Program Support Coordinator
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.
Business & Finance Manager
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.
Jr Iron Chef VT Coordinator
Jr Iron Chef VT Coordinator
Kerrie brings 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.
Executive Director
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 16 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.
Program Assessment Specialist & Trainer
Program Assessment Specialist & Trainer
Over the past 25 years, Dacia has worked in youth and family programs primarily in the out-of- school time in both California and Vermont. Beginning as a camp counselor in 1999 and continuing to grow within the organizations, she has risen to the director level. She looks forward to using her skills, knowledge, experience, and commitment to equitable, quality programming to help increase the quality and efficacy of third-space programs across the state.
Dacia holds a bachelor’s degree in English from UC Santa Barbara, and a master's degree in executive leadership from Champlain College. She enjoys giving back to her local community and is currently a part of 100+ Women Who Care of Chittenden County as well as a committed volunteer at the Shelburne Food Shelf. In addition to her role with Vermont Afterschool, Dacia also manages VTAEYC’s Student Loan Repayment Assistance Program and feels that these roles together help to elevate and support vital, oftentimes under-resourced work-forces in Vermont.
She is a proud mom of two teens and enjoys reading, writing, a good joke, a strong cup of coffee, and any wonders the natural landscape of Vermont has to offer, especially those near water.
Operations & Events Assistant
Operations & Events Assistant
Working with Vermont Afterschool for the past 2 years, Becka's job has changed directions several times, 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.
Program Assessment Specialist & Trainer
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.
Communications & Development Manager
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 two brown dogs, losing graciously on the volleyball court, or giving his son a raspberry.
VYP Community Coordinator for Cabot
VYP Community Coordinator for Cabot
A native Vermonter, Laura graduated from Stowe High School and attended Barnard College, Columbia University. Since returning to Vermont, she has worked with youth in a number of capacities—as a school librarian, as a writing and literature teacher at Pacem School, and as a creative writing mentor. She’s committed to supporting young people as they identify their strengths and develop solutions to the challenges they face. In addition to her work as a community coordinator, Laura writes short stories and novels for young people. She also teaches writing and literature at Pacem School and teaches creative writing at Solstice, Lasell University’s low-residency MFA in creative writing program. When she’s not working with young people, you might find her wandering in the woods or writing in her little witch’s tower, a small corner room in her house in the woods, while her dog and cat sleepily stand guard with one eye half-open for ghost and fairy visitors.
VYP Community Coordinator for Barre
VYP Community Coordinator for Barre
In their role as the community coordinator for the Vermont Youth Project in Barre, Elle is eager to work with youth as they engage with practices of power-sharing, including participatory budgeting. Elle believes strongly in the power-with model of practicing community—which is based in collaboration and celebrating the unique knowledge of each individual. They are excited to facilitate conversations that give youth the opportunity to explore the unique potentials of Barre so they can create projects that are meaningful, inspiring, and fun!
Elle has two degrees from Goddard College in which they explored trauma studies, sexuality, and liberatory education. They focused on power-sharing in education for their master's thesis, which was completed in 2022. Additionally, Elle is the director of community for Embody Dance Conference, a national non-profit dance convention whose mission is to cultivate a safer, more inclusive dance community. They say their work, wherever it takes them, always focuses on one thing: supporting community.
Elle enjoys traveling, dancing, playing board games with their children, Maxwell (12) and August (7), and taking walks in the woods on their land.
Senior Associate for Program Quality
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.
Senior Associate for Youth Empowerment
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.
Youth Resilience Coordinator
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.
VYP Community Coordinator for Franklin County
VYP Community Coordinator for Franklin County
Jordan is a native Vermonter from Swanton. She received a BA in professional studies with a focus in psychology as well as another degree in criminal justice from Northern Vermont University. Jordan has worked with many local agencies in the past such as CVOEO, Samaritan House, Swanton School District, and Abenaki Nations of the Missisquoi. As the mother of three children, Jordan knows the importance of ongoing, accessible, and non-discriminatory afterschool programming.
As the VYP community coordinator for Franklin County, Jordan will work with local youth to empower and support self-advocacy and engagement, providing guidance in planning and executing the needs of each town based on the voices and opinions of the youth. As a member of the local community and having both life and professional experience here, Jordan is looking forward to working with local leaders alongside youth to make their ideas a reality.
When Jordan isn't working with local youth, she works full-time in mental health as an urgent care case manager for Howard Center. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her children outdoors, watching her daughter's sporting events, kayaking and fishing, listening to music, painting, and game and movie nights!
VYP Community Coordinator for Bennington
VYP Community Coordinator for Bennington
As the VYP community coordinator for Bennington County, Taylor is working hard to get the youth voice heard and recognized within their community. In addition to her work at Vermont Afterschool, she is also the associate director for the Berkshire Family YMCA. In this role, Taylor is able to enjoy community members of all ages and stages. Before her work with the YMCA, Taylor went to college in the Boston area working on a degree in education. After graduation, she moved back to Vermont to be near her family. She enjoys spending her free time with family and her dog. She loves to read and spend time outdoors, especially when the weather starts warming up!
