March 6, 2024 • 9 mins
Dr. Candice Carter-Oliver is the Chief Executive Officer of Confluence Academies, a non-profit public charter school system in St. Louis celebrating its 20th anniversary this school year. With a focus on student and community success, she leads a dynamic team dedicated to inspiring positive change and social justice.
Dr. Carter-Oliver identifies the links between academic achievement in the pre-K through 12 classroom and wider community achievements. The success of schools in an urban environment can make a critical difference for students, families, and the stability of whole neighborhoods.
Dr. Carter-Oliver's extensive experience in urban education and team-based leadership style have driven significant improvements in school performance and student learning. She is known for her ability to balance uncompromising standards with empathy, building trust and fostering partnerships that benefit Confluence students and their communities. Confluence Academies' scores of community partners have quadrupled under Dr. Carter-Oliver's leadership. These impactful partnerships are leading to a healthier, safer, and more educated community.
Prior to her role at Confluence, Dr. Carter-Oliver served in various educational capacities, including assistant superintendent, elementary principal, classroom teacher, and learning coach in districts across the St. Louis region including Saint Louis Public Schools, Normandy Schools Collaborative, and Riverview Gardens School District. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from SIUE, as well as master's, educational specialist, and doctoral degrees from UMSL. Dr. Carter-Oliver holds professional development certificates from Harvard University Graduate School of Education, Washington University Olin Business School, and the National Superintendents Academy.
Dr. Carter-Oliver is actively involved in numerous state and local committees and councils. She co-leads Educators for Gun Safety, the St. Louis Schools Research and Practice Collaborative and the Education Plan Champion Committee, co-chaired the St. Louis Schools Collaborative and the Invest in St. Louis Community College Campaign Committee, serves on the MCPSA (Missouri Charter Public School Association) Government Affairs Advisory Council and the Commissioner of Education Advisory Council, and was a 2021 graduate of FOCUS-St. Louis Women in Leadership. She is a current Leadership St. Louis (LSL Class of 48) participant and on the Board of Directors of the Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) of St. Louis.
Dr. Carter-Oliver identifies the links between academic achievement in the pre-K through 12 classroom and wider community achievements. The success of schools in an urban environment can make a critical difference for students, families, and the stability of whole neighborhoods.
Dr. Carter-Oliver's extensive experience in urban education and team-based leadership style have driven significant improvements in school performance and student learning. She is known for her ability to balance uncompromising standards with empathy, building trust and fostering partnerships that benefit Confluence students and their communities. Confluence Academies' scores of community partners have quadrupled under Dr. Carter-Oliver's leadership. These impactful partnerships are leading to a healthier, safer, and more educated community.
Prior to her role at Confluence, Dr. Carter-Oliver served in various educational capacities, including assistant superintendent, elementary principal, classroom teacher, and learning coach in districts across the St. Louis region including Saint Louis Public Schools, Normandy Schools Collaborative, and Riverview Gardens School District. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from SIUE, as well as master's, educational specialist, and doctoral degrees from UMSL. Dr. Carter-Oliver holds professional development certificates from Harvard University Graduate School of Education, Washington University Olin Business School, and the National Superintendents Academy.
Dr. Carter-Oliver is actively involved in numerous state and local committees and councils. She co-leads Educators for Gun Safety, the St. Louis Schools Research and Practice Collaborative and the Education Plan Champion Committee, co-chaired the St. Louis Schools Collaborative and the Invest in St. Louis Community College Campaign Committee, serves on the MCPSA (Missouri Charter Public School Association) Government Affairs Advisory Council and the Commissioner of Education Advisory Council, and was a 2021 graduate of FOCUS-St. Louis Women in Leadership. She is a current Leadership St. Louis (LSL Class of 48) participant and on the Board of Directors of the Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) of St. Louis.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
Hey, ladies and gentlemen, reallypleased in proor to introduce doctor Candace Carter
Oliver. She is the chief executiveOfficer of Confluence Academies, which is a
nonprofit public charter school system in SaintLouis twentieth anniversary and one of the things
that really stands out to me,doctor Candas Carter Oliver, is normally in
(00:20):
schools you don't hear the title chiefexecutive officer. This says everything about really
how this school is operated, howit's overseen, how it's developed, the
whole operation itself, not as muchlike a business because you still are educating
children. But I think that's reallykind of cool that there's a chief executive
(00:42):
officer of a school. That's agood start right there. Yeah. Yeah,
well, I will say that Iam the first permanent CEO of Confluence
Academies. It's a charter school systemin the city of Saint Louis, which
is where charter schools primarily are,and that's really built out of providing opportunity
and and just additional resources to familiesthat live in the city. And so
(01:04):
when you think about school choice orjust giving options to families, Confluence stepped
in and said, yes, wewant to be a part of that mission.
