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Who We Are
SparkNC is driven by the collaborative efforts of the SparkNC Team, SparkLab Leaders, our Board of Directors, our Business Advisory Council, and a dedicated network of engaged district, industry and education partners. Together, these groups guide and shape SparkNC’s mission-driven work.
SparkNC Team
The SparkNC Team is passionate about reshaping education, especially for those who feel disconnected from traditional approaches to learning. With a strong commitment to education, we believe in the power of innovative educators to create meaningful, personalized learning experiences for every learner.
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Jamie Falkenbury
Apple, Inc.
Manager, Strategic Innovations
Adam Garry
Artifical Intelligence Consultant
Kate Groat
Live Oak Bank
Director of Corporate Philanthropy
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Kendall Latham
Lenovo
Education Strategist
Steve Isaacs
Epic Games
Senior Manager Programs and Partnerships
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Phaedra Boinodiris
IBM
Global Leader for Trustworthy AI
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Dexter Robinson
Cisco
Early-In-Career Talent
Business Advisory Council
Members of the SparkNC Business Advisory Council serve as thought partners in our work, brainstorming with our team to vet bold ideas from the perspective of business leaders with a deep commitment to K-12 public education.
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SparkLab Leaders
The heartbeat of SparkNC is our SparkLab Leaders. These innovative educators advise and support students as they navigate learning experiences and opportunities offered through SparkNC’s interdistrict model.
SparkLab Leaders facilitate in-person learning in their SparkLabs and they partner with other SparkLab Leaders and industry experts to deliver blended and remote learning experiences to students across the SparkNC interdistrict network.
Jennifer Milton
Cumberland County Schools
I love seeing students find their passion and get excited about their future.
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Chatham County Schools
I love seeing students find their passion and get excited about their future.
Nina Darnell
Cabarrus County Schools
Lollipop sweet cupcake gummi bears gingerbread candy lemon drops cotton candy. Sweet roll toffee pastry jujubes tiramisu sugar plum jelly beans fruitcake brownie. Marzipan jujubes oat cake chupa chups chupa chups.
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Jessica Tinnin
Asheboro City Schools
Lollipop sweet cupcake gummi bears gingerbread candy lemon drops cotton candy. Sweet roll toffee pastry jujubes tiramisu sugar plum jelly beans fruitcake brownie. Marzipan jujubes oat cake chupa chups chupa chups.
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Dr. Daniel DuLany
Granville County Schools
I love creating a space where every student can shine, lead, and shape the future.
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Zaina Goggins
Elizabeth City-Pasqutank Schools
I love seeing students find their passion and get excited about their future.
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Marquita Faison-Burrus
Edgecombe County Schools
Lollipop sweet cupcake gummi bears gingerbread candy lemon drops cotton candy. Sweet roll toffee pastry jujubes tiramisu sugar plum jelly beans fruitcake brownie. Marzipan jujubes oat cake chupa chups chupa chups.
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Chris Beneck
Edgecombe County Schools
Seeing my students push past the speedbumps they encounter in their work and getting to a finished product they can be proud of is my favorite part of being a SparkLab Leader.
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Sara Toothman
New Hanover County Schools
I love how SparkNC keeps the learner's experience as the focus of experiential learning. The traditional anchors of grades and seat time have been removed so learners can build life-long learning skills that will serve them long after they graduate.
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Barry Hill
Mount Airy City Schools
I love the freedom that SparkNC provides learners so that they can explore their interests and build a pathway toward their future success. It is an indescribable feeling to see high school students excited about coming to the SparkLab each day ready to challenges themselves in new learning.
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Garland Beamer
Lexington City Schools
I love seeing students find their passion and get excited about their future.
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Nicole Baize
Guilford County Schools
I love being a SparkLab leader and getting a front-row seat as scholars rise to the occasion every single time. They tackle challenges head-on, turn setbacks into learning moments, and constantly surprise me with how much they can achieve. I am so privileged to watch them grow, step up, and realize just how capable they truly are.
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Nicholas Barrett
Vance County Schools
I love the freedom that SparkNC provides learners so that they can explore their interests and build a pathway toward their future success. It is an indescribable feeling to see high school students excited about coming to the SparkLab each day ready to challenges themselves in new learning.
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Roshein McClain
Scotland County Schools
I love the freedom that SparkNC provides learners so that they can explore their interests and build a pathway toward their future success. It is an indescribable feeling to see high school students excited about coming to the SparkLab each day ready to challenges themselves in new learning.
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Ashlynn McNeely
Rowan-Salsibury Schools
I love seeing students find their passion and get excited about their future.
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William Bradshaw
Rockingham County Schools
From the creative energy of student-led podcasts, to the dynamics of budding rappers and DJs, to student exploration of SparkNC curriculum, to meeting so many talented SparkLab leaders from across the state, I’ve been thrilled by the talent and drive of people all around me. I’m especially proud of Kristi and Vince, our dedicated Spark Ambassadors.
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Lindsay Lewis
Wake East Campus
Lollipop sweet cupcake gummi bears gingerbread candy lemon drops cotton candy. Sweet roll toffee pastry jujubes tiramisu sugar plum jelly beans fruitcake brownie. Marzipan jujubes oat cake chupa chups chupa chups.
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Donald Evans
Wake RTP Campus
Lollipop sweet cupcake gummi bears gingerbread candy lemon drops cotton candy. Sweet roll toffee pastry jujubes tiramisu sugar plum jelly beans fruitcake brownie. Marzipan jujubes oat cake chupa chups chupa chups.
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Sasha Harrison
Warren County Schools
I love seeing students find their passion and get excited about their future.
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Partners & Funders
We are grateful to work with an extraordinary network of partners and funders who collaborate with our team to design and deliver learning experiences, support SparkNC’s operations and strategy development, and host special events to help students ignite their futures in tech!
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Board of Directors
Dr. Randy Bridges
Board Chair
Jennifer Bell
SAS
Dr. Bill Harrison
Education Consultant
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Allen Mask
CoLab
Dr. Jim Merrell
Education Consultant
Dr. Derwin Warren
Cisco