STEM & Career Awareness Coordinator
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 for the past 3 years, as a middle school Science teacher. Katie is a Vermont licensed middle and high school science teacher, with 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 going on walks with her dogs, hanging out by the lake, eating creemees in the summer, and drinking hot chocolate in the winter.
Youth Engagement Coordinator
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.
Program Support Coordinator
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.
Youth Resilience Coordinator
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.
Communications & Development Manager
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 two brown dogs, losing graciously on the volleyball court, or giving his son a raspberry.
Jr Iron Chef VT Coordinator
Jr Iron Chef VT Coordinator
Kerrie brings 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.
VYP Community Coordinator for Bennington
VYP Community Coordinator for Bennington
As the VYP community coordinator for Bennington County, Taylor is working hard to get the youth voice heard and recognized within their community. In addition to her work at Vermont Afterschool, she is also the associate director for the Berkshire Family YMCA. In this role, Taylor is able to enjoy community members of all ages and stages. Before her work with the YMCA, Taylor went to college in the Boston area working on a degree in education. After graduation, she moved back to Vermont to be near her family. She enjoys spending her free time with family and her dog. She loves to read and spend time outdoors, especially when the weather starts warming up!
VYP Community Coordinator for Barre
VYP Community Coordinator for Barre
In their role as the community coordinator for the Vermont Youth Project in Barre, Elle is eager to work with youth as they engage with practices of power-sharing, including participatory budgeting. Elle believes strongly in the power-with model of practicing community—which is based in collaboration and celebrating the unique knowledge of each individual. They are excited to facilitate conversations that give youth the opportunity to explore the unique potentials of Barre so they can create projects that are meaningful, inspiring, and fun!
Elle has two degrees from Goddard College in which they explored trauma studies, sexuality, and liberatory education. They focused on power-sharing in education for their master's thesis, which was completed in 2022. Additionally, Elle is the director of community for Embody Dance Conference, a national non-profit dance convention whose mission is to cultivate a safer, more inclusive dance community. They say their work, wherever it takes them, always focuses on one thing: supporting community.
Elle enjoys traveling, dancing, playing board games with their children, Maxwell (12) and August (7), and taking walks in the woods on their land.
Program Assessment Specialist & Trainer
Program Assessment Specialist & Trainer
Over the past 25 years, Dacia has worked in youth and family programs primarily in the out-of- school time in both California and Vermont. Beginning as a camp counselor in 1999 and continuing to grow within the organizations, she has risen to the director level. She looks forward to using her skills, knowledge, experience, and commitment to equitable, quality programming to help increase the quality and efficacy of third-space programs across the state.
Dacia holds a bachelor’s degree in English from UC Santa Barbara, and a master's degree in executive leadership from Champlain College. She enjoys giving back to her local community and is currently a part of 100+ Women Who Care of Chittenden County as well as a committed volunteer at the Shelburne Food Shelf. In addition to her role with Vermont Afterschool, Dacia also manages VTAEYC’s Student Loan Repayment Assistance Program and feels that these roles together help to elevate and support vital, oftentimes under-resourced work-forces in Vermont.
She is a proud mom of two teens and enjoys reading, writing, a good joke, a strong cup of coffee, and any wonders the natural landscape of Vermont has to offer, especially those near water.
Youth Engagement Coordinator
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.
Senior Associate for Youth Empowerment
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.
Program Assessment Specialist & Trainer
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.
Business & Finance Manager
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.
VYP Community Coordinator for Franklin County
VYP Community Coordinator for Franklin County
Jordan is a native Vermonter from Swanton. She received a BA in professional studies with a focus in psychology as well as another degree in criminal justice from Northern Vermont University. Jordan has worked with many local agencies in the past such as CVOEO, Samaritan House, Swanton School District, and Abenaki Nations of the Missisquoi. As the mother of three children, Jordan knows the importance of ongoing, accessible, and non-discriminatory afterschool programming.
As the VYP community coordinator for Franklin County, Jordan will work with local youth to empower and support self-advocacy and engagement, providing guidance in planning and executing the needs of each town based on the voices and opinions of the youth. As a member of the local community and having both life and professional experience here, Jordan is looking forward to working with local leaders alongside youth to make their ideas a reality.
When Jordan isn't working with local youth, she works full-time in mental health as an urgent care case manager for Howard Center. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her children outdoors, watching her daughter's sporting events, kayaking and fishing, listening to music, painting, and game and movie nights!