So I came on roughly about sevenyears ago out of a strong strategic
plan to bring about change and educationalopportunity for kids. And so we've been
around now twenty years, which reallysays a lot because there have been some
(01:27):
charter systems to not make it thatlong. And so for us, we've
grown. We've grown from one schoolto now five, roughly twenty six hundred
students. We're in North City,we're in South City, we're in Midtown,
we're in the central part of thecity, and we come in and
we provide opportunities for children. Andthere are families obviously that choose us because
(01:49):
they really tell us they like it, they like what they're receiving, it's
quality, They know we care andwe are helping support their child. Saint
Louis do without confluence because with somebody, some of the schools shuttered and the
old alternaty might be to go toa school way out of the neighborhood or
out of the area. So thiskeeps children educated in their environment, in
(02:15):
their area, where their parents cango to whatever meetings need to go to
without driving. Twenty miles outside ofthe city, and the educational opportunities,
the rich educational opportunities coming from peoplethat you guys have on the staff,
which is unlike maybe some public schoolsor some schools, the charter school system
is more like a business. Soyou know, quality is high, performances
(02:39):
is required, and that's all partof confluence. Absolutely, there is quite
a bit of accountability, I'll say, And so while some there's been some
myths out there relative to charters,but there's quite a bit of accountability from
both a sponsor and from the state, because if you're going to do something
and do it in a way differentthan others, then you've got to show,
(03:01):
and you've got to show more regularlythat it's working. And so twenty
years in some ways and the continualgrowth says that there are families that are
choosing us and saying we like it, we want to stay, we're invested,
and our staff is saying the samething. So that speaks volumes.
Yeah, most definitely. Now Iknow this is called CEOs. You should
(03:23):
know. So I know a littlebit about confluence, and we'll get into
it a little bit more. ButI want to know about doctor Cannis Carter
Oliver and where you came from andhow did you get into this. Yeah,
well, I am a native ofSaint Louis, so I grew up
in University City and went to UMSULSand Siue pursued undergraduate and graduate degrees obviously,
(03:49):
and so you know, there issomething to say about staying within your
community and coming back and serving inyour community, and I've just chosen to
do that. I've had experiences outsideof Saint Louis and Missouri, however,
I've always just chosen to come back, and I appreciate home in a way.
And you know, there is alot of research that shows actually most
(04:11):
of us don't go very far orwe eventually come back and serve in communities
that we are most comfortable with orsee most often. And so that's just
been my journey and I enjoy whatI do. I wake up every day
fortunate to be able to come into work with a team of people.
So I wouldn't do this work orcouldn't do this work without a team.
(04:33):
And we come in and we rollup our sleeves and we do what's best
for children. And I think that'stoo unique for confluence and that we don't
seem to have a lot of bureaucracyin the way of getting things done for
families. So if it's oh,we see we have a tutoring need,
let's make sure the child can tutoringneed. Oh we need after school programming
(04:55):
because we need we have families thatneed really care and quality programming to see
six PM. Let's make sure thatthat happens across all campuses. Oh,
we found that we have some studentsthat they don't know how to swim,
you know, and so the numberof students, particularly black and brown children
who don't know how to swim.We want to bring in swimming lessons.
So we partner with the why duringthe summer and every second grader gets a
(05:17):
free swimming gets free swimming lessons forthe summer. We really come in and
look at the whole child, andreally it's the famili's need and say how
can we connect and make a betteropportunity. So you mentioned, you know,
being in this space and not havingto travel far, because sometimes that's
what happens. It's like, oh, you've got to go west, or
(05:39):
you've got to go south, oryou've got to just get someplace else to
have quality or you know, haveexperiences for your children, and that shouldn't
be You should be able to havethat in your radius, wherever you are
and wherever you live, despite theresources you may have. There should just
be a standard of quality of excellencefor all kids. Yeah, how did
I know you you're from you citybecause I'm from your city too. So
(06:01):
I'm class of eighty one city high. Okay, that's so. I think
you city people are kind of likeferbies. We can't know. Yes,
I'm a uth city High. I'mpast eighty one, but yes, we
just have this sense of pride.Yeah yeah, and community rich driven effort
(06:23):
and that is and I say thatthat's regional. You know, while I
love you city obviously, I havecome in and I'm working in the city
of Saint Louis, it's really aboutSaint Louis as a whole. Yeah,
right right, I love you citytoo, my goodness, graces and a
great, great experience there. Sowhen you say nonprofit, so is there
a quasi private partnership? So doyou need to get out into the community
(06:46):
and have private edities that come forwardand support the schools. So we're no,
we're a non for profit in thatwe we operate like a traditional public
school and that we receive state andfederal funds and so our board, we
have a board of directors. Theyare not paid, you know, and
it is a volunteer effort that theybring to us. And so we operate
(07:12):
in a very similar space in thatat the same time, because of the
way we're structured, we are ableto receive philanthropic dollars. We do have
a foundation, so we do welcomecontribution, and so that's helpful because that
has we have very great, uniquepartners that come in and really help us
do the work. And I couldname many of them, but from supporting
(07:36):
you know, resources like uniforms andfood pantries and after school programming and just
you know, field trips and allof those things that help us do the
work. And by now you probablyhave alumni, yes, right, we
do. We do, which isawesome. In fact, we have alumni
that we even employ at times tocome back. So some of our college
(07:57):
students come back, you know,and they are our summer it tech folks
and summer curriculum organizing. They doa lot of that. So it's nice
to see our high schoolers who havegraduated come back and serve and we're able
to you know, employ them.And then just in general, we have
others that have come in and workedin our HR department that are in different
(08:18):
two year, four year colleges aroundthe around the States. So it's nice
to just see the success and themcome back to their communities and serve.
