About me
Suzanne Bright, Ed.D is an educational leader and expert in the area of creating and sustaining caring, high-performing schools and organizations. Dr. Bright has over 25 years of diverse experience in leadership, school administration, character education, professional development, and comprehensive school reform. She now shares her passion for creating and sustaining healthy, caring, high-performing schools and organizations with other leaders across the country. Suzanne’s passion for character education was ignited through her participation in the Leadership Academy for Character Education (LACE) in 2001-2003. She went on to serve as a coach for the CHARACTERplus/U.S. Department of Education research project which yielded an evidence-based character education process proven to increase school-wide academic performance, lower classroom referrals, and improve culture and climate. In addition, she served as the CHARACTERplus Program Coordinator where she designed, led, and implemented the inaugural Missouri Schools of Character program, a parallel process to the National Schools of Character program conducted by Character Education Partnership. This program is still thriving and now boasts 69 Missouri Schools of Character. Dr. Bright went on to serve as the principal of a National School of Character in a National District of Character. Under her leadership, the school experienced significant academic growth and rose to rank in the top ten schools in Missouri. She successfully supported a safe, caring, and autonomous environment for students and staff and prioritized a staff culture built on listening, understanding, creating new insights, and celebrating success. Character education was the foundational component of this success. Dr. Bright served as a lead consultant for the Center for the Collaborative Classroom, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that all students become readers, writers, and thinkers who learn from, care for, and respect one another. As a lead consultant, she presented at local, state, and national conferences, worked with schools across the country, and was a contributing author to Caring School Community®. In addition to her extensive work as a consultant and keynote speaker, Dr. Bright has mentored aspiring principals through the Center for Character and Citizenship. She also teaches courses at Missouri Baptist University in the areas of leadership and curriculum and instruction. Currently in her role as Head of Principal Development at Premier Charter School in St. Louis, MO, Dr. Bright supports principals in gaining the expertise, skills, and mindset required to lead genuine learning communities where character education is an integral component of the curriculum and culture. In her free time, Suzanne enjoys family time with her husband, her adult son, and her two Havanese dogs. She also spends time working in her church ministry, hiking, and reading. She and her family enjoy traveling and frequently spend time in South Florida.