JOHN KILPER

I am a St. Louis native, a Parkway alum (North), a Parkway parent, and a longtime Parkway supporter and volunteer.

My connection to Parkway began when I moved into the district the summer before fourth grade. I attended Ross Elementary, Northeast Middle, and graduated from Parkway North, where I balanced academics, sports, and playing violin in the orchestra.

After graduating, I earned Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and History from Tulane University, a law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and have practiced law in St. Louis for over 14 years. I currently work as in-house counsel for The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District.

My wife, Michelle—also a Parkway North alum—and I moved back into the district in 2011 to give our children the same exceptional education and opportunities we experienced. We are now the proud parents of a third grader and fifth grader who attend McKelvey. 

As both a Parkway parent and alum, I have been deeply involved in supporting the district through various leadership and volunteer roles. Since 2010, I have served on the Board of Directors for the Parkway Alumni Association (PAA), where I held the positions of President-Elect from 2011 to 2013 and President from 2013 to 2015. The PAA plays a vital role in enriching the Parkway community through programs that support students, teachers, staff, and alumni through various grant programs and other initiatives. Through my work with the PAA, I have gained valuable experience in board governance, consensus-building, and decision-making.

I have also been a volunteer member of Parkway’s Steering Committee since 2016, which plays a key role in shaping the district's strategic vision and setting meaningful and measurable goals for the district. Most recently, the Steering Committee's work has focused on the Project Parkway 3.0 initiative, Parkway’s strategic plan for 2024 to 2029. As a member of the Board, I will work to ensure the district remains committed to achieving the goals and objectives outlined in this plan.

In addition, I volunteered with the committee supporting the district’s last two bond issues, including the recent Prop. S issue, which passed with over 76% community approval.  I have also presented to the business incubator strand of Parkway's Spark Experiential Learning Program, working with students interested in business law related topics. 

The experience I have gained by serving in these various roles has provided me with a comprehensive understanding of Parkway’s strengths, challenges, and opportunities, which I am eager to leverage as a Board member in service to our schools and the Parkway community.