Superintendent/C.E.O. of Ferguson-Florissant School District at age 33 and a leader for Harvard’s Pathways to Prosperity.
From 2014-16, he served as the Superintendent-in-Residence/Chief Academic Officer of the MIND Research Institute and the Center for Education Innovation/Base 11 in Irvine, California, supporting over one million students in 2,500 schools and colleges across America.
In February of 2016, he was recruited to return home and named Superintendent in Jennings School District. Under McCoy’s leadership, multiple graduating Jennings class achieved 100 percent graduation, career, and college placement as featured in the media. In July 2021, McCoy became Jennings School District’s first Superintendent Emeritus, by unanimous JSD Board.
McCoy is a 2017-22 scholar-member of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Institute of Research on Poverty and Saint Louis University’s first Distinguished Fellow of the School of Education and third Geospatial Institute Fellow.
He has served on more than 30 executive boards and councils, including the M.U.N.Y., Sheldon, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Commerce Bank St. Louis Region Board, Ranken Technical College, University of Missouri-St. Louis Chancellor’s Council, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce 2030 Alliance, and state and federal education departments and legislative bodies (i.e., House, Senate, Congress) advising policies, legislation, and more.
McCoy is a two-time N.A.C.C.P. Inspiring St. Louisan, where he lives. He is a 2013 Superintendent of the Year, 2017 PBS American Graduate Champion, 2018 UNCF Keeping the Flame Awardee, 2020 Honorary Firefighter of the Riverview Fire District, and more. McCoy leads and has inspired scores of innovative initiatives, raised more than $15 million dollars, and authored articles and books.
Testimonials
JAG has been a life changer.
JAG pushes us out of our comfort zone. It has truly helped me find my voice. I have learned how to voice my opinions the right way – when to speak and when to listen. Without JAG I have no doubt I would still be living my old life. I wish I could have found my voice sooner, but the important thing now is: I have found it, and I will never let it go.
Before I joined JAG, I was lost. JAG provided assistance in pinpointing a career and making steps in order to pursue it. My JAG Specialist motivated me to make connections and to continue my education in the emergency response industry. JAG has changed my life!
I felt hopeless because no matter what I did, I thought the future I wanted was too far out of reach. I wasn’t smart enough or rich enough to live the life I wanted. Because of this, at the age of 15, I exploded. Everything parents pray their child isn’t doing, I was, or I was trying to. In the midst of this self destruction, the greatest opportunity came up and shook my hand. I went from dropping out to picking up my cap and gown. JAG didn’t save my life, it taught me how to save my own.
