Staff - Vermont Afterschool

Our Team

BEN ARDEL

Program Support Coordinator

BEN ARDEL

Program Support Coordinator

Ben grew up participating in high-quality third-space programming and is passionate about supporting these programs in his work today. As the program support coordinator, Ben assists youth-serving programs by overseeing grant opportunities and reporting requirements, providing technical assistance and professional development, and supporting career pathways for professionals.

Before joining the Vermont Afterschool team, Ben spent over 10 years in the summer and afterschool field, working and directing programs for the YMCA and the Associated Recreation Council. In each role, Ben gained valuable experience coordinating programs for youth and developing curriculum for the third space. Ben graduated from Guilford College with degrees in history and environmental studies. When not at work, Ben enjoys exploring Vermont’s mountains and trails with his wife and adventure dog.

Email:ben@vermontafterschool.org

KATHLEEN BRAY

Program Assessment Specialist & Trainer

KATHLEEN BRAY

Program Assessment Specialist & Trainer

Kathleen is happy to be part of the Vermont Afterschool SPARQS team working with Vermont programs to meet their quality goals. Kathleen has over 20 years of experience as a director of two 21st Century Community Learning Center programs in Boston Public Schools and Chelsea Public Schools in Massachusetts. Previously, Kathleen worked as a youth and community organizer and as an afterschool program quality advisor for community-based grassroots organizations.

Kathleen brings her commitment to Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and belief that high-quality, affordable, and accessible third-space programs are essential to the social-emotional growth of young people as well as being essential to support working families, particularly those from marginalized communities. Kathleen graduated from Boston College with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and black studies and has a master’s degree in education policy, planning and administration and a master’s of social work macro practice from Boston University. Kathleen enjoys skiing and mountain biking with her family in the Northeast Kingdom and coaching youth soccer in Burlington.

Email:kathleen@vermontafterschool.org

MARLA GOLDSTEIN

Youth Resilience Coordinator

MARLA GOLDSTEIN

Youth Resilience Coordinator

Marla has been a youth worker for nearly 10 years, joyfully and accidentally discovering her passion for working with young people in undergrad. She holds a BS in human development and gender studies from Binghamton University and is currently pursuing her masters of education at UVM with interests in curriculum development and educational leadership.

Prior to joining Vermont Afterschool, Marla has worked as an autism behavior interventionist, county-wide dating violence prevention educator, and career exploration advocate for middle and high school girls. As the youth resilience coordinator, Marla is responsible for designing strategies and providing site support to improve social-emotional learning, trauma-informed care, and restorative practices for afterschool programs, youth serving organizations, and statewide communities.

Originally from Long Island, she spontaneously moved to Burlington in 2017 after spending a summer farming in rural New Hampshire and realizing there was no way she could live somewhere that has lots of traffic and no mountains ever again. Outside of work, you can catch her on the corner at Edmonds Middle School every morning as the “best dressed” crossing guard, riding her bike or walking down by the lake, and rearranging the furniture and decor in her lovingly curated apartment.

Email:marla@vermontafterschool.org

OLIVIA HARTWIG

Data & Impact Analyst

OLIVIA HARTWIG

Data & Impact Analyst

Olivia's career spans a unique intersection of disciplines that highlights their creative attitude towards problem-solving and their passion for collaboration. After earning a degree in Ceramics from Alfred University, they built a strong foundation in the arts, working across Vermont and New York in both afterschool programs and higher education settings.

They later transitioned into software engineering, specializing in enterprise reporting applications. This varied background informs Olivia’s holistic approach to data management, analysis, visualization, and reporting at Vermont Afterschool. By combining technical expertise with an educator’s perspective, they ensure that the stories data tells about youth and afterschool systems remain central to the organization’s work.

