Who is Bruce Schneider?

Bruce Schneider, long-time St.Louis area Scholastic Journalism Adviser of  both yearbook and newspaper, grew up near Mark Twain’s home in Palmyra, MO, met his wife Karen, while studying Journalism at Mizzou, all laudable sources he would convey to the thousands of Mehlville H.S. and Parkway South H.S. students, where he dedicated his life to making publications actually enjoyable in both production and publishing. When he died in the Spring of 2004 after a long illness, he was eulogized by Post Dispatch, Webster-Kirkwood Times writers and publishers, Parkway Administrators,  teachers, and former students.

Bruce also taught more than 20 years of summer ‘camps’, (15 consecutive years on SMW faculty) and held every officer position for SSP, including president and director of more than four Fall SSP Conferences, and three annual Conferences. He was integral when St. Louis (SSP) hosted  NSPA/JEA National Conventions; 1997, 1990 1984, and 1979. He was an MIPA officer and crusaded often for passage of a Missouri Student Expression Bill to benefit all students. He often organized advisers in efforts to amend or rescind the Hazelwood ramifications. With MIPA officers he spearheaded the current Journalism Accreditation programs growing at Mizzou, and Webster U. Among his numerous adviser and civic awards, he was named MIPA Teacher of the Year in 2001. 

When Bruce humbly was bestowed hard-earned congratulations, he would respond with his big gracious smile and boisterous laugh, “Oh send that to my mom back in Palmyra, she loves to collect those things.” 

Bruce and ‘college sweetheart,’ as he would refer to Karen, his wife, raised two boys in Webster Groves, MO, where he was elected to the School Board(1994-1998), was a Boy Scout Master, church deacon, and called himself the’manager’ of his sons’ musical passions. Karen, a well-respected Montessori teacher, and his sons are also in education.