Nicole Baize

Director of Learning & Lab Support

Nicole believes the most impactful learning happens when curiosity, authentic industry connections, and innovative instructional design come together to create opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom.

Nicole is passionate about transforming learning into meaningful, hands-on experiences that prepare students and educators for the future. She believes the most impactful learning happens when curiosity, authentic industry connections, and innovative instructional design come together to create opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom.

Before joining SparkNC, Nicole spent 18 years as a mathematics educator and 3 years as a SparkLab Leader with Guilford County Schools. As a SparkLab Leader, she designed innovative learning experiences in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, engineering, robotics, game development, and data analytics while expanding access to high-tech learning opportunities across North Carolina. She led statewide professional learning, launched collaborative initiatives connecting SparkLab Leaders across districts, developed learning experiences adopted across the SparkNC network, and built partnerships with industry, higher education, and community organizations to create authentic experiences for students.

Nicole is a National Board Certified Teacher and was selected for the 2025–2026 NCBCE AI Fellowship and the inaugural UNCG Scholastic Esports Alliance (SEA) Educator Cohort. She holds a bachelor's degree in Mathematics and a master's degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

While Stephan's career began on a dedicated Latin-teaching journey, his lifelong passion for technology eventually led him to transition into Creative Media and Computer Science—areas he has been passionately tinkering with since childhood.Stephan has been a proud North Carolinian for most of his life, and earned his Bachelor's degree in Classical Languages from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Driven by a profound curiosity about how people learn, Stephan focuses on leveraging computational principles to enhance modern education. He firmly believes that foundational computer science skills should be accessible to everyone. By demystifying technology and welcoming diverse minds into the field, he aims to help shape a more innovative, creative, and inclusive digital future.

Nicole is passionate about transforming learning into meaningful, hands-on experiences that prepare students and educators for the future. She believes the most impactful learning happens when curiosity, authentic industry connections, and innovative instructional design come together to create opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom.Before joining SparkNC, Nicole spent 18 years as a mathematics educator and 3 years as a SparkLab Leader with Guilford County Schools. As a SparkLab Leader, she designed innovative learning experiences in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, engineering, robotics, game development, and data analytics while expanding access to high-tech learning opportunities across North Carolina. She led statewide professional learning, launched collaborative initiatives connecting SparkLab Leaders across districts, developed learning experiences adopted across the SparkNC network, and built partnerships with industry, higher education, and community organizations to create authentic experiences for students.Nicole is a National Board Certified Teacher and was selected for the 2025–2026 NCBCE AI Fellowship and the inaugural UNCG Scholastic Esports Alliance (SEA) Educator Cohort. She holds a bachelor's degree in Mathematics and a master's degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.