Email:rebecca@vermontafterschool.org

REBECCA HATIN

Business & Finance Manager

REBECCA HATIN

Business & Finance Manager

With an MBA and a bachelor’s in accounting, Rebecca’s mind is pulled toward math and business—but her heart has always been drawn to kids and nonprofit work. After learning about Vermont Afterschool while as the assistant director at an afterschool program in Essex Junction, she has followed the organization and watched its amazing work from afar. When a job opened up for a business and finance manager, she knew it was a job made specifically for her. She looks forward to doing a small part for kids in Vermont and helping our communities grow.

Rebecca spends her free time running, playing soccer, and spending time with her family—especially her daughter, Cora, and her dog, Benjamin.

Email:rebecca@vermontafterschool.org

SETH F. HIBBERT

Communications & Development Manager

SETH F. HIBBERT

Communications & Development Manager

After graduating with a BA in English and an emphasis on creative writing from the University of Hartford, Seth became firmly entrenched in the Vermont publishing world as an editor of STEM journals and academic texts. In 2015, with his infant son serving as his inspiration, and feeling the pull to put his writing skills to good use, Seth shifted his focus to nonprofit work. Prior to joining Vermont Afterschool, Seth was the senior content manager for Let’s Grow Kids, helping to advocate for public investment in high-quality, affordable child care.

As the father of a now elementary school kiddo, and with his family experiencing firsthand the struggle to find afterschool care, Seth is excited to use his expansive communications expertise to advance Vermont Afterschool’s mission to ensure all Vermont youth are active, engaged, connected, and heard. When he’s not in the office, you’ll find Seth exploring antique shops with his wife, in the yard with his brown dog, losing graciously on the volleyball court, or giving his son a raspberry.

Email:seth@vermontafterschool.org

KERRIE MATHES

Jr Iron Chef VT Coordinator

KERRIE MATHES

Jr Iron Chef VT Coordinator

Kerrie has a long history of professional cooking, catering, event planning, gardening and Farm-to-School coordination. She is passionate in her volunteer work with her community, school gardens, and classroom cooking and other non-profit youth organizations. She lives in Burlington, VT with her family and looks forward to cooking and gardening whenever possible.

Email:jrironchefvt@vermontafterschool.org

NICOLE MILLER

Executive Director

NICOLE MILLER

Executive Director

Nicole is deeply committed to ensuring equal access to third space programming for all Vermont youth. After serving as Vermont Afterschool's assistant director for nearly three years, focused on strengthening programs, statewide quality efforts, and the interconnectedness of the VTA team, Nicole was hired as the organization's executive director. She has more than 19 years of experience in afterschool programming and youth development, serving 10 years as a program director of a rural afterschool program in northeastern Vermont, and five years in providing professional development workshops for other afterschool professionals. She has a BA in elementary education from Johnson State College and believes that all youth should have access to high-quality and engaging afterschool programs. In 2014, Nicole was chosen as a Next Generation Leader by the National AfterSchool Association. She lives in Burlington and loves sitting by the lake and walking on nearby trails.

Email:nicole@vermontafterschool.org

KATIE O'SHEA

STEM & Career Awareness Coordinator

KATIE O'SHEA

STEM & Career Awareness Coordinator

As the STEM and career awareness coordinator, Katie supports afterschool programs and other youth-serving organizations in helping young people develop their self-identities and interests through a focus on STEM, work-based learning, financial literacy, and college/career pathways. Her focus is on equity, breaking down barriers to STEM learning experiences, and promoting promising career pathways for all youth.

Katie grew up in Franklin County and has continued to work in the area in various afterschool settings as a STEM instructor and as a middle school Science teacher. Katie has a teaching certification from Champlain College, a Masters in Education from the University of Derby, and a BA in biology from the University of Vermont. When not reading science articles, Katie loves working on her house with her husband, playing with her kitties, and going on walks by the lake.

Email:katie@vermontafterschool.org

TRICIA PAWLIK, M.Ed.

Senior Associate for Program Quality

TRICIA PAWLIK, M.Ed.

