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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

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Adam Garry

Artifical Intelligence Consultant

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Kate Groat

Live Oak Bank

Director of Corporate Philanthropy

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Kendall Latham

Lenovo

Education Strategist

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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.

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Jennifer Milton

Cumberland County Schools

I love seeing students find their passion and get excited about their future.

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TBD

Chatham County Schools

I love seeing students find their passion and get excited about their future.

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Nina Darnell

Cabarrus County Schools

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Jessica Tinnin

Asheboro City Schools

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Daniel (Granville)

Dr. Daniel DuLany

Granville County Schools

I love creating a space where every student can shine, lead, and shape the future.

Zaina (Elizabeth-City)

Zaina Goggins

Elizabeth City-Pasqutank Schools

I love seeing students find their passion and get excited about their future.

Marquita (Edgecome)

Marquita Faison-Burrus

Edgecombe County Schools

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Chris (Edgecombe)

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.

Sara (New Hanover)

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. 

Barry (Mount Airy)

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.

Garland (Lexington)

Garland Beamer

Lexington City Schools

I love seeing students find their passion and get excited about their future.

Nicole (Guilford)

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.

Nicholas (Vance)

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.

William (Rockingham)

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.

Lindsay (Wake)

Lindsay Lewis

Wake East Campus

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Donald Evans

Wake RTP Campus

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Sasha (Warren)

Sasha Harrison

Warren County Schools

I love seeing students find their passion and get excited about their future.

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Lynn Moody

President

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Dana Brinson

Vice President of Strategy

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Keith Babuszczak

Vice President of Programs

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Joe Ableidinger

Senior Advisor & Co-Founder

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Patricia Hilliard

Senior Director of District Leadership

Amie Caudle

Amie Caudle

Creative Director

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Rayshoun Chambers

Director of Development & Business Partnerships 

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Morgan Draughon

Director of Technology

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Stanton Fields

Director of College & Career Navigation

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Kelly Martin

Administrative Manager

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McClain Musson

Director of Learning Design and Accessibility

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Nate Myers

Learning Experience Designer

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Stacey Shumake

Director of Implementation

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

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Dr. Randy Bridges

Board Chair

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Jennifer Bell

SAS

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Dr. Bill Harrison

Education Consultant

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Allen Mask

CoLab

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Dr. Jim Merrell

Education Consultant

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Dr. Derwin Warren

Cisco

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