About Alpha Plus
Alpha Plus Educational Systems is Oklahoma’s premier school-improvement firm with proven results achieved over more than 30 years. Initially a tutoring company founded in 1986 to help students raise their report-card grades, the Alpha Plus mission evolved into creating tools that improve school performance and student academic growth in terms of state and federal accountability. Under new ownership and management, Alpha Plus is solely focused on improving Oklahoma schools and promoting student growth through a combination of Oklahoma Academic Standard (OAS) -focused curriculum in Math and English Language Arts, online formative and summative assessments, extensive student performance data reporting, and professional development training from experienced educators.
- Written by Oklahoma teachers for Oklahoma students to Oklahoma standards, Success with OAS English language arts and mathematics assessments and supplemental textbooks have undergone major upgrades over the last year with print and online versions available in an easy-to-use, web- based platform that now has integrated training tools.
- Alpha Plus Online summative and formative assessments produce real-time reports by student, class, and school at the performance levels and to the expectations of the state of Oklahoma and U.S. Department of Education.
- Evidence-based practices are used in a continuous cycle of improvement known as the Alpha Plus Model of data-driven professional development. Instructional teams learn to use data in making decisions about remediation and extension that improve instruction and school results.
Alpha Plus Leadership Team
WILLIAM C. LIEDTKE III, President, Alpha Plus Educational Systems
William Liedtke began leading the Alpha Plus team in January 2024 and was previously Vice President in QSP Capital LLC and its affiliated restaurant concepts, including Bricktown Brewery Restaurants, Jimmy’s Egg, and S&B’s Burger Joint. Prior to his work with QSP, Mr. Liedtke had a distinguished career in the energy industry including service as President of a Canadian public company with international oil and gas operations and General Counsel of a Pennsylvania based public energy company. He also served as Special Assistant on Energy, Indian Affairs and Drug Policy to Governor Henry Bellmon, Oklahoma’s first education governor. A member of the State Bar of Texas, Mr. Liedtke has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Amherst College and a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law.
BENNIE NEWTON, Executive Vice President / Sales Manager
Growing up in western Oklahoma where education has been a family tradition, Bennie Newton graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a minor in Accounting and Finance; he also earned his master’s degree in School Administration from SWOSU. Mr. Newton’s career includes teaching, coaching, and school administration, serving 12 years as principal and 21 years as superintendent. He led the use of Alpha Plus tools in his district and says it was what drove Central High Elementary district to the prestigious National Blue Ribbon School award! In June 2020, Mr. Newton retired and became Alpha Plus Sales Manager then, in January 2024, he was named Executive Vice President.
SUSANNE DOUGHERTY, Vice President, Professional Development
A National Board-Certified Teacher, Susanne Dougherty taught 3rd through 5th grade students for 18 years and was an elementary school administrator for eight years. She has a business degree from the University of Oklahoma and earned two master’s degrees from the University of Central Oklahoma, one in elementary education and the second in elementary administration. Ms. Dougherty retired after 26 years as an Edmond Public School teacher and principal and joined Alpha Plus as a facilitator in 2022. In January 2024, she began leading the Alpha Plus Professional Development team of certified Oklahoma educators serving schools statewide.
HOLLY DUDLEY, Vice President, Curriculum & Assessments
Holly Dudley is originally from Georgia and moved with her family to Oklahoma in 2016. With her Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of West Georgia, Ms. Dudley worked as an elementary school teacher in Grades 1-4 for ten years. She was drawn to education because of her desire to improve the lives of children through quality education. Ms. Dudley joined Alpha Plus in 2022 and brought her passion for teaching to her role as a professional development facilitator for two years. She now leads the curriculum team of educators at Alpha Plus with a new mission to elevate instruction and student success with improved content aligned to the OAS.
CHRISTOPHER STATON, Vice President, Data/Technology
With his background spanning roles as a teacher, coach, and administrator in Eastern Oklahoma school districts, Christopher Staton possesses a deep understanding of Oklahoma’s educational landscape. A proud graduate of Sallisaw, and an alumnus of Northeastern State University, Mr. Staton holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in School Administration. Currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership with a focus on curriculum, Mr. Staton is also a math professor at Tulsa Community College. Mr. Staton eagerly took up the opportunity to make a significant impact within the Alpha Plus team initially as Operations Specialist in May 2024 before assuming his current role overseeing data and technology for Alpha Plus.
