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ST. LOUIS — The director of safety and security at St. Louis Public Schools has resigned, the second leader to depart the role in less than a year.

Terrell Baker, who spent 20 years in law enforcement, security and counterterrorism for the U.S. Navy, worked at SLPS for eight months

Baker did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

“I know that job is overwhelming,” said Germaine Yancy, who was a safety officer with SLPS from 2018 to 2024 and communicates regularly with Baker. “I talked with some of the officers. (Baker) was moving the department in the right direction.”

Baker has taken a job in emergency operations with the Missouri School Boards’ Association, . Baker previously worked with the association for more than a year before coming to SLPS. He also served as director of safety and security at Lindbergh School District from 2019 to 2023.

As safety director at SLPS, Baker replaced Col. DeAndre Davis, a St. Louis native and former Vashon High School basketball coach who resigned last October. Soon after, Vashon’s security team staged a walkout at the school in support of Davis.

Davis was part of a wave of departures after the SLPS board fired former Superintendent Keisha Scarlett for financial mismanagement and promoted her deputy, Millicent Borishade, to the top spot.

The job opening for head of security comes three weeks before school starts. District spokesman Charles Poole said SLPS will recruit “a qualified and skilled professional to fill this critical role” that oversees dozens of school-based and mobile security officers and a $10 million budget. SLPS has a discipline rate of three incidents per 100 students, nearly double the Missouri average according to state data.

“We thank Mr. Baker for his service to the district during his tenure,” Poole said in a statement. “Our priority remains ensuring the continued safety and security of our students and staff.”

Borishade faces numerous challenges at the start of her second school year leading the district. Staff and students from seven schools will be relocated because of tornado damage to their buildings. A new transportation vendor is expected to resolve years of canceled and missed bus routes. The state’s year-long audit of SLPS is expected to be released soon, all as the district grapples with declining enrollment and an oversupply of aging buildings.