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Alpha Plus Leadership Team

WILLIAM C. LIEDTKE III, PRESIDENT, ALPHA PLUS EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS

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William Liedtke began leading the Alpha Plus team in January 2024 and was previously Vice President in QSP Capital LLC and 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 serving as President of a Canadian company with global oil-and-gas enterprises and as an Independent General Partner in Merrill Lynch’s Oklahoma Venture Partners. 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

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Growing up in western Oklahoma where education has been a family tradition, Bennie Newton graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford; 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

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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

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Holly Dudley is originally from Georgia and moved with her family to Oklahoma in 2016. With her bachelor’s 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.

Alpha Plus Professionals

Ron Brummett, School-Improvement Facilitator

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With his 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.

 

PENNY GOOCH, ELA Content Specialist

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In her more than 35 years of experience in education, Penny Gooch served mainly in Guthrie and Edmond schools. She taught kindergarten, second grade, sixth grade science, and vocational home economics then served as a Title I Reading Teacher, an instructional coach, Director of Federal Programs and later Elementary Education. From 2006-2008, Ms. Gooch was Director of Reading and Literacy at the Oklahoma State Department of Education and is a Reading First and RSA expert. She retired from her position as principal Orvis Risner Elementary, Edmond, in June 2021 and joined Alpha Plus as a School Improvement Facilitator in July 2023. Ms. Gooch is a lead writer for the new Success with OAS Grade 2 Phonics and Reading books and is editing early grade assessments for 2024-25.

Nichelle Reed, School-Improvement Facilitator

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Nichelle Reed became a School Improvement Facilitator with Alpha Plus in July 2023. She has taught elementary, middle school, and high school students in Oklahoma public schools for 19 years. After graduating from the University of Central Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Arts in Education, Nichelle traveled extensively as a dance educator in the U.S. After returning home to Oklahoma, she taught English Language Arts, Writing, Reading, and Classical Literature for Oklahoma City, McLoud, and Norman Public Schools. A champion for teachers and their need for powerful resources in each classroom, Mrs. Reed also writes and edits ELA curriculum and assessments.

CINDY WATSON, Operations Specialist

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Dr. Cindy Watson grew up in Oklahoma City where she graduated with an elementary education degree from Oklahoma Christian University, master's degrees in both early childhood and educational leadership, and a doctorate from Liberty University in Adult Educational Leadership. She served in education for 33 years as an elementary and middle school teacher. Dr. Watson also served for 10 years as an elementary principal, and utilized Alpha Plus tools during her service as a principal in Oklahoma City Public Schools. Her National Board Certification is evidence of her commitment to effective teaching for the success of all students. After retiring from her role as Program Manager of Teacher Leadership Development at the Oklahoma State Department of Education, Dr. Watson joined Alpha Plus as Operations Specialist in May 2024.

CHRISTOPHER STATON, Operations Specialist

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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 beginning as Operations Specialist in May 2024.

LARRI VEIT, School-Improvement Facilitator

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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 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 is excited to make a change from the classroom and become a full-time facilitator helping teachers be successful with their students.