SPARK PARENT PARTNERS

Parent Partners are responsible for working alongside the parents of SPARK children and providing guidance. By sharing ideas through workshops and home visits, Parent Partners and parents can work together to help children get ready for kindergarten.

CANTON CITY PARENT PARTNERS
Linda Lairson

Alicia Toney
Holly Vanover
Delona Yohe

Stacy Kelly

MINERVA PARENT PARTNERS
Joan Gurganus
Jan Keating
Nichole Bryant
Pam Moody
Ronele Syme

ALLIANCE PARENT PARTNERS
Carrie Lemaster

Amy Mangus

THE SPARK LEADERSHIP TEAM

SPARK team members and our evaluation team --–Dr. Peter J. Leahy and Diane Banks, from The University of Akron—meet monthly to discuss project goals and to report on the fast-paced progress of the program. The meetings have proven to be very productive, and have kept the team on track as we move toward our ultimate goal: serving young children and their families. Bios on SPARK team members are listed below:

Shana Worley, Program Coordinator

As Program Coordinator, Shana has oversight of SPARK in the Canton City and Minerva Local School districts and works closely with the Early Childhood Education Alliance in Alliance, Ohio, to coordinate their SPARK program.

Shana heads a team of experts from a variety of fields monitoring and implementing all program aspects including fiscal, personnel and programs. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Kent State University and a master’s in business administration from Ashland University.

Shana is currently a member of the 21st Class of Leadership Stark County.

Beth Holderbaum, Minerva Recruitment Coordinator
Minerva – As the Recruitment Coordinator for Minerva Local Schools, Beth will be responsible for recruiting Minerva children and enrolling them in the SPARK program. She will schedule presentations during school events and activities in order to “spark” interest in the program. Beth is a graduate of Stark State College of Technology with an Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education degree and a Pre-Kindergarten Associate Certificate from the State Board of Education.

Currently, Beth serves as the Child Care Administrator at the Minerva Area YMCA where she oversees three child care sites at the facility: The YMCA’s preschool/ day care, before and after school child care, and the YMCA child care site in Malvern.

Joe French, Alliance Recruitment Coordinator

Alliance- As the Recruitment Coordinator for Alliance Local Schools, Joe will be responsible for recruiting Alliance children and enrolling them in the SPARK program. He will schedule presentations during school events and activities in order to “spark” interest in the program. Joe is a graduate of Kent State University and holds a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education from Ashland University.  Joe has been the director of two NAEYC accredited centers and has served as a mentor to centers seeking NAEYC accreditation.  He is an adjunct professor at Kent State University and Walsh University. 

Currently, Joe is the Executive Director of the Early Childhood Education Alliance, Inc.; an early childhood collaborative working with community leaders to align services for young children in the greater Alliance area.  Joe is a graduate of Leadership Stark County and serves on the board for SPARK Ohio, Canton Calvary Mission, the Early Childhood Resource Center, the Child and Adolescent Service Center and the Ohio United Way.  He serves as the Co-Chair for the Children and Youth Impact Council for United Way of Greater Stark County, the Kent State University Stark Alumni Chapter, and the Early Childhood Education Consortium.

Jan Webler , Transition Coordinator, Alliance City Schools

Jan serves as SPARK Transition Coordinator for Alliance City Schools. As Transition Coordinator she will work as a liaison between SPARK and building administrators to facilitate effective transition activities for Alliance students and families.

Jan earned her Bachelor of Science Degree and Masters Degree in Special Education from Kent State University and completed post-graduate work in Educational Administration at Ashland and Walsh Universities. She has been employed by Alliance City Schools for the past 27 years; working as a Special Education Teacher, Elementary Teacher, and Special Education Supervisor. She is currently serving as the Director of Pupil Services for Alliance City Schools.  Jan is also a graduate of Leadership Stark County, an active member of QUOTA, and serves on the Board for the Early Childhood Education Alliance, Inc.

Patricia Millsaps-Linger, Ph.D, Assessment
As part of the Assessment Team, Patricia will be responsible for completing in-depth assessments for all SPARK children referred through the developmental screening process.

Patricia received a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology, a master’s in counseling psychology, and a Ph.D., also in counseling psychology; all from The University of Akron.
She has worked with children, adolescents and families in Stark County since 1988. Patricia worked at the Child and Adolescent Service Center (community mental health agency) from 1988-1990; and since 1990, has settled into private practice.

Since 1998, she has shared the practice, Psychological Solutions, with Cecilia Schweizer, Ph.D., who is also part of the SPARK Assessment Team. Patricia has also contracted with the Canton City Schools’ Early Childhood Program; working as part of the Early Childhood Assessment Team from 1998-2003.

Jim Borrieci, Communications Coordinator
As Communications Coordinator, Jim is responsible for developing and implementing a marketing plan for SPARK Ohio which includes: quarterly communications, web page development, media relations, press packets and coordination of materials for events and meetings. Jim received his Bachelor of Science degree in Advertising from The University of Akron. Presently, Jim serves as Local Sales Manager at WRL Advertising, Inc. At WRL, Jim handles media relations, press releases, event marketing, marketing research and public relations campaigns for a diverse list of clients. He also serves as a copywriter.

Cecilia Schweizer, Ph.D, Assessment Coordinator
Like Patricia, Cecilia will also be contributing her vast knowledge of early childhood psychology to the SPARK Assessment Team through developmental screenings and assessments. As Assessment Coordinator for SPARK, Cecelia will oversee the developmental screening process and the learning plans for children. Cecilia earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s in school psychology, and a Ph.D in counseling psychology; all from The University of Akron.

Currently, Cecilia works as a private practice psychologist at Psychological Solutions. Prior to this position, she served as a school psychologist with Canton City Schools for 26 years, with over 10 years of specialization as an early childhood psychologist.

Cecilia has served as Chair of Canton City Schools’ Early Childhood Assessment Team; Chair of Evaluation/ Grant Committee of Stark County’s Early Intervention Collaborative; and Chair of Canton City Schools’ Preschool Special Education Committee. She has developed and coordinated the Kindergarten Screening Program for Canton City Schools, and has also developed and implemented the Early Childhood Integrated Preschool Program there.

Deborah White, Transition Leader Minerva – As Transition Leader, Deborah will be responsible for overseeing the transitions component for the Minerva Local School System. She will work closely with Suzanne and Judith to establish institutional readiness committees and to develop joint professional development opportunities for early childhood practitioners and kindergarten teachers. She will also provide advice and assistance with recruitment and identification of potential parent partner candidates in the Minerva area. Deborah earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and elementary education from Mount Union College and her master’s in guidance and counseling from Kent State University.

For the last 12 years, Deborah has served as the Director of Special Services for Minerva Local Schools. She has been an educator for 30 years; working as the Student Services Coordinator/ Guidance Counselor for Minerva Local Schools and teaching elementary and middle school at Boardman and Plain Local Schools. Deborah also served on the SPARK Leadership Team and will continue as Minerva’s representative on the SPARK Advisory Board.

SPARK Advisory Board
Mary Dunlap
Patricia Gramoy
Debbie Wensel
Susanna Krey
Susan Kunkle
Linda Sklar
Rabbi John Spitzer
Candy Wallace

Joe French
Debbie White
Susan Whitmore