Long before Dr. Demetrius Adams became the principal of Hazelwood West High School, he was a student struggling to read and wondering whether he could keep up with his classmates.
Adams had an individualized education plan and said St. Louis Public Schools educators described his academic challenges as a “severe learning disability.” But after entering the voluntary desegregation program at Lindbergh High School, teachers began pushing him beyond what he thought he could do.
“I found out that I’m not a slow learner,” Adams said. “I’m a learner that needed to be challenged and I needed people to believe in me and have faith in me.”…