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YWCA Metro St. Louis Leader Stacy Johnson Named One of St. Louis Business Journal’s 2025 Most Influential Business Women

YWCA Metro St. Louis Leader Stacy Johnson Named One of St. Louis Business Journal’s 2025 Most Influential Business Women

June 13, 2025 | YWCA Metro St. Louis proudly announces that Stacy E. Johnson, M.Ed., Chief Early Education Officer and Head Start Director, has been named one of the St. Louis Business Journal’s 2025 Most Influential Business Women.

This prestigious award recognizes 25 trailblazing women making a significant impact across business, nonprofit, and civic sectors. Johnson’s leadership has transformed early childhood education in the region, and her recognition underscores the power of purpose-driven leadership in building stronger communities.

As head of Missouri’s largest direct Head Start services provider, Johnson oversees an expansive program that serves more than 1,550 children and pregnant mothers annually across ten YWCA-operated centers and twelve partner sites. Her 21-year tenure has brought more than $213 million in federal and non-federal investment into the St. Louis region, including $1.3 million to open the Bessie T. Draper Early Head Start and Pregnant Women’s Center.

Under Johnson’s leadership, YWCA Metro St. Louis received the prestigious National Head Start Association Program of Excellence accreditation (2022-2027)—an honor achieved by fewer than 1% of Head Start programs nationwide.

Recognizing the region’s child care workforce crisis, Johnson created Successful Pathways®, a Department of Labor registered apprenticeship program that provides paid, on-the-job training to aspiring early educators—many of whom are underemployed Head Start parents. In just two years, this innovative model helped YWCA fully staff its classrooms and is now being adopted by providers across the state. Successful Pathways® has garnered numerous honors, including the FOCUS St. Louis “What’s Right with the Region” award, and national recognition from YWCA USA and the State of Missouri.

“Stacy’s visionary leadership has reshaped how early education is delivered and staffed in our region,” said Dr. Cheryl Watkins, MBA, President and CEO of YWCA Metro St. Louis. “Her deep commitment to equity, innovation, and family-centered support embodies YWCA’s mission to eliminate racism and empower women. We are honored to celebrate her achievements.” This marks the second time a YWCA Metro St. Louis leader has been recognized, with Watkins named to the St. Louis Business Journal’s 2023 Most Influential Business Women class.

Johnson also serves on multiple local and state boards, including the Missouri Association for the Education of Young Children (MOAEYC), and is an active civic and faith leader. She was named Head Start Director of the Year for Region VII in 2021 and continues to champion scalable solutions that center children, families, and workforce empowerment.

The St. Louis Business Journal will honor Johnson and fellow awardees in its August 1 special section and at a luncheon on August 7 at the Four Seasons St. Louis.

ABOUT YWCA

YWCA Metro St. Louis is the region’s leading advocate for the safety, security and stability of women and children, serving more than 10,000 women and families annually. The mission of YWCA is eliminating racism and empowering women. YWCA offers crisis services and rapid re-housing for victims of sexual and domestic violence; services for pregnant women, Head Start and Early Head Start early childhood education; career readiness and economic empowerment services for all clients; and racial justice educational programs.

YWCA 24/7 CRISIS HELP LINE 314.531.7273