In Purpose Educational Services Board Members

Amber Benge, Board President

Amber Benge (pronouns she/her) of St. Louis City is an experienced educator and human rights advocate. She has led volunteer work for several organizations on the local and national levels, including managing a national campaign office in St. Louis. Amber has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Dallas in Interdisciplinary Studies emphasizing science education; a master’s degree from Louisiana State University in Human Resources Education and Leadership; and is currently working toward her doctorate in Educational Leadership for Organizations.

Nicole Greer

Nicole Greer is a native of Kansas City, MO, who relocated to St. Louis in 2004 with her employer. Nicole has been with AT&T for 23 years and has had many titles. She recently began a new role as a Sr. Specialist – Technical Process/Quality in the Service Delivery organization. Nicole was elected to the Creve Coeur City Council in 2020 and serves as the liaison to the Energy & Environment committee. She also serves on the Policy Council as VP of candidate recruitment for the National Women’s Political Caucus St. Louis chapter. Nicole serves as a trustee at Bracy Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. She was one of the inaugural co-chairs for West County Community Action Network (WE CAN), a grassroots racial justice organization that focuses on the West County region.

Joshlyn Harris

Joshlyn Harris, a Native St. Louisian, holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a Master’s Degree in Secondary education from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Ok. She is a retired teacher of Mathematics at Parkway North High School where she had been for the past 20 years. Her total teaching career spans over 26 years. She was the liaison of the Parkway School District’s Diversity in Action committee representing her school at numerous conferences and events. She has worked with students in the District on the Superintendent Social Justice Leadership Advisory Council and started the Faculty Social Justice Cohort at the School. She feels very strongly about being active in groups where diversity is needed and tries to facilitate a working relationship between groups of different ethnicities.

Andrea Hayes

Andrea N. Hayes, M.Ed is a multi-award-winning educator that has been teaching for 15 years. A St. Louis Native, she is a proud graduate of the Hazelwood School District where she also spent nine years teaching in the same community in which she grew up.  She later went on to teach in the Webster Groves School District and currently teaches in Jennings School District. Andrea holds certifications in ELA 5-9, Reading K-12, and Gifted Education K-12.  She is most passionate about literacy, equitable education for all students, using data to drive instruction, ensuring that students can make connections with what they learn to the present day and see a reflection of themselves in the curriculum.

Prior to teaching, Andrea was a company member of the St. Louis Black Repertory Company where she performed in several mainstage and touring shows. She also served as their Marketing Associate in which she helped to cultivate and grow the young adult audience and taught their summer conservatory for several years.  Andrea is also an active member of Shalom Church City of Peace where she serves on the praise dance and educational ministries. Additionally, she is a  twenty-year member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Soulard Restoration Group, and a financially supporting member of the Missouri History Museum. 

Jason Heisserer

Jason Heisserer has served as a public and independent school teacher and leader for 25 years. During this time he has created, led, and co-led workshops on justice and equity, antiracism, and antiracist teaching, leading, and governance in schools and districts where he has worked, in the St. Louis region, and at national conferences. During the summer of 2020, he created the Antiracism Journal Project to provide an opportunity for white teachers to engage in vigilant self-awareness and and to deepen their commitment to antiracism through the practice of journaling. Jason completed his undergraduate degrees in secondary education and English at Southeast Missouri State University and his master’s and Doctor of Education degrees at Maryville University. In addition, he is a graduate of the National SEED Project, the Critical Analysis of Race and Education Institute, CrossRoads Antiracism Organizing and Training Understanding and Analyzing Systemic Racism training, and the Heads of Schools Fellowship at the Klingenstein Center, Teachers College, Columbia University. Jason continues to read widely on topics such as the historic and cultural roots of racism, antibias and antiracism, and racial healing. He frequently wanders around the the Central West End where he lives with his partner and enjoys Left Bank Books, reading, baking, napping, and writing.

Erica Houston

Erica was born and raised in Saint Louis but resides in Springfield, Missouri. She is a Parkway North graduate, class of 2015. She is currently enrolled at the University of Missouri and pursuing her Master's degree in Youth Development. Erica received her Bachelor's in Sociology from Missouri State University in 2019. She previously worked as a Deputy Juvenile Officer for the Greene County Juvenile Detention until she moved to Pittsburgh in July to start a life with her fiance who she is marrying in June of next year. She enjoys being a mentor to first-generation college students and advocating for more minority students to attend PWIs. She has research experience and is interested in working with disadvantaged youth in impoverished cities.