Alpha Plus Professionals
RON BRUMMETT, School-Improvement Facilitator
With a bachelor’s degree in education from Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Ron Brummett earned his master’s degree in educational administration from Northern Arizona University. He has 35 years of experience in kindergarten through 8th grade public education in Arizona, Kansas, and Oklahoma public schools. He spent eight years teaching and 27 years in school administration; he retired after 13 years as principal within Yukon Public Schools. Mr. Brummett joined Alpha Plus as a School Improvement Facilitator in June 2023.
LARRI VEIT, Assistant Sales Manager
A Morrison High School graduate, Larri Veit grew up in the town north of Stillwater and is a graduate of Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. She has taught Grades 1- 3 in Missouri and Grades 3-6 in Oklahoma; in 2010, Ms. Veit became a National Board-Certified teacher. A classroom teacher for 23 years, she used Alpha Plus with her fourth-grade students in her last three years teaching and found the Alpha Plus Online platform helped prepare students to reach her expectations for the state tests. Mrs. Veit began with Alpha Plus as a School Improvement Facilitator helping teachers be successful with their students, and has now become Assistant Sales Manager, introducing new schools to Alpha Plus.
MAX MILLER, School-Improvement Facilitator
Max Miller is a seasoned education professional serving as the School Improvement Facilitator for Alpha Plus Educational Systems. With over two decades of experience in the education sector, Max has held various roles, including teacher, instructional coach, assistant principal, principal, and education consultant. Max holds a Master of Education degree from the University of Central Oklahoma and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. With a strong background in instructional design and a deep understanding of the evolving needs of learners, Max is passionate about creating engaging and impactful learning experiences that enhance student achievement and empower both individuals and organizations to reach their full potential. Throughout his career, he has been dedicated to driving academic excellence, fostering a positive school culture, and supporting the professional growth of educators.
MELANIE SNODGRASS, Math Specialist
Melanie Snodgrass joined Alpha Plus in February 2025, bringing with her more than two decades of expertise in education. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Special Education with an emphasis in Elementary Education from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, a secondary mathematics endorsement, and a Master of Educational Leadership from Cameron University. A proud fourth-generation educator, Melanie has served students at every grade level throughout her career, spanning K–12 special education, middle school mathematics and English language arts, as well as high school mathematics. She has also held leadership roles as a special education director in multiple school districts. At Alpha Plus, Melanie applies her deep instructional knowledge and leadership experience to writing and editing math curriculum, helping to ensure that students across Oklahoma have access to rigorous, high-quality educational materials. Her commitment to excellence and student achievement continues to make a lasting impact in schools statewide.
ERIN STONECIPHER, School-Improvement Facilitator
Erin joined the Alpha Plus team as a School Improvement Facilitator in 2025 following 10 years of teaching in Oklahoma classrooms. Erin grew up in Oklahoma City, and after marriage spent several years moving with her husband and children during his military service. Remaining committed throughout those years to her education, she continued college through each relocation, ultimately earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology after her 2012 return to Oklahoma. She then followed her calling into education – a passion deeply rooted in her family. Since she began teaching in 2015, Erin has focused on using data to drive meaningful instruction in her classroom. Over the past two years, she successfully implemented Alpha Plus curriculum to help students meet academic goals and master grade-level standards. She is eager to support fellow educators in using Alpha Plus and data-driven instruction to help students succeed.
ANTHONY PURCELL, Math Achievement and Proficiency Specialist
Anthony Purcell has built a career spanning both school-level instruction in both Kansas and Oklahoma. Anthony spent most of his classroom years in the middle school math classroom where he believes that EVERYONE is a math person. He joins Alpha Plus to assist teachers in reaching each student’s full mathematical potential. Anthony has his Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education degree from Emporia State University and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. Anthony comes to Alpha Plus after working at the Oklahoma State Department of Education where he created and led the Oklahoma Math Tutoring Corps and provided guidance on the OAS for Math. Anthony leads the Alpha Plus initiative on curricula and training for schools to comply with the new Oklahoma Math Achievement and Proficiency Act.
EMILY JACOBSON, English Language Arts Specialist
With a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, Emily Jacobson has extensive expertise in reading instruction, including the science of reading, coupled with a background in developing and refining curriculum and assessments. She is dedicated to supporting educators and improving student outcomes across Oklahoma and brings more than a decade of teaching experience in both the public and private sectors. Emily brings that knowledge and skill to her role as our ELA Specialist where she writes and edits ELA instructional materials aligned to the Oklahoma Academic Standards and creates resources that support both teachers and students.