Staff - Vermont Afterschool

Our Team

Umesh Acharya

Youth Resilience Coordinator

Umesh Acharya

Youth Resilience Coordinator

As the Youth Resilience Coordinator, Umesh is responsible for designing strategies to improve social-emotional learning, trauma-informed care, and restorative practices for the afterschool programs and communities. In addition, he coordinates the Building Flourishing Communities initiative to create public awareness on adverse childhood experiences and how it affects brain development.

Before joining our team, Umesh worked as the teen director for Sara Holbrook Community Center, where he gained experience in designing and implementing youth-led initiatives in afterschool settings. He earned his BS in neuroscience and he was involved in pediatric epilepsy research as an undergraduate student. He also participated in an Emergency Medicine Research Associate Program, where he assisted in recruiting emergency department patients for ongoing clinical research. He is a certified medical interpreter for the Nepali language and an advocate for health equity, social justice, and youth leadership. Umesh lives in Chittenden County with his family and enjoys poetry, photography, and outdoor activities.

Email:umesh@nullvermontafterschool.org

Seth F. Hibbert

Communications & Development Coordinator

Seth F. Hibbert

Communications & Development Coordinator

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.

Email:seth@nullvermontafterschool.org

Laura McCaffrey

VYP Community Coordinator for Cabot

Laura McCaffrey

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.

Email:laura@nullvermontafterschool.org

Elle Oille-Stanforth

VYP Community Coordinator for Barre

Elle Oille-Stanforth

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.

Email:elle@nullvermontafterschool.org

Jess Rodrigues

School Age Child Care Capacity Coordinator

Jess Rodrigues

School Age Child Care Capacity Coordinator

As an artist and experiential learner at heart, Jess believes in the power of what afterschool and out-of-school time has to offer. While she didn't grow up with those experiences, she spent a lot of her time as a kid making all kinds of art on her own. After graduating with a BFA from Boston University, she worked in the theatre department at Boston College. This was when she realized that a different, and beneficial, way of learning happens when all the senses are used and we are connected with one another.

Jess then moved on to study non-profit administration, experiential learning design, youth programs to incorporate into her arts background. At Vermont Afterschool, it's a wonderful blend of her passion for working to provide youth the best opportunity to help them thrive and access their potential and her administrative/organizational abilities. Jess is excited to assist programs and schools in enhancing the environment and capabilities where youth will thrive and make Vermont better.

Email:jess@nullvermontafterschool.org

Ben Ardel

Program Specialist

Ben Ardel

Program Specialist

As the program specialist, Ben supports youth-serving organizations that received funds through the Summer Matters For All Grant. In this role, he provides guidance on financial reporting and supports program leaders through the grant reimbursement process. Ben is also responsible for program site visits, where he sees programs in action and discusses how Vermont Afterschool can best support our grant-funded organizations.

Prior to working with Vermont Afterschool, Ben worked as a program director with the Associated Recreation Council in Seattle, Washington, and a youth leadership director with the YMCA. In each of these roles, Ben gained valuable experience coordinating programs for youth and developing curriculums for the third space. Ben graduated from Guilford College with degrees in history and environmental studies. When not at work, Ben likes to explore Vermont’s trails and mountains with his partner and adventure dog, Penny.

Email:ben@nullvermontafterschool.org

Jordan King

VYP Community Coordinator for Franklin County

Jordan King

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!

Email:jordan@nullvermontafterschool.org

Taylor McGuire

VYP Community Coordinator for Bennington

Taylor McGuire

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!

Email:taylor@nullvermontafterschool.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 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, and eating creemees in the summer, and drinking hot chocolate in the winter.

Email:katie@nullvermontafterschool.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@nullvermontafterschool.org

Matt Wolf

Youth Voice Coordinator

Matt Wolf

Youth Voice Coordinator

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@nullvermontafterschool.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@nullvermontafterschool.org

Kerrie Mathes

Jr. Iron Chef VT Coordinator

Kerrie Mathes

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.

Email:jrironchefvt@nullvermontafterschool.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 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.

Email:nicole@nullvermontafterschool.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@nullvermontafterschool.org

Becka Wilcke

Project Assistant

Becka Wilcke

Project Assistant

Becka joined Vermont Afterschool in 2021 as a project assistant. In this role, Becka supports the organization’s work including the Summer Matters for All Grant program, providing support to ensure the smooth operation of our professional development system, and creating and strengthening existing financial systems.

Becka has a BS in business management and has been working for many years providing bookkeeping to several local businesses. Having a five-year-old child at home, she has become more aware of the need for quality and affordable afterschool programs for children all over the state. She is happy to be supporting Vermont Afterschool on this mission. When not at work, you will find her enjoying all the outdoor activities Vermont has to offer with her son in tow.

Email:becky@nullvermontafterschool.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.

Virginia Burley

Secretary

Virginia Burley

Secretary

Ginny Burley is the founder and former director of Community Connections, a project of the Montpelier Public School District and Washington Central Supervisory Union along with community