Maggie G. LaMore

Margaret (Maggie) LaMore is the Program Director of the Children’s Legal Alliance (CLA) at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (LSEM), where she has supervised CLA’s program activities in the City of St. Louis since 2018. From 2013-2018, Maggie worked as a staff attorney in the same program, advocating for children and youth in education cases, primarily in the areas of special education, Section 504, school discipline, and children experiencing homelessness or foster care.  Prior to joining LSEM, Maggie prosecuted juvenile delinquency and child abuse and neglect cases as an attorney for the 20th Circuit Juvenile Office in Union, Missouri. Prior to law school, Maggie worked as a high school science teacher at Central High School in the Helena-West Helena School District in Helena, AR through Teach for America. Maggie lives in Des Peres, MO with her husband and two young daughters and enjoys spending time with her family, teaching her daughters to smash the patriarchy, and training for her first triathlon in 2021. 

 Education:  JD from Washington University School of Law, 2011; BS in Biomedical Engineering from Washington University School of Engineering and Applied Science, 2006.

Sada Lindsey

Sada Lindsey hails originally from Mississippi but has called St. Louis home since 2004. As a college student volunteering with AmeriCorps during 9/11, Sada was inspired by the call to serve her community and began seeking out volunteer and professional opportunities in the nonprofit sector. She holds a Bachelor's degree from Mississippi State University (Hail State!) in History with a focus in Women's Studies and a Master's degree from Lindenwood University in Nonprofit Management. She currently works in grants management and has previously worked with national service, Head Start programming, hunger relief and homeless services support. She has served in volunteer leadership roles with Junior League of St. Louis, AmeriCorps Alums STL, Mississippi State Alums STL, Dressel Elementary PTO and as president of the Metropolitan Volunteer Management Association. Sada lives in south county with her husband: Troy, daughter: Poppy, and cats: Abigail Adams and Scout Finch.

Stephanie Pieper

Stephanie was born and raised in the Saint Louis Metro area. She is a 2008 graduate of Saint Louis University, a place where she solidified her love of giving back to the community. Steph has spent a lot of her life volunteering with homeless outreach, LGBTQ causes, and doing backpack programs and tutoring support for kids in inner-city schools. She has also volunteered with Food Outreach, a nonprofit that helps properly feed the HIV-positive population in a very healthy way. Steph is currently the owner of a local startup small business that gives money to different charities every month. She lives in the Metro East with her husband, three crazy dogs, and an 8yo son to keep her on her toes.

Christy Potthast

Christy Potthast has lived in the St. Louis area since 1995. She holds a Master’s in Accounting from UMSL and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from UMR/Missouri S&T. She works at Washington University in St. Louis as a Sr. Financial Data Analyst. She enjoys DIY projects, volunteering at her children’s schools and being a trustee for her neighborhood HOA. She is happily married with two children and a miniature poodle fur baby.

Coley Sciortino

Coley is a senior manager and creative writer in the gaming industry. She has a background in marketing, human resources, event planning, and social media development. She is an advocate for all human rights, with a special interest in fighting for and securing supportive LGBTQA+ laws and protections. She has volunteered and fundraised for Free Mom Hugs - MIssouri, Pride St. Louis, The Trevor Project, Planned Parenthood, Crisis Nursery, and the Make-A-Wish-Foundation. She is a member of Jewish Voice for Peace, a non-profit working for a just and lasting peace according to principles of human rights, equality, and international law for all the people of Palestine and Israel. Coley is a mixed media artist, gardener, and avid reader. She lives with her partner, two children, a spooky cat, and a rescue dog in the St. Louis area.

Patricia Sims

Patricia Sims is a native St. Louisian and the youngest of 10 children. She grew up in St. Charles Missouri and graduated from St. Charles West High School in 1991. Mrs. Sims has 30 years in customer service including the hotel and hospitality industry, retail sales, training, and management. She currently works for Store Supply Warehouse as a Social Media Specialist and Reputation Manager, where she has worked for 19 years. Patricia creates and manages social media brand content for all the companies under the SSW umbrella including Simple Retail, Love Groomers, and SSW Dealer Supply. She also writes content for Store Supply Warehouse Customer Connection providing industry information for small business owners and entrepreneurs. For them, she has written, produced, and appeared in over 300 instructional videos for Store Supply Warehouse on their dedicated YouTube channel that has over 2 million lifetime views; she is essentially the face of that brand. In her spare time, Patricia owns and operates Mariposa Home LLC under the umbrella of PSims Holdings, Inc. This is a business and brand that she started over 15 years ago, where she creates a myriad of things, most of which include bath and body, candles, and home decor. She is currently developing a men's line of personal care products, a makeup line, and a home decor line. Patricia is proud to be mother to her daughter Lindsay, wife to Anthony Sims, and a proud member of Pittie Nation. She has a 3-year-old lab/pit mix that she considers her canine child, Gordon Gartrell Thelonius Sims.

