My name is Dr. Erica Karius. I am originally from the St. Louis area. I moved around from Chicago, to Southern California and back to St. Louis over the course of my educational career. I graduated from Illinois State University with a bachelor's in Special Education. I completed my first master's in Interdisciplinary Studies of Curriculum and Instruction from National Lewis University in Chicago. I completed my second master's in Educational Leadership and Administration from Missouri Baptist University. I received my doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration from Maryville University in 2020.  I currently work as an Assistant Principal at Hazelwood Central High School.