30 Leaders in their thirties Carla Leggett is principal at Lemasters Elementary School in the Riverview Gardens School District. Carla is responsible for developing and implementing policies, programs, curriculum, activities and budgets to promote the educational development of students and the professional development of staff members. Carla is a doctoral student at Missouri Baptist University, and a member of the Xi Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., the Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the Association for Curriculum and Development, and the American Educational Research Association. Carla has initiated a fifth-grade Leadership Academy and P.A.W. program that has been recognized with the 2014 National and International Promising Practices in Character Education award. Under her leadership, Lemasters Elementary has been recognized with Riverview Gardens School District’s Attendance Award. Carla has received the Riverview Gardens’ Next Generation Rookie of The Year Award. Riverview Gardens School District is a member of North County Inc. Kori L. Logan is a math and engineering teacher at Hazelwood East High School. Kori is the only female high school engineering teacher in the Hazelwood School District. She recently entered her newly formed robotics team in the US FIRST St. Louis Regional Competition. Kori serves on many district committees including the Hazelwood Next Technology Committee, which is tasked with giving students in the Hazelwood School District the most relevant and up-to-date technology to enhance their educational experience, the Hazelwood STEM Committee, and Assessment of Literacy and Math Curriculum committee. She has been Teacher of the Quarter, an honor bestowed upon her by the students of the Hazelwood East High School. Kori also serves at the cheerleading coach. She is also a member of Southern Mission Missionary Baptist Church, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., and Kappa Delta Pi International Educational Honor Society. Hazelwood School District is a member of North County Inc. Mike Lorenz is the art teacher, Student Council adviser and assistant football coach at Lutheran High School North. As Student Council adviser, Mike assists the students in planning and running a variety of activities, service projects and spirit events. Mike takes pride in helping young people bring their ideas to life. Whether it is working with a student on a submission for an art show or guiding Student Council members through the process of planning and executing a new student activity, Mike loves seeing kids have a chance to maximize their potential. He organizes and curates an art show for North Side Lutheran elementary students, and has participated in the Missouri Special Olympics Polar Plunge for the last 7 years with Student Council members. Mike has received the 10 year Student Council Adviser Award from the Missouri Association of Student Councils. Lutheran High School North is a member of North County Inc. DeAndria Marie Player is a special education administrator for the Special School District. DeAndria plans, organizes, directs, coordinates and implements the operations and programs in Jennings in the area of special education. DeAndria has participated on the interview committee to hire educators, where she has contributed to North County by helping bring in teachers who are positively impacting student achievement as well as actively participating within the community. DeAndria has also provided high school students with information and resources that will prepare them for college. DeAndria serves on the Board of Directors for Kids Under Twenty One, as a member of the St. Louis Association of Black Administrators, and as a parish council member of St. Nicholas Catholic Church. She volunteers at community back-to-school events, works on food pantry and clothing drives, and tutors students with special needs. DeAndria received the 2008 Special Ambassador Award from the Special School District. Andrea Purnell is communications and artistic director at the Missouri Institute of Mental Health at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, where she uses her background in the arts to educate the community on matters related to mental health. Andrea previously had a successful career as an actress, writer, director and stage manager. Andrea directed UMSL: 50 Years of Fulfilling the Dream. Her writing credits include, Depression, 10
Whose Disease Is It Anyway, which she produced for the stage in a program designed to match the actor and the mental health professional in addressing mental illness. Andrea’s volunteer work includes community theater performances at the Florissant Valley Terry M. Fischer Theatre. Andrea was named to the 2014 ALIVE Magazine Buzz List, and received the Grand Center Visionary Award for Emerging Artist in 2013. Andrea is pursuing a certification in sign language with an emphasis in deaf theater. The University of Missouri-St. Louis is a member of North County Inc. Melissa Rakers is branch manager for the New Halls Ferry office of Neighbors Credit Union. Melissa works toward the financial success, direction and growth of the branch while maintaining optimum service. Melissa is responsible for community involvement to develop new business, and enrich the communities the credit union serves. She works hard to instill the credit union philosophy “people helping people” in her employees. Melissa serves as a board member and on committees for the Greater North County Chamber of Commerce, and serves on the Business and Financial Management Advisory Committee for North Technical High School. Melissa’s contributions include giving high school presentations and providing a financial literacy program to teach youths the importance of making good financial decisions. Melissa works with North Technical High School and conductes mock interviews with students to help them sharpen their job search skills. Melissa is currently seeking her degree in Business Management from Lindenwood University. The Greater North County Chamber, Lindenwood University and North Tech High are members of North County Inc. William R. Ray, Jr. is special assistant to the St. Louis County executive. William works with officials to establish relationships and develop policies, offers support to governments and non-profit organizations, and assists business owners in working with local government. He managed much of the community relations effort around the Bridgeton/Westlake Landfill issue, and helped enlist county services to remove debris from tornados in 2013. William is chairman of the Berkeley Economic Development Sales Tax Commission, a commissioner on the TIF Commission for St. Louis County, and a board member of St. Louis Jefferson Solid Waste District Commission, North County Inc., and North County Churches United. William serves as a member of the UMSL Community Advisory Committee, Clear Channel Advisory Board, MoDOT Community Advisory Group, and Division of Youth Services Advisory Board. He received the Young Leader Award in 2013 from the St. Louis American Foundation. William has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and with Division of Youth Services. St. Louis County is a member of North County Inc. Miriam Roccia is assistant dean of student affairs at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Miriam is responsible for providing oversight and direction for campus life initiatives including new student programs, student life and organizations, residential life and housing, and the Millennium Student Center, and auxiliary services. Her work coordinating student community service initiatives on campus includes ongoing relationships with Beyond Housing and Girls Inc. Miriam is proud that her work has given UMSL students the chance to make a difference in the community outside of the campus. She is a member of the Association of College Unions International and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. In 2011, following the tornado that struck Berkeley, Miriam assisted with a drive on campus to collect goods needed for cleanup, and gave her efforts to clean up debris. University of Missouri-St. Louis is a member of North County Inc. Nathan Sykes is branch manager at the U.S. Bank Jennings location. His duties include managing the daily sales, service and operations. Realizing the economic disparity and lack of community involvement between residents and small business owners, Nathan and his team have focused on helping foster a relationship between the two. His contributions include the promotion of small businesses in the North County community with the Small Business Partner of the Month/Week Table display. The table allows small business owners to showcase the products and services they offer. Nathan is a member of the Greater North County Chamber of Commerce, and is involved with United Way. Nathan
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