Definitely developing a proud tradition, socongratulations on continuing it as well. Yes,
doctor Canabis, Carter Oliver, thankyou very much. How can people
find out more about Confluence? Yes, so Confluence. I think the best
(08:41):
way to find out about us ison our website www. Dot Confluence Academies
dot org. There all of ourfive schools are listed, our mission,
our vision, and just really youget to know who we are uniquely and
the mission that we have and allof the successes that we have. And
then we're also on you know,your social media sites all of those as
well that give you really a niceglimpse into who we are and which is
(09:07):
really all about community, all aboutachievement, all about providing a collective impact
in the city of Saint Louis.Yeah, from one to five schools,
I'm sure you all are considered ablessing by so many families and students.
So thanks for being with us,Thank you so much, and congrats on
a great place. Thank you,thank you, thank you,
Hey, ladies and gentlemen, reallypleased in proor to introduce doctor Candace Carter
Oliver. She is the chief executiveOfficer of Confluence Academies, which is a
nonprofit public charter school system in SaintLouis twentieth anniversary and one of the things
that really stands out to me,doctor Candas Carter Oliver, is normally in
(00:20):
schools you don't hear the title chiefexecutive officer. This says everything about really
how this school is operated, howit's overseen, how it's developed, the
whole operation itself, not as muchlike a business because you still are educating
children. But I think that's reallykind of cool that there's a chief executive
(00:42):
officer of a school. That's agood start right there. Yeah. Yeah,
well, I will say that Iam the first permanent CEO of Confluence
Academies. It's a charter school systemin the city of Saint Louis, which
is where charter schools primarily are,and that's really built out of providing opportunity
and and just additional resources to familiesthat live in the city. And so
(01:04):
when you think about school choice orjust giving options to families, Confluence stepped
in and said, yes, wewant to be a part of that mission.
So I came on roughly about sevenyears ago out of a strong strategic
plan to bring about change and educationalopportunity for kids. And so we've been
around now twenty years, which reallysays a lot because there have been some
(01:27):
charter systems to not make it thatlong. And so for us, we've
grown. We've grown from one schoolto now five, roughly twenty six hundred
students. We're in North City,we're in South City, we're in Midtown,
we're in the central part of thecity, and we come in and
we provide opportunities for children. Andthere are families obviously that choose us because
(01:49):
they really tell us they like it, they like what they're receiving, it's
quality, They know we care andwe are helping support their child. Saint
Louis do without confluence because with somebody, some of the schools shuttered and the
old alternaty might be to go toa school way out of the neighborhood or
out of the area. So thiskeeps children educated in their environment, in
(02:15):
their area, where their parents cango to whatever meetings need to go to
without driving. Twenty miles outside ofthe city, and the educational opportunities,
the rich educational opportunities coming from peoplethat you guys have on the staff,
which is unlike maybe some public schoolsor some schools, the charter school system
is more like a business. Soyou know, quality is high, performances
(02:39):
is required, and that's all partof confluence. Absolutely, there is quite
a bit of accountability, I'll say, And so while some there's been some
myths out there relative to charters,but there's quite a bit of accountability from
both a sponsor and from the state, because if you're going to do something
and do it in a way differentthan others, then you've got to show,
(03:01):
and you've got to show more regularlythat it's working. And so twenty
years in some ways and the continualgrowth says that there are families that are
choosing us and saying we like it, we want to stay, we're invested,
and our staff is saying the samething. So that speaks volumes.
