About Margo

Margo McNeil graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Art Education and later received her Masters in Art Education from the same university. Immediately after graduation, Margo began her teaching career in a suburban Cincinnati Middle School and taught art there for five years. She and her husband, Jim, then moved back to Missouri where they began their family.

In Missouri Margo began her work as a free lance artist and a community activist. She started teaching at Ferguson Florissant School District and maintained an impeccable record in her 20+ years of teaching. Throughout the years, Margo's students have received numerous awards in the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Picture the Music contest and recognition in other school district events. Additionally, under her direction, students created school-wide ceramic murals, with the most recent completed in April, 2008, at Parker Road Elementary.

Margo successfully ran for the St. Louis Community College Board of Trustees in 2006. As a Trustee, Margo is responsible for approving the approximately $140 million budget and collaborating on the strategic plan for the college. During her time on the Board of Trustees, a new chancellor was hired and the college passed its national accreditation – a process that happens every ten years.

Margo has been involved in our community's civic activities for over 20 years. An active MNEA member, Margo served many years on the Legislative Committee and as the Government Relations (GR) Chair for the North County area. In 2002, Margo was the Ferguson Florissant coordinator for the "Kids First" Rally in Jefferson City and recruited 200 people from her school district to lobby for increased public education funding. As the St. Louis Coordinator of the Women's Vote Project in 1984, she led efforts to register over 8000 new voters. Additionally, Margo has been an active member of NOW and was a founding member of Missouri Women's Network.

Margo was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives for District 78 in 2008. She served on the following committees: Higher Education, Education Appropriations, Health Care Policy, Children and Families, and Ways and Means. Rep McNeil seeks re-election in 2010.

A resident of North County for 31 years, Margo is originally from Hannibal, Missouri. Margo has been married for 34 years to Jim McNeil, who worked as an electrical engineer with McDonnell Douglas and is currently an adjunct professor. Margo and Jim have raised three successful.