Sappington Elementary School principal Ta’Keshia Parker has been named as a recipient of the 2026 Distinguished Principal Award. The principal has served at the Lindbergh elementary school since 2015, where she began as assistant principal.
The award is presented by the St. Louis Suburban Elementary Principal Association (SLSEPA), a branch of the Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals. It recognizes “her innovative leadership, unwavering commitment to equity, and success in cultivating a thriving school culture,” according to a news release from Lindbergh Schools.
“Dr. Parker is extremely deserving of this regional honor,” said Lindbergh Schools superintendent Tony Lake. “She is a strong leader who is committed to academic excellence and genuinely cares about the students, staff and families that she serves. We congratulate her on this outstanding recognition of her leadership.”
This is not Parker’s first time being recognized by SLSEPA. She was named the Exemplary New Principal by the organization in 2020, three years after she stepped into the role of head principal at Sappington.
Parker was nominated for the Distinguished Principal Award by Jodi Oliver, a former colleague and former principal at Lindbergh Schools.
“Dr. Parker is an exemplary leader who embodies vision, collaboration and an unwavering commitment to student and staff success,” Oliver said. “Her innovative leadership and dedication to cultivating a thriving school culture make her a deserving candidate for this distinguished honor.”
As for celebrations of her accomplishment, Parker was honored at a surprise all-school assembly in December. Staff members secretly gathered their classes in the gymnasium and surprised Parker with signs and banners made by the students.
Parker has been lauded for her role at Sappington Elementary. She holds a leadership role on a national scale with the National Association of Elementary School Principals at the Center for Advancing Leadership Fellow for Women in Leadership.
“In this capacity, she contributes to the strategic study of women administrators, helping to create strong mentorship networks and identify strategies to eliminate gender bias in education leadership at the national level,” a Lindbergh news release stated.
Parker was also recognized this year as the Administrator of the Year by the Missouri Society of Health and Physical Educators (MOSHAPE), thanks to her prioritization of the physical and mental health and wellness of her students. For more information about that award, check out prior reporting by The Call.