Senior Associate for Program Quality

In her role at Vermont Afterschool, Tricia supports professionals on the afterschool professional pathway and quality improvement initiatives. Tricia also co-leads Vermont Afterschool’s Leadership Exploration and Development Program (L.E.A.D.) for young professionals looking to earn a micro-credential in leadership, as well as provides training on various topics. Her passion is coaching and mentoring, so you can frequently find her traveling the state to work with staff and programs to support their work on STARS, licensing, program quality assessment (YPQA), and grant administration. Her overarching goal is to support program quality and improvement, collaboration among professionals, and advancement in the afterschool field.

Tricia graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in elementary education and has her master’s degree in education from Post University. She has over 25 years of experience directing school-age programs, developing youth programs, and providing support to professionals in the afterschool field in Vermont. Tricia currently serves on several statewide committees as the afterschool representative including STep Ahead Recognition System (STARS) oversight, STARS evolution, and the Professional Preparation and Development (PPD) committee, and was instrumental in developing Vermont’s core competencies for afterschool professionals. Tricia lives in Colchester with her family, enjoys outdoor adventures, and loves the New England Patriots.

Email:tricia@vermontafterschool.org

BECKA WILCKE

Operations & Events Assistant

BECKA WILCKE

Operations & Events Assistant

Becka's job has changed directions several times at Vermont Afterschool, settling into assisting with professional development operations and events. She enjoys puzzling together the needs of organizations and trainers' schedules for professional development workshops. She also assists with Jr Iron Chef VT and VTA's annual conference, membership program, and data collection.

When not dipping her fingers into everybody's business at work (whether they like it or not), you can find her chasing her son around, especially afterschool and in the summer, when the availability of care is so limited. Becka is happy to think that she plays a small part in helping other families find the assistance they need during those same hours, when it is so critical to be focusing on our kids.

Email:becka@vermontafterschool.org

BRIANNE SMITH

Youth Engagement Coordinator

BRIANNE SMITH

Youth Engagement Coordinator

Brianne began her time with Vermont Afterschool as our AmeriCorps Substance Use Prevention VISTA and is continuing her work in the Youth Engagement Coordinator role, where she will help support youth engagement efforts, youth councils, participatory budgeting, and the Vermont Youth Project. Brianne graduated from the University of Vermont in May 2020 with a BA in political science and economics. She has worked on a variety of projects from a political campaign to presenting at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston as part of the Fed Challenge, to volunteering as an income tax assistant at CVOEO. After studying abroad in Hong Kong, Brianne decided to write her honor’s thesis on the economic and political impact of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Her passions have once again shifted to focus on youth empowerment and preventative measures to ensure communities in Vermont are supportive and foster positive environments for youth to feel heard and to be engaged.

Email:brianne@vermontafterschool.org

MATT WOLF

Senior Associate for Youth Empowerment

MATT WOLF

Senior Associate for Youth Empowerment

Matt has worked with youth and young adults in Vermont for over 15 years – working to inspire and empower their leadership development and advocating for them in the Vermont system of care. Matt has done direct service work with young people in, or formerly in, foster care, as well as those involved in the corrections system and those struggling with their mental health or substance use. Matt has years of history promoting young adult leadership and peer support work statewide in Vermont, as well as training and supporting youth workers to develop a strengths-driven, empowerment system of care for a population of youth that is crossing the line between our children’s and adult service systems.

Email:matt@vermontafterschool.org

TAMI STAGNER

Program Assessment Specialist & Trainer

TAMI STAGNER

Program Assessment Specialist & Trainer

Tami has been working in licensed and 21st CCLC programs for the past 30 years and is currently the programs director for the Springfield School District’s All-4-One afterschool, before-school, and summer learning program. With a passion to help improve and expand afterschool programs to meet their needs and those of the staff and students they serve, Tami has spent the last 25 years serving Vermont’s wonderful afterschool community across the state through professional development committees, STARS assessments, program coaching and as a trainer.

Email:tami@vermontafterschool.org

Our Board

Vermont Afterschool places a high value on the contributions of all board members and the blend of their unique talents and commitments. We are grateful and deeply indebted to board members for their volunteer leadership resulting in improved educational and youth development outcomes for Vermont’s children and youth.