Michelle Brenner
Dr. Michelle Brenner spent the first 10 years of her career in the classroom and coaching. She taught middle school science and PE and coached volleyball for the Springfield School District for two years before moving to Nixa High School to teach PE and serve as the Head Volleyball Coach for eight years. She became an Assistant Principal at Branson High School in her 11th year in education and worked for eight years in that role before moving into a central office role. The Director of Digital Learning position she held for three and a half years allowed her to focus more on technology and its impact on the classroom for both students and teachers. Currently, Dr. Brenner is serving as the Director of Technology and Digital Learning for Branson, a role she began in January 2020. In addition to her duties with the Branson School District, Dr. Brenner has served as the Coordinator of the GOSCD Innovation Summit, coordinator of the Tri-Lakes Summit and taught courses for Lindenwood University, Southwest Baptist University and Evangel University.
Michelle is married to David Brenner, teacher and coach at BHS, and they have two children Alex (18) and Kayla (17).
Carrie Cline
Carrie Cline has been a librarian for over 25 years, starting out her career as a K-12 school librarian. She was named as the new Library Director of the Wright County Library 20 years ago, then director of the McDonald County Library in 2001. Both of these systems are small and rural, and Carrie has long been an outspoken advocate for rural libraries and their many needs.
Carrie has been the MLA Secretary, helped form the Youth Services Community of Interest of MLA and has served on the Building Block Picture Book Award committee, the Mark Twain Award committee and Summer Reading Program committees. For several years, she traveled the state, presenting summer reading program workshops on behalf of the Missouri State Library, and she served as president of the Missouri Public Library Directors (MPLD). She is also very community minded, and served on the McDonald County Chamber Board of Directors.
In 2015, Carrie was named the Director of the Neosho Newton County Library, and has gone on to become Secretary of the Neosho Area Chamber of Commerce. She is currently on the Lions Club Board of Directors and the Missouri Evergreen Board of Directors.
Rick DeCaro
Rick is the Director of Information Technology overseeing Logan’s infrastructure, software, systems and technical services, with 20 years experience as an IT professional. Rick earned Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Management Information Systems (CMIS) from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2003. He also earned his Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) certification. Prior to coming to Logan worked for a small networking firm in Dallas TX where he worked his way up from Help Desk support to Datacenter Manager and ultimately General Manager. Completed Baldridge Examiner Training for Quality Texas Foundation Sept. 2019.
Samantha Dickey
Samantha Dickey is the Interim Assistant Commissioner for Postsecondary Policy with the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development. She’s been with the agency for over eight years, previously serving in legislative, project management and policy development roles. Through her work, she has enjoyed striving for systems that support equitable student success so individuals can achieve their full potential.
Samantha holds a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics from Truman State University and is pursuing her Master’s in Public Administration from Arizona State University, where she will graduate in December 2022.
Stuart Koelling
DESE is pleased to announce that Stuart Koelling will step into the role of Chief Data Officer in the Office of Data Systems Management (ODSM) effective March 1, 2023. Koelling has worked as a contractor for different Missouri state agencies as an Information Technology project manager, including the MoDOT Management Maintenance System, MOHealthNet, and the MEDES applications. He most recently worked with ODSM to replace its grant management system. Prior to his work as a contractor, Koelling was the Infrastructure and Architecture Manager for Wipro Infocrossing, a senior consultant data analyst for RKV Technologies, and senior business analyst for CSG Government Solutions.
“Providing data and data analysis to stakeholders is a critical function of the department,” said Deputy Commissioner of Learning Services Dr. Tracy Hinds. “With Stuart’s experience of more than 30 years in information technology ranging from data analysis, program development, and project management, I am confident he will lead the department in enhancing the customer experience.”
Koelling earned his bachelor’s of science in Computer Information Systems from Lincoln University in 1994, and Project Management Professional certification in 2018.
Sue Lightfoot-Horine
Sue Lightfoot-Horine, current director of the Livingston County Library and the Lillian DesMarias Youth Library as of August, 2021 and began her public service tenure with Carrollton Public Library in 2008.
She graduated from Baker University with Masters in Business Administration-Management, summa cum laude.
Sue is currently the Chair of Missouri Evergreen Consortium, President of the Grand River Library Consortium, a member of the MOREnet Council, member of the Livingston County Library Charitable Trust, and Chillicothe Rotary Club member. Also she holds positions as Treasurer to the Hudson Bridges Foundation and member of University of Missouri Extension-Carroll County Council.
Past positions include MPLD (Missouri Public Library Directors) President and numerous local and county positions as commitment to community involvement as a top priority. She strives to involve all patrons and generations to understand the library’s services and programming.
Sue has updated technologies at both Library locations, employed more staff for the expansion of programming, focused on inter-library loan services and community collaborations for the Livingston County Library.
Sue has 12 years of experience in the marketing/promotion/advertising field with a locally owned company that has made its mark in the media realm. With former owners of WHB Radio, she gained much experience to maintain professional relationships with marketing professionals across the state of Missouri to reach extensive sales goals. Previously, she measured, reviewed and calculated tax values on personal, residential, commercial and new construction properties for tax assessments as Chief Appraiser for Carroll County, Missouri Assessor Office for eight years.
Jeffrey K. Schneider
Jeff Schneider is the Chief Information Officer for College of the Ozarks, based in Point Lookout, Mo. He leads a team of professionals who provide technology solutions across College of the Ozarks platforms. He is responsible for providing oversight and direction to the organization’s web and software development teams, information systems, business systems, educational technologies and digital infrastructure.
Before joining College of the Ozarks, Jeff served as the founding Vice President of Information and Interactive Systems for Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. In this role, he provided oversight and direction for the organization’s technologies and educational initiatives.
Jeff also served in the experiential learning industry, leading one of the nation’s largest youth camps into the digital age. Jeff developed a comprehensive software solution for every part of the business operation, including a comprehensive student and teacher class scheduler. This system used algorithms and predictive models to dynamically build classes, student rosters and assign teachers for thousands of students within hundreds of classes.
Drawing upon these successes, Jeff founded and led a company that provided its proprietary camp management and scheduling software as a service to organizations across the nation and continues to serve the experiential learning industry.
Christa Van Herreweghe
Christa Van Herreweghe appreciates that libraries focus on public service, technology, information and reading. She has been the director at Kirkwood Public Library for three years. She serves on local, state and national committees including the St. Louis Regional Library Network, as a current member of the Missouri Library Association Legislative Committee and a member of the American Library Association Essential Cookbooks Committee. Van Herreweghe earned her MLS from the University of Missouri in 2007 and completed the Certified Public Library Administrator program through the American Library Association in 2014. She has presented at multiple conferences on a variety of library topics and continues to develop innovative projects and services to benefit library patrons.
Robin Westphal
Robin started in her position as State Librarian in April of 2018. She has 12 years of experience as a public library director in Missouri, having worked at the Livingston County Library in Chillicothe before taking a position in Johnson City, Tenn., before coming back to Missouri. A native of Kansas, Robin has a bachelor’s degree in political science/public administration from Kansas State University and a master’s degree in library science from Emporia State University. She has worked in public libraries, school libraries and did a stint at a law library in Johnson County Kansas.