Yeah, most definitely. Now Iknow this is called CEOs. You should
(03:23):
know. So I know a littlebit about confluence, and we'll get into
it a little bit more. ButI want to know about doctor Cannis Carter
Oliver and where you came from andhow did you get into this. Yeah,
well, I am a native ofSaint Louis, so I grew up
in University City and went to UMSULSand Siue pursued undergraduate and graduate degrees obviously,
(03:49):
and so you know, there issomething to say about staying within your
community and coming back and serving inyour community, and I've just chosen to
do that. I've had experiences outsideof Saint Louis and Missouri, however,
I've always just chosen to come back, and I appreciate home in a way.
And you know, there is alot of research that shows actually most
(04:11):
of us don't go very far orwe eventually come back and serve in communities
that we are most comfortable with orsee most often. And so that's just
been my journey and I enjoy whatI do. I wake up every day
fortunate to be able to come into work with a team of people.
So I wouldn't do this work orcouldn't do this work without a team.
(04:33):
And we come in and we rollup our sleeves and we do what's best
for children. And I think that'stoo unique for confluence and that we don't
seem to have a lot of bureaucracyin the way of getting things done for
families. So if it's oh,we see we have a tutoring need,
let's make sure the child can tutoringneed. Oh we need after school programming
(04:55):
because we need we have families thatneed really care and quality programming to see
six PM. Let's make sure thatthat happens across all campuses. Oh,
we found that we have some studentsthat they don't know how to swim,
you know, and so the numberof students, particularly black and brown children
who don't know how to swim.We want to bring in swimming lessons.
So we partner with the why duringthe summer and every second grader gets a
(05:17):
free swimming gets free swimming lessons forthe summer. We really come in and
look at the whole child, andreally it's the famili's need and say how
can we connect and make a betteropportunity. So you mentioned, you know,
being in this space and not havingto travel far, because sometimes that's
what happens. It's like, oh, you've got to go west, or
(05:39):
you've got to go south, oryou've got to just get someplace else to
have quality or you know, haveexperiences for your children, and that shouldn't
be You should be able to havethat in your radius, wherever you are
and wherever you live, despite theresources you may have. There should just
be a standard of quality of excellencefor all kids. Yeah, how did
I know you you're from you citybecause I'm from your city too. So
(06:01):
I'm class of eighty one city high. Okay, that's so. I think
you city people are kind of likeferbies. We can't know. Yes,
I'm a uth city High. I'mpast eighty one, but yes, we
just have this sense of pride.Yeah yeah, and community rich driven effort
(06:23):
and that is and I say thatthat's regional. You know, while I
love you city obviously, I havecome in and I'm working in the city
of Saint Louis, it's really aboutSaint Louis as a whole. Yeah,
right right, I love you citytoo, my goodness, graces and a
great, great experience there. Sowhen you say nonprofit, so is there
a quasi private partnership? So doyou need to get out into the community
(06:46):
and have private edities that come forwardand support the schools. So we're no,
we're a non for profit in thatwe we operate like a traditional public
school and that we receive state andfederal funds and so our board, we
have a board of directors. Theyare not paid, you know, and
it is a volunteer effort that theybring to us. And so we operate
(07:12):
in a very similar space in thatat the same time, because of the
way we're structured, we are ableto receive philanthropic dollars. We do have
a foundation, so we do welcomecontribution, and so that's helpful because that
has we have very great, uniquepartners that come in and really help us
do the work. And I couldname many of them, but from supporting
(07:36):
you know, resources like uniforms andfood pantries and after school programming and just
you know, field trips and allof those things that help us do the
work. And by now you probablyhave alumni, yes, right, we
do. We do, which isawesome. In fact, we have alumni
that we even employ at times tocome back. So some of our college
(07:57):
students come back, you know,and they are our summer it tech folks
and summer curriculum organizing. They doa lot of that. So it's nice
to see our high schoolers who havegraduated come back and serve and we're able
to you know, employ them.And then just in general, we have
others that have come in and workedin our HR department that are in different
(08:18):
two year, four year colleges aroundthe around the States. So it's nice
to just see the success and themcome back to their communities and serve.
Definitely developing a proud tradition, socongratulations on continuing it as well. Yes,
doctor Canabis, Carter Oliver, thankyou very much. How can people
find out more about Confluence? Yes, so Confluence. I think the best
(08:41):
way to find out about us ison our website www. Dot Confluence Academies
dot org. There all of ourfive schools are listed, our mission,
our vision, and just really youget to know who we are uniquely and
the mission that we have and allof the successes that we have. And
then we're also on you know,your social media sites all of those as
well that give you really a niceglimpse into who we are and which is
(09:07):
really all about community, all aboutachievement, all about providing a collective impact
in the city of Saint Louis.Yeah, from one to five schools,
I'm sure you all are considered ablessing by so many families and students.
So thanks for being with us,Thank you so much, and congrats on
a great place. Thank you,thank you, thank you,
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