Our Leadership

Project Appleseed's award winning staff has over 75 years of combined leadership and experience in education, government, public policy, fund raising and communications. For nearly two decades, Project Appleseed has inspired millions of parents to volunteer in thousands of schools nationwide. The organization has had a leading role in spreading effective parental involvement practices across the United States. Project Appleseed is powered by dozens of pro bono, skilled volunteers, who are too numerous to be featured here. These are people who donate their lives and professional level services as unpaid consultants to Project Appleseed. Our volunteers are highly skilled and bring experience, expertise, and perspective to the organization. We thank them for their dedication and service!

Parent & Family Engagement & Organizing

Mr. Kevin Walker

President & National Director

St. Louis, MO

Kevin Walker is Project Appleseed's founder, president and national director. He oversees all of the current and future programs of the organization. As president and national director, he provides leadership in program development, organizational and financial planning while working with the volunteers, staff and board to carry out plans and policies. Hands-on work is frequently required at all levels of the president's job. Mr. Walker represents the program's point of view to news organizations, government, agencies, organizations, and the general public. Like President Barack Obama, Mr. Walker began working as a community organizer in the early 1980’s. Mr. Walker is a national award winning organizer and public policy professional and has 30 years of local, state and national experience. He is the parent of four public school graduates. Click here for full biography.

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Remle Beard

Ms. Remle Beard

Vice-President & National Field Director

Washington, DC - Abbeville, SC

Ms. Beard directs Project Appleseed’s grassroots outreach. She has managed many national and regional grassroots programs that benefit parents, effecting public policy, public relations of compa- nies, by relying on coalition and team building skills; resulting in consensus with thousands of people from all walks of life. Throughout every phase and experience with Project Appleseed, Beard brings together her creative thinking with her good common sense. Strong alone, but best when managing a well developed team, Beard brings together leadership with the ability to get the most (and best) from those she works with. Beard is also an accomplished spokeswoman voicing the interest of Project Appleseed through speeches before civic, private, and organizational groups. Education - Successful in all areas of funding for Headstart, The Reauthorization of the l967 Guaranteed Student Loan program and Pell grant, First Steps, school referendums, school infrastructure, and parental involvement programs. Ms. Beard has served as the Abbeville County (South Carolina) Democratic Party Chairwoman. She served as the Field Director for Joe Biden for President in South Carolina in 2008. She served as the campaign manager in Jack Carter's 2006 U.S. Senate campaign in Nevada and the Upstate Political Director (Greenville) on Howard Dean's 2003-04 South Carolina primary campaign. She was also the Gore-Lieberman South Carolina state director in Fall 2000. Ms. Beard and Mr. Walker first worked together in Hands Across America in 1986 when they directed the field and marketing staffs respectively. Ms. Beard tudied at Missouri State University. (Above: Remle Beard with Rep. John Lewis - GA)

Ms. Julie Rosemeyer Kruempel

Vice-President & Marketing Director (Consultant)

St. Louis, MO

Julie Rosemeyer Kruempel has a successful track record in strategic partnerships, event management, marketing/advertising campaigns and media relations (including TV, radio, print, outdoor and online). Over the past decade, developing online applications (website, e-commerce, tracking stats) and more recently identifying social media vehicles has been a strong component of her work. Implementing elements that strengthen Project Appleseed’s brand and community presence is always a staple in her marketing plans. Julie believes in providing top quality customer service is key to both internal and external clients. Julie possess strong leadership experience in the not-for-profit sector and has extensive interaction with the local education community on various levels. Her experience includes long-term positions at high profile venues such as the Gateway Arch, St. Louis Science Center, St. Louis Cardinals, Dance St. Louis and as the Associate Executive Director for the St. Louis office of Children’s Miracle Network. Julie attended the University of Missouri – Columbia and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (1983)

Ms. Avis May

Director of Family and School Engagement

St. Louis, MO

The Director of the Family and School Engagement is responsible for coordinating and increasing parental engagement and community partnerships. Avis May establishes and nurtures relationships with Project Appleseed's programs and initiatives that deepen the association between the school and the community. Ms. May has served as a Family & Community Specialist in St. Louis Public Schools. She is a graduate of Tarkio College, St. Louis, with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Management Information Systems; Business Management (1989).

The Brown School of Social Work

Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement

Washington University in St. Louis

Project Appleseed has partnered with Washington University's Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement and the Brown School of Social Work. Each year Project Appleseed has an oppurtunity for graduate social work students to be assigned to work with Project Appleseed and struggling St. Louis families. This year graduate students produced research for a $5 million plan to help reduce the digital divide also known as the "homework gap" for 8,000 families in North St. Louis City and County. Students apply their academic learning to community-engaged projects at organizations in the St. Louis area. Through these projects, students have the opportunity to develop social work skills in community-based settings and learn from professionals. Organizations benefit from the skills and expertise of Brown students in completion of a defined project. The Brown School partners with the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement to develop the community projects for this course. The 2018 and 2017 Project Appleseed teams at the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. Pictured above: Emily Blumenthal, Elise Brown, Angie Bush, Janet Frederick, Cait Zona, Pictured below April Hart, Hailey Kusch, Jamie Martos, Samantha Knight, Nay’Chelle Harris & Bianca Kaushal.

Board of Advisors

Mr. Kevin Walker, Project Appleseed, President

Ms. Remle Beard, Project Appleseed

Mr. Randy Andrews, Side Street

Mr. Donn Rice, LCSW

Mr. Justin Walker, Boeing Company

Ms. Olivia Walker, Diversified Inustries

Mr. Andy Thomas, General Electric