Our Story
Empowering Educators, Inspiring Students
Founded by Sanford (Sandy) N. McDonnell, a leading advocate of character education, CharacterPlus has a 30-year history of partnering with schools committed to enriching the whole child. We provide the resources and training to create caring, high-achieving school environments where young people are inspired to become engaged, upstanding citizens who want to make a positive impact in the world.
50+
Districts
500+
Schools
16k+
Teachers
Our Mission
We cultivate positive character development through education.
Our Vision
We create a positive culture and climate for all people to flourish.
Our Staff
Leadership
Mike Park
Chief Executive Officer
Kristen Pelster, Ed.D.
CharacterPlus® Chief Programming Officer
Nicole Diehl
Executive Director, Character.Org Schools of Character
Programming Directors
Michael Barolak, MSW
CharacterPlus® Programming Director
Debbie Brandt, Ed.S.
CharacterPlus Way Director, Missouri School of Character Coordinator
Lynn Clapp, M.S.
CharacterPlus® Director of Culture Carriers
Diana Dodson
Character.Org Promising Practices Director
Priscilla Frost, Ed.S.
CharacterPlus® Programming Logistics Director, CharacterPlus® Director of TACE
Emilie Johnson, Ph.D.
Laws of Life Director, Schools of Character Senior Consultant
Susan Maynor, MA, EdSp
CharacterPlus® Director of Creative Learning
Roxanna Mechem, Ed.S.
CharacterPlus® Director of District & Community Partnerships
Debbie Rusert
CharacterPlus® Way Director, Missouri School of Character Coordinator
Chris Shirley
Director of Schools of Character Academy (SOCA)
Julie Sperry, Ed.D.
CharacterPlus® Director of Character-Based Leadership
Programming Support
Julie Durham, MBA
CharacterPlus® Facilitator
Amy Geurkink-Coats
CharacterPlus® Facilitator
Cyndi Hebenstreit, Ph.D.
CharacterPlus® Facilitator
Amy Johnston, Ed.D
CharacterPlus® Facilitator
Grace Lee, Ed.D.
CharacterPlus® Senior Facilitator
Keith Marty
CharacterPlus® Superintendent in Residence
Scholar Advisors
Marvin Berkowitz, Ph.D.
Lead Scholar Advisor, Retired Sanford N. McDonnell Professor of Character Education, UM Thomas Jefferson Fellow, Professor UMSL, Co-Founder The Center for Character & Citizenship
Melinda Bier, Ph.D.
Scholar Advisor, Teresa M. Fischer Professor of Citizenship Education, Co-Director of the Center for Character & Citizenship College of Education, UMSL
Administration
Nicole Bassett
CharacterPlus® Finance Manager
Carol Burcke
CharacterPlus® Director of Development
Heather Nadenbush
CharacterPlus® Office Manager & Community Volunteer
Jill Smith
CharacterPlus® Social Media Communications
Our Executive Committee
Marvin Anderson
Board Secretary
Senior Vice President
Bank of America US Trust
Rob Fasoldt
Marketing Chair
Sr. Director, Ticket Sales, and Retention
St. Louis Cardinals
Eric Fencl, J.D.
Finance and Vice Chair
Retired Chief Administrative Officer &
General Counsel / Build-A-Bear Workshop
Beth Kinzel
Board Engagement Chair
SVP, Private Client Wealth Advisor
Commerce Trust Company
Linda McKay
Programming Chair
Founding Executive Director
CharacterPlus
William “Chip” Schafer III
Chairman
Former President
Lion Forge Labs (retired)
Our Board of Directors
Peggy Barnhart
Commissioner St. Louis County
Board of Elections (retired)
Melinda Bier, Ph.D.
University of Missouri – St. Louis
Co-Director Center for Character & Citizenship
CharacterPlus Scholar Advisor
Antoinette Boyd, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor
Maryville University
Casetta Brown, Ed.D.
St. Louis Public School District
Culture & Climate Coordinator
CharacterPlus District Leader Council Chair
Jo Anna Brown
Vice President
Central States Water Resource
Jonathan Carroll
Executive Vice President, COO
Poettker Construction
Barb Donnelly
Community Volunteer
Lori Fulford
CFO (retired)
John Burroughs School
Karen Hall, Ed.D.
CEO, RISE Coaching & Consulting
Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership at Saint Louis University
Andi Harpring
Partnership Coordinator
Special School District
Lynn Lowrance, Ph.D.
School Counselor (retired)
Truman State University
Jennifer McDonnell
Scripps College Board Director
Princeton University Alumni Council
Eric Mumm
Partner
Ernst & Young LLP
Rory P. O’Sullivan, Esq.
Acting County Counselor
St. Charles County Government
Dr. Tonya Rivers
Executive Coach
Purposed2Lead, LLC
Amy Ruzicka
Superintendent
Bayless School District
Roger Scherck, M.S.
Guidance Counselor
Mason Elementary
St. Louis Public Schools
Stephen “Steve” Seele, J.D.
Chairman
Chief Counsel (retired)
Boeing Military Aircraft
Joanne Soudah
Elementary Teacher (retired)
Special School District Board
Dr. Monica A. Stewart
Saint Louis Public Schools
Virtual Learning Facilitator
Emeritus Directors
Marvin Berkowitz, Ph.D.
University of Missouri – St. Louis
Co-Director, The Center for Character & Citizenship
Retired Inaugural Sanford N. McDonnell Professor of Character Education & University of Missouri Thomas Jefferson Scholar
Founder, Center for Addiction and Behavioral Health Research
CharacterPlus Scholar Emeritus
Veronica F. McDonnell
Senior Grants Manager, Duo Dogs, Inc.
Founder, Friends of CharacterPlus
CharacterPlus Director Emeritus
Partner With CharacterPlus®
A CharacterPlus School District Partnership gives your school or district access to expert guidance, professional learning academies, assessment tools, leadership support, and practical resources to build a positive environment across every school.
Financial Reports
Access our current and past financial documents to see how we responsibly manage our funding to maximize positive character development across the region.