CharterFolk X Volume 5.14, Bette Morff — “At the center, or the core of her belief is that the students are served at a very high level.”

The below feature was produced by CharterFolk’s Dean Drescher. Find the original story here.

In 1973, Bette Morff began her career at the Missouri Department of Education. It was the beginning of a journey serving students, schools, and educators that would span more than 50 years.

At the education department, Bette oversaw major aspects of state finance for 37 years. But in addition to a comprehensive knowledge of school funding and compliance, Bette built something else: A name for herself.

“I’ve always known of Bette, since I’ve been in education. I don’t even think I knew Bette’s last name, I just knew of ‘The Bette,’” said Gloria Howell, director of member services for the Missouri Charter Public School Association (MCPSA). “I started in charter school education in 2012 in operations and finance. And Bette was a very dominant figure.”

Moving to support charter schools 

In 2010, Bette began working for MCPSA, overseeing federal programs, finance, and grants. As MCPSA’s federal programs director, Bette worked closely with the state department of education and member charter schools to ensure the timely, efficient submission of required data.

Bette became a trusted advocate and advisor, working with the state to reduce unnecessary paperwork and make sure that legal requirements were met. She shepherded many member charter schools through a labyrinth of deadlines, budget submissions, and financial reports.

“The Missouri Charter Public School Association and our member schools would not be where they are today without Bette’s unwavering support, generosity, and deep knowledge,” said Noah Devine, MCPSA’s executive director (Noah recently wrote a piece for CharterFolk about Missouri’s dramatically changed charter school landscape.) “We are profoundly grateful to Bette for her many years of dedication to public education.”

‘A great teacher’ 

As anyone in education knows, the world of compliance and reporting can be complicated, intricate, and intimidating. Bette helped detangle the web for many school leaders.

She provided training and guidance on federal programs and special education budgets, MOSIS/Core data, tiered monitoring, staff assignment reports, ESEA evaluations and plan updates. Bette also led training on ESSER and GEER funds and provided administrative support for a charter school consortium serving students experiencing homelessness.

“She was a great teacher—she really taught them how to go about that work, which again, can be very complex. She—directly through her support and her work— ensured that many, many schools were in compliance and in good standing with the state,” said Doug Thaman, who worked with Bette for more than a decade as a former MCPSA executive director. “And that just helps to keep the school running efficiently and in a well-organized manner.”

Doug is now the executive director of North Side Community School in St. Louis. But his time with Bette at MCPSA is still paying dividends.

“There are things that I just do now that I would not have known how to do if it had not been for Bette and working alongside her and learning from her,” Doug said. “The impact she’s had on me in turn has had an impact on our school.”

Impact on the charter sector 

Bette had a wide-ranging impact, despite the in-the-weeds nature of her work.

“A lot of her work is behind-the-scenes-type work, but she made a big difference and is deserving of any and all recognition and celebration,” Doug said.

Gloria agreed—and highlighted how Bette’s hard work helped stabilize the charter school sector in Missouri.

“When you have new charter schools, the foundation is already laid, so they don’t have to go through some of the same roadblocks or obstacles because that has already been done, the relationships have been established, we’ve already tested that,” Gloria said. “It has stabilized the sector as a whole. And Bette played a big part in that.”

Retirement 

As Bette approached retirement, Gloria joined MCPSA, working closely with Bette for a year to soak up all her institutional knowledge and prepare to take on her role.

“I admire her a lot. I love her tenacity and approach to the work. We connected over the dedication—not that we could just check the boxes—but that the work that we’re doing ensures that students have good outcomes,” Gloria said. “That’s really at the center, or the core of her belief, is that the students are served at a very high level.”

Bette retired at the start of 2025. Because she laid such a strong foundation, when Gloria stepped into her role, it shifted and broadened.

“Charter schools are in a better position with compliance and have more experience and seasoned staff members that can carry that work through,” Gloria said.

But one thing did not change: There’s only one Bette in Missouri education.

“There are a lot of people who have been working in the sector and in education for a long time,” Gloria said. “But there’s nobody that you just know by one name, by their first name: Bette.”