Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Candice Carter-Oliver, chief executive officer, took the lead for Confluence Academies on January 1, 2017. The board of directors chose Carter-Oliver as the first permanent CEO to lead the largest public charter school network in the city of St. Louis.

Responsibilities

The CEO is responsible for ensuring good business practices are being met to further Confluence Academies' mission of developing the whole child and empowering students to become impactful contributors to their communities. This includes implementing and strengthening the five domains of Confluence Academies’ Strategic Plan:

• Academic Excellence: Strengthen network structures and accountability systems, conduct curriculum and program reviews, and foster meaningful family partnerships to support student success.

• Financial Sustainability: Ensure schools are optimized and financially sustainable through strategic enrollment efforts, cost-saving initiatives, strong internal controls, and effective budget management.

• High Quality Teachers: Define and support an ideal teacher profile, offer competitive and differentiated benefits, and explore innovative staffing models to attract and retain top talent.

• Leadership Excellence: Build strong school-level leadership, attract diverse and skilled board and Friends of Confluence board members, and create succession plans to ensure long-term organizational stability.

• High Impact Partnerships: Identify and cultivate partnerships with corporate, community, and political organizations, while expanding support services like behavioral health to meet student needs.

Experience

• Former Assistant Superintendent of Academics and Support Services, Normandy Schools Collaborative

• Career in public education includes roles as a classroom teacher, learning coach, and elementary principal in local districts such as Normandy, Riverview Gardens, and Saint Louis Public Schools

• Held leadership roles in Normandy as Chief Academic Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, and Assistant Superintendent of Support Services

• Adjunct Professor, University of Missouri–St. Louis

• Attended professional development at Harvard University Graduate School of Education

• Currently attending professional development at Washington University Olin Business School

• Member, FOCUS St. Louis Women in Leadership Class and Leadership St. Louis Class (2020–2024)

• Board Member, Contemporary Art Museum (CAM)

• Board Trustee, Public School Retirement System of St. Louis

Education

• Master’s degree, educational specialist and doctoral degrees from UMSL
• Bachelor of Science in Education from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
• Graduate, National Superintendents Academy
• Harvard Graduate School of Education professional development expertise in leadership, systems thinking and strategic management
• Washington University advanced management certification

Brief Summary of Confluence Academies
Opened in 2003, Confluence has grown from one campus with 245 students in the Old North St. Louis neighborhood to an annual enrollment of approximately 2,500 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

Schools include Confluence Academy-Old North, Confluence Academy-South City, Confluence Preparatory Academy, and Grand Center Arts Academy.

Confluence schools are sponsored by Saint Louis Public Schools.

Confluence Academies is governed by one board of directors.