John A. Wright

John A. Wright is a native of St. Louis, Mo., and a graduate of the St. Louis Public Schools. After graduation from Sumner High School, he went on to receive a B.A. from Harris Teachers College (now Harris-Stowe State University) and his M.E.D. and Ph.D. from St. Louis University. He has done post-graduate studies as a Fulbright Scholar in India and at Harvard, Dartmouth College, and Loyola University in Chicago, and as a trainee with the U.S. Department of Justice, Community Relations Division, in Washington, D.C.

 Dr. Wright has had a long and distinguished career as a St. Louis academic leader. His previous jobs include serving as the Interim Superintendent of Schools for St. Louis Public Schools, Interim Superintendent of Schools for the Normandy School District and Assistant Superintendent for the Ferguson-Florissant School District.

Dr. Wright has been an engaged member of the education profession. He organized the first Teacher's and Principal's Academy for the Private School Federation in Bangkok, Thailand; established the first pre-teacher training program between a school district and St. Louis Community College (the first in the state); served as public hearing chairman for the Governor's Vocational Education Advisory Council; established the minority recruitment program for St. Louis County school districts; and organized the Missouri Education Policy Fellowship Program for the Institute of Educational Leadership, located in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Wright is an active member of the community and has served on numerous boards. He presently serves on the boards of the St. Louis World Trade Center, Alliance Français of St. Louis, Regional Arts Commission; and the St. Louis, Missouri--Senegal Sister Cities Committee. He has many other professional and community affiliations and and has received numerous awards. Dr. Wright also is the author of 13 books about regional history.