Neva Sprung

Neva grew up in Fairview Heights, Illinois, and attended SIU Edwardsville majoring in Psychology and Education emphasis in Counselor Education. Her major careers were vocational rehabilitation counseling and human resources professional. She is now retired. Because Neva cares about people & a better world, she has dedicated herself to the following causes:  social justice, racial equity, education, and voters’ rights. Her volunteer work includes donating platelets, English language literacy, League of Women Voters, and serving as the Kwasha-Kids Board treasurer. Neva also assisted with planning the STL Women’s March, where she met Heather Fleming. Some of the hobbies that she enjoys include walking, friends, family, music, singing (that’s how she met her husband,) reading, movies, traveling, other people’s cats and dogs, book clubs, watching birds in her yard, flowers, scrapbooking, and good food.

Amber Thayer-Demirci

Amber is originally from a small town in Southern Indiana, crossed the state to study Graphic Arts and Business Management at Ball State University, eventually earning her Bachelors of Science degree in 2001. She credits her strong-willed Mother for her love of never-ending learning, which inspired the drive to enter the Corporate Training world. She has been facilitating adult learning with U.S. Bank for the last 14 years, during which she has volunteered for sponsored Pride parades, local food pantries, and Toys for Tots initiatives, has been involved in corporate business resource groups: St Louis Women’s BRG as a board member and Spectrum BRG as an active member. Her husband, Can, and two children, Greyson and Alara, reside in Ballwin; but you can also find them frequenting Kirkwood as owner/operators of Phone Doctor located in historical downtown Kirkwood.

Sal Valadez

Sal Valadez is a Mexican immigrant, a high school drop-out, a U.S. Army Veteran, and a graduate of the  University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa where he was awarded an M.A. in Political Science (Alternative Futures  Program) ‘85 and a B.A. in Political Science ‘81. He is a 2019 alumnus of the Washington University in St  Louis Community Research Fellows Training Program. He currently serves as the Missouri & Kansas Laborers’ District Council’s Representative for Diversity,  Outreach & Marketing. Prior to his employment with the Laborers’, Sal held positions as an administrator in  higher education and as executive director for several non-profit organizations. Throughout his career,  Sal’s primary focus has been on issues related to diversity, inclusion, and equity. His current responsibilities with LiUNA MKLDC include community engagement, jobs and workforce  development, education, economic & social justice, and other issues affecting the future of our African  American, immigrant, and ethnic communities. Sal believes in the power of relationship building,  collaborative action, and intentionality in efforts to address the disparities that have disproportionally affected historically disadvantaged and underrepresented communities.

Kourtney Webb

Kourtney was born and raised in St Louis Mo and holds an undergraduate degree in business from Harris Stowe State University. He is also a musician/singer/songwriter who has been the music director for the National Stage play A house Divided, performed with national artists such as Barry Manilow, Michael McDonald, and Jon B to name a few. He also has performed at Carnegie Hall and St Louis’s own Fabulous Fox Theater. He has also taught in the St. Louis Public schools district as well as for COCA (Center of Creative Arts) under the Urban Arts Department. Kourtney is the CEO of K-Sharp Entertainment LLC. A musician staffing agency that places musicians and bands in a variety of venues around the metropolitan area. He is also a member of the 100 Black Men of Metropolitan St. Louis. The 100 is a non-profit 501(c)(3) community-based organization, incorporated in Missouri, whose mission is to improve the quality of life in our communities and enhance educational and economic opportunities for all.  The membership is comprised of a diverse group of men including business executives, community leaders, entrepreneurs, clergy, and elected officials. 

This father of 4 is recently engaged and always puts family first.

Grace Wright

Grace Wright is a Professional Engineer with 17 years of experience. She has been recently hired as a Project Manager to Great Rivers Greenway in St. Louis Missouri, a regional Parks and Recreation Department where she serves on the DEI Task Force, sharing her expertise for equity in procurement of professional services and construction to learning and implementing strategies for beautification without gentrification. Grace also serves on the Board of Directors for the Engineers’ Club of St. Louis. She has a blended family with 5 children, 2 dogs, fish, frogs, and an avid enthusiast of kayaking and cultivating epiphytic, tropical, and native plants.