Staff

Bruce Bailey – Executive Director Bruce Bailey has a degree in Public Administration from Colorado State. He worked in government and social service for over 35 years, 15 of which were agencies serving youth. He began his career as a congressional aid, then as special assistant to Judge Noah Weinstein at the St. Louis County Juvenile Court. Subsequently, Bruce served as the Executive Director of two non-profit agencies developing Outdoor Education and Youth Corps programs. In 1994 Bruce directed a pilot program for the Corporation for National Service followed by serving as the founding Executive Director of AmeriCorps St. Louis. In 2002, Bruce received the Mel Carnahan Service Award for Exemplary Leadership to the Citizens of Missouri. Bruce has served as the Chairperson of Missouri Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), and is an advisor to the National Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) with expertise in volunteer coordination and donations management.

M. Kathleen Becherer – Program Director Kathleen Becherer received both her Bachelor’s degree in Social Service and Individualized Master’s degree in Urban Affairs from Webster University along with post graduate study at the University of Louisville in Crime Prevention. Kathleen is a Graduate of the CORO Foundation’s Women in Leadership, and has been certified as a Community Mediator and Diversity Trainer. She has worked in government and social service programs for over 35 years, nearly all of which focused on at-risk youth. She is a founding Program Director of AmeriCorps St. Louis Education Corps. In 2005, Kathleen received the Women of the Well Achievement Award, and in 2008 the UMSL Regional Institute for Tutorial Education Award, each one for her exemplary life-long commitment to women and children.

Staff Leadership

Jerron Johnson – Manager of Administration and Support Jerron Johnson has his B.A. from Florida A&M University. Jerron has a history of community service beginning in high school, on into college, and continuing to the present as the Minister of Music for Youth & Young Adult Music Ministry. Jerron served as a mentor and as a volunteer coordinator in his two years of service in AmeriCorps St. Louis. After his service, Jerron, began to work as the Administrative Assistant, and after a year was promoted to his current position as School Coordinator, where he has served for over a year. Because of his enormous dedication to service, President Bush presented him with the National Exemplary President’s Service Award in 2008.

AmeriCorps Fellows

Quinn Gardner – Emergency Response Team

Quinn Gardner has her B.A. from Webster University in St. Louis. Before joining AmeriCorps St. Louis she served with Landmark Volunteers, promoted cultural understanding with the People to People Student Ambassador Program, acted as a youth mentor, created a recycling program, coordinated blood drives, and volunteered during the Katrina aftermath. After two years as a member on the Emergency Response Team, she took on the role as field and operations coordinator for ERT. She has received multiple leadership awards including the Campus Voice Leadership Award, Deans Service Award and the George Herbert Walker III Award for Leadership. For her commitment to service Quinn has received the Pillar Award for Service, the Ethic of Service Award and was recognized by the State of Missouri and Missouri Commission with the AmeriCorps State Service Award in 2010.

David Hardin – Education David Hardin is a 2008 graduate of Murray State University with a B.A. in History. He is a certified secondary education teacher, with his certification in Social Studies (8-12). David began working with children in college. He spent three of his summers at Southwoods Children’s Camp, in upstate New York, working as a cabin specialist, group leader, and assistant head counselor. David began serving with AmeriCorps St. Louis in 2009 as a literacy tutor at Woerner Elementary. After serving at Woerner Elementary, he served as the Team Leader at Dewey International Studies School. David was the recipient of the 2010 Booker T. Washington Excellence in Tutoring Award, and has received the Pillar Award for Service. David enjoys reading about the Civil War, playing soccer, and cheering on the St. Louis Cardinals, Rams, and Blues.

Noel McKay – Education Noel McKay graduated magna cum laude from Transylvania University in 2008 with degrees in Philosophy and French Literature. After working as an English language teaching assistant in Burgundy, France for a year, he returned to St. Louis and joined the AmeriCorps St. Louis Education Team in 2009. After serving a year as a literacy tutor at Woerner Elementary, he served another year as the Team Leader at Laclede Elementary. He has received the AmeriCorps Excellence Award, and the AmeriCorps Corps of Discovery Award for his service at Laclede Elementary. He currently serves as a Fellow for the Education Program, and in his free time enjoys reading, drinking coffee, and playing soccer (but not all at once).