Tanisha Stanciel recognized for early childhood leadership in St. Louis

By AI, Created 4:44 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Tanisha Stanciel, Ed.D., principal of Maplewood-Richmond Heights Early Childhood Center in St. Louis, is being recognized for leadership centered on early intervention, family engagement and equity. Her career spans 16 years in special education, student services and school administration, with results that included major literacy gains at Arch Community School.

Why it matters: - Dr. Tanisha Stanciel’s work focuses on early childhood support, which can shape long-term academic, emotional and social outcomes. - Her leadership highlights the role of family engagement and proactive intervention in helping students facing adversity. - Her career reflects a broader push to build school cultures where students and families feel supported, especially in urban and charter settings.

What happened: - Tanisha Stanciel, Ed.D., principal of Maplewood-Richmond Heights Early Childhood Center in St. Louis, was recognized by Influential Women. - Dr. Stanciel is in her fourth year leading the early childhood center. - Her career spans 16 years across special education, general education, student services and school administration. - She began her education career in 2011 after earning a degree in public relations from Missouri Western State University. - She earned a Doctor of Education degree in 2025. - She also holds an Education Specialist degree in K-12 administration and superintendent certification.

The details: - Dr. Stanciel started as a paraprofessional in an alternative education center, where she became interested in supporting students with major academic and behavioral challenges. - She later served as a special education teacher, special education process coordinator, director of student services, assistant principal and principal. - Her experience includes work in both charter schools and traditional public school districts. - At Arch Community School, Dr. Stanciel and her team raised student literacy rates from 10% to 60%. - The same school reached top-20 statewide growth rankings in mathematics. - Her doctoral research examined the home-to-prison pipeline and the role of family engagement in improving student outcomes. - Dr. Stanciel said mentors including Dr. Jana Schaefer Starwalt, Bill Schiller, Dr. Lisa Small and superintendent Dr. Bonita Jamison helped shape her path. - Dr. Schaefer Starwalt encouraged her to pursue administrative certification and later a doctorate. - Dr. Stanciel said her values include resilience, authenticity, service to the community and making sure every child feels supported and valued. - She said students are more likely to succeed when at least one person in their “village” cares about their educational journey. - Outside of work, Dr. Stanciel values family, community, cooking, travel and supporting her son through his senior year. - Dr. Stanciel lives with alopecia areata and says embracing her natural self is part of how she models confidence and authenticity. - More information

Between the lines: - The recognition positions Dr. Stanciel as part of a larger conversation about how schools can move from reactive discipline to early support systems. - Her emphasis on mentorship suggests leadership development is not just about credentials, but also about access to guidance and opportunity. - Her focus on urban and charter school instability points to structural challenges that can undercut progress even when academic gains are clear.

What’s next: - Dr. Stanciel plans to continue building school environments where students facing adversity feel safe, respected and capable of succeeding. - Her continued focus on family engagement and early intervention suggests future work will stay centered on prevention rather than remediation. - She aims to keep encouraging young women in education to pursue credentials, experiences and support networks that open leadership pathways.

The bottom line: - Dr. Tanisha Stanciel’s recognition underscores how early intervention, strong relationships and school-family partnerships can drive better outcomes for young children and the communities around them.