Dr. Millicent Borishade began her career in education as a kindergarten teacher in Blue Island, Illinois. She’s taught every level, which includes graduate-level courses and college behind bars. Dr. Borishade’s theory of action captures her clear commitment to building on the instructional staff’s strengths to improve scholars’ learning. Millicent is a warm demander of equity and excellence. She further believes that parents, teachers, principals and community partners can inspire a desire for learning and influence the trajectory of a child.

While serving as a school improvement officer for 14 elementary schools in Washington, Dr. Borishade supervised and supported seven schools recognized by the State of Washington for improving student achievement in various areas (ELL, Math, ELA, and innovation).

Dr. Borishade’s educational philosophy centers on the notion that all students are capable of learning; therefore, “If students do not learn the way we teach, we must teach the way they learn and educate them as though it is impossible to fail.” Most recently, she served in the role of chief academic (officer) and continues to serve as an adjunct professor at Seattle University, where she teaches aspiring principals. Dr. Borishade looks forward to supporting and manifesting the vision of Dr. Keisha Scarlett by listening, learning and collaborating with the staff in St. Louis Public Schools as the Chief of Schools.

Dr. Borishade earned a Bachelor of Arts in therapeutic recreation from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a Master of Arts in Teaching, and a doctoral degree in Education Leadership from National Louis University in Chicago. Her specific background is on the challenges of leadership, theoretical and relational, ultimately serving as an internal catalyst for change.

She has two professional accomplishments of which she is most proud. As a principal, Dr. Borishade’s school was recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education as a Spotlight School for improving student achievement. Subsequently, when she served as a school improvement officer in Washington, she expanded the Parent Academy for Student Achievement (PASA) program, which helped parents new to the country and district, navigate the educational system and positively change the trajectory for families and scholars she worked with. Later, Dr. Borishade took a delegate from the district, which included parents, principals, and community-based organizations, to Harvard University for a Family and Community Engagement Institute.

Dr. Borishade is also the proud mother of Dr. Alexis Francine AdeShola, who has earned her Master’s in Journalism from Michigan State University and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from City University of Seattle. For recreation, Millicent enjoys parasailing, traveling internationally, rowing, playing softball and volleyball.