VYP Community Coordinator for Cabot
VYP Community Coordinator for Cabot
A native Vermonter, Laura graduated from Stowe High School and attended Barnard College, Columbia University. Since returning to Vermont, she has worked with youth in a number of capacities—as a school librarian, as a writing and literature teacher at Pacem School, and as a creative writing mentor. She’s committed to supporting young people as they identify their strengths and develop solutions to the challenges they face. In addition to her work as a community coordinator, Laura writes short stories and novels for young people. She also teaches writing and literature at Pacem School and teaches creative writing at Solstice, Lasell University’s low-residency MFA in creative writing program. When she’s not working with young people, you might find her wandering in the woods or writing in her little witch’s tower, a small corner room in her house in the woods, while her dog and cat sleepily stand guard with one eye half-open for ghost and fairy visitors.
Executive Director
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 16 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.
STEM & Career Awareness Coordinator
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 for the past 3 years, as a middle school Science teacher. Katie is a Vermont licensed middle and high school science teacher, with 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 going on walks with her dogs, hanging out by the lake, eating creemees in the summer, and drinking hot chocolate in the winter.
Senior Associate for Program Quality
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.
Operations & Events Assistant
Operations & Events Assistant
Working with Vermont Afterschool for the past 2 years, Becka's job has changed directions several times, 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.
Program Support Coordinator
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.
Program Assessment Specialist & Trainer
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.
Youth Resilience Coordinator
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.
Business & Finance Manager
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.
Communications & Development Manager
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 two brown dogs, losing graciously on the volleyball court, or giving his son a raspberry.
VYP Community Coordinator for Franklin County
VYP Community Coordinator for Franklin County
Jordan is a native Vermonter from Swanton. She received a BA in professional studies with a focus in psychology as well as another degree in criminal justice from Northern Vermont University. Jordan has worked with many local agencies in the past such as CVOEO, Samaritan House, Swanton School District, and Abenaki Nations of the Missisquoi. As the mother of three children, Jordan knows the importance of ongoing, accessible, and non-discriminatory afterschool programming.
As the VYP community coordinator for Franklin County, Jordan will work with local youth to empower and support self-advocacy and engagement, providing guidance in planning and executing the needs of each town based on the voices and opinions of the youth. As a member of the local community and having both life and professional experience here, Jordan is looking forward to working with local leaders alongside youth to make their ideas a reality.
When Jordan isn't working with local youth, she works full-time in mental health as an urgent care case manager for Howard Center. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her children outdoors, watching her daughter's sporting events, kayaking and fishing, listening to music, painting, and game and movie nights!
Jr Iron Chef VT Coordinator
Jr Iron Chef VT Coordinator
Kerrie brings 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.
VYP Community Coordinator for Cabot
VYP Community Coordinator for Cabot
A native Vermonter, Laura graduated from Stowe High School and attended Barnard College, Columbia University. Since returning to Vermont, she has worked with youth in a number of capacities—as a school librarian, as a writing and literature teacher at Pacem School, and as a creative writing mentor. She’s committed to supporting young people as they identify their strengths and develop solutions to the challenges they face. In addition to her work as a community coordinator, Laura writes short stories and novels for young people. She also teaches writing and literature at Pacem School and teaches creative writing at Solstice, Lasell University’s low-residency MFA in creative writing program. When she’s not working with young people, you might find her wandering in the woods or writing in her little witch’s tower, a small corner room in her house in the woods, while her dog and cat sleepily stand guard with one eye half-open for ghost and fairy visitors.
VYP Community Coordinator for Bennington
VYP Community Coordinator for Bennington
As the VYP community coordinator for Bennington County, Taylor is working hard to get the youth voice heard and recognized within their community. In addition to her work at Vermont Afterschool, she is also the associate director for the Berkshire Family YMCA. In this role, Taylor is able to enjoy community members of all ages and stages. Before her work with the YMCA, Taylor went to college in the Boston area working on a degree in education. After graduation, she moved back to Vermont to be near her family. She enjoys spending her free time with family and her dog. She loves to read and spend time outdoors, especially when the weather starts warming up!
Executive Director
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 16 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.
VYP Community Coordinator for Barre
VYP Community Coordinator for Barre
In their role as the community coordinator for the Vermont Youth Project in Barre, Elle is eager to work with youth as they engage with practices of power-sharing, including participatory budgeting. Elle believes strongly in the power-with model of practicing community—which is based in collaboration and celebrating the unique knowledge of each individual. They are excited to facilitate conversations that give youth the opportunity to explore the unique potentials of Barre so they can create projects that are meaningful, inspiring, and fun!
Elle has two degrees from Goddard College in which they explored trauma studies, sexuality, and liberatory education. They focused on power-sharing in education for their master's thesis, which was completed in 2022. Additionally, Elle is the director of community for Embody Dance Conference, a national non-profit dance convention whose mission is to cultivate a safer, more inclusive dance community. They say their work, wherever it takes them, always focuses on one thing: supporting community.
