This month, CharacterPlus recognized Superintendent Dr. Keith Marty with the Sandy McDonnell Dedication to Character Award for his commitment to character education in the region and beyond. The award, not given out annually, is the highest honor bestowed on an individual by the organization.

During the awards ceremony, CharacterPlus CEO Mike Park praised Dr. Marty for his leadership, mentorship, giving of time, dedication to character, and human connection. When introducing the Dedication to Character Award, Park describes the legacy of Sandy McDonnell, founder of CharacterPlus and Chairman Emeritus of the McDonnell Douglas Corporation (now Boeing), and the parallels to Dr. Marty’s impact.

Parkway elementary school, McKelvey Intermediate, was also recognized at the CharacterPlus event for being recertified as a Missouri State School of Character.

See below for a full transcript of Park’s comments about Sandy McDonnell and Dr. Keith Marty.

This recognition, the Sandy McDonnell Dedication to Character Award, is not one we give out every year. In fact, it's quite rare. Though I never had the privilege of meeting Sandy McDonnell myself, it’s almost uncanny how, when I tell people in St. Louis what I do and mention his name, they light up. They all seem to have their own ‘Sandy story.’ It's remarkable. It doesn’t matter who they are or where they come from—each of these stories shares one common thread: how he made them feel.

Empowered. Valued. Like they belonged. These aren't just words; they're the pillars of what CharacterPlus is built on today. Sandy’s legacy wasn’t just about leadership; it was about human connection.

One night stands out to me. I was having dinner with my wife and her fellow teaching assistant and her husband—someone I had never met before. As the conversation flowed, we men did what we often do: the customary "what do you do?" question. After I shared my story, he responded with one of his own—a moment that stuck with me. He told me about how he met Sandy McDonnell in Arizona, early in the morning, just before taking a run. A chance encounter that turned into a shared run together. Simple, yet profound. Time. It’s something we don’t always realize we’re giving, but when we do, it has the power to change everything. Sandy gave people his time, his attention, his care. He listened. He made them feel seen. And that’s what lives on.

I’ve been in this role for over five years now, and I can say, especially in that uncertain first year, when we were spinning off as a stand-alone organization, there were moments when I wasn’t sure how it would all turn out. But there was one phone call that gave me clarity—one person who reached out to invite me to sit down, who made me feel like I belonged. It was Dr. Marty.

Now, to understand what that meant to me, you have to know how I grew up. To me, community leaders were practically mythical— people like the school superintendent, the mayor, the police chief, the pastor of the biggest church, and whoever owned the business that gave the most jobs. So when Dr. Marty, someone I held in that same high regard, called me, I thought, "Me? Really?"

From that day on, he became a mentor to me, guiding me through challenges and triumphs, always willing to give his time—time that’s valuable, especially considering the size and complexity of the district he runs, which, by the way, is larger than 85% of the cities in Missouri. But he made time for me. He always did.

And just like Sandy McDonnell, he made me feel empowered, valued, like I belonged. I know that I’m not alone in this room when I say I have my ‘Dr. Marty story.’ Many of you do. And although I didn’t have the chance to know Sandy personally, I can say without hesitation that Dr. Marty is every bit the man that Sandy was. He carries forward that same dedication to character that we celebrate tonight as a superintendent whose Schools of Character awards are legion, who supports CharacterPlus work in schools that is regionally, nationally and internationally praised, and lastly as a long-time and selfless CharacterPlus board member.

To Dr. Marty, the 2024 Sandy McDonnell Dedication to Character recipient—you are a living testament to Sandy’s legacy, and we are all better for having you in our lives.

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