Elle enjoys traveling, dancing, playing board games with their children, Maxwell (12) and August (7), and taking walks in the woods on their land.
STEM & Career Awareness Coordinator
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 for the past 3 years, as a middle school Science teacher. Katie is a Vermont licensed middle and high school science teacher, with 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 going on walks with her dogs, hanging out by the lake, eating creemees in the summer, and drinking hot chocolate in the winter.
Program Assessment Specialist & Trainer
Program Assessment Specialist & Trainer
Over the past 25 years, Dacia has worked in youth and family programs primarily in the out-of- school time in both California and Vermont. Beginning as a camp counselor in 1999 and continuing to grow within the organizations, she has risen to the director level. She looks forward to using her skills, knowledge, experience, and commitment to equitable, quality programming to help increase the quality and efficacy of third-space programs across the state.
Dacia holds a bachelor’s degree in English from UC Santa Barbara, and a master's degree in executive leadership from Champlain College. She enjoys giving back to her local community and is currently a part of 100+ Women Who Care of Chittenden County as well as a committed volunteer at the Shelburne Food Shelf. In addition to her role with Vermont Afterschool, Dacia also manages VTAEYC’s Student Loan Repayment Assistance Program and feels that these roles together help to elevate and support vital, oftentimes under-resourced work-forces in Vermont.
She is a proud mom of two teens and enjoys reading, writing, a good joke, a strong cup of coffee, and any wonders the natural landscape of Vermont has to offer, especially those near water.
Senior Associate for Program Quality
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.
Youth Engagement Coordinator
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.
Operations & Events Assistant
Operations & Events Assistant
Working with Vermont Afterschool for the past 2 years, Becka's job has changed directions several times, 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.
Senior Associate for Youth Empowerment
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.
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.
Jim has been in the education field 27 years as a teacher, principal and superintendent, and is the co-founder and advisor for SchoolSpring. He has managed school districts with multi-million dollar budgets. As a school administrator he was considered a leader and entrepreneur, especially in the area of technology. As principal of Champlain Valley Union High School, Jim pioneered the first distance-learning program in the Northeast. Since 1990, doing business as Fitzpatrick Associates, Jim has provided in-service and keynotes to educators around the world on issues involving responsibility, organizational climate, school culture and positive discipline. He is a member of various national educational groups and has traveled to over 25 countries and 40 states for his work. He holds a master's degree and certificate of advanced study in administration and planning from UVM and a bachelor's degree in history and geography from Kent State University.
Chair
Chair
Katie has worked in higher education since 1997, beginning as an admissions counselor at her alma mater, Middlebury College. In 2002, she graduated from the University of Vermont’s Higher Education and Student Affairs program. She has worked at the Community College of Vermont for the past twenty years in a variety of roles including Coordinator of Academic Services and Co-Director of Secondary Education Initiatives, where she was involved with ACT 77 and the Expanded Learning Task Force. Katie is currently CCV's Dean of Enrollment and Community Relations. Outside of work, you can often find her coaching soccer or driving her kids to hockey rinks.
Treasurer
Treasurer
Former Chair
Former Chair
Barbara is a retired teacher, principal, and afterschool program director. She currently volunteers her time working on advocacy and policy issues for Vermont Afterschool—with the focus on universal afterschool opportunities and access for all youth in Vermont. She has over 30 years of experience working in education with much of that work focused on literacy. Barbara earned a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Vermont, supplemented by extensive coursework in education leadership. In her spare time, she enjoys playing percussion in a variety of music groups and reading a good book by the lake.
Rich Tulikangas currently serves as director of the Vermont Career Advancement Project, a statewide initiative through HireAbility Vermont to support career pathway development for youth and adults with disabilities. He has been passionate about helping prepare young people for life beyond high school and has been a leader of numerous programs and organizations in Vermont and nationally with that focus for over 30 years. He served as founding executive director of Linking Learning to Life/Navicate, Work-Based Learning Director for the National Academy Foundation (now NAF), Consultant and Program Director in several capacities for the VT Agency of Education and was loaned to the Governor’s Office to develop the state’s School-To-Work plan. Rich has a BS in natural resources from the University of Michigan and an MEd from the University of Vermont in human and organizational resource development. He has presented at numerous state, regional, and national conferences, and he teaches a course at Castleton University focused on supporting secondary educators with successfully developing and managing high-quality work-based learning programs.
Oluwadare Sowunmi's parents originate from Lagos, Nigeria, and he is the first generation in his family born in the U.S. (in the Bronx, NY). Oluwadare was a 5-year collegiate athlete at Castleton University and graduated with a BS in Business and an MS in Athletic Leadership. With a deep passion for working with youth, he currently serves as the athletic and activities director at Colchester High School. In his spare time, you can catch him coaching or watching youth sports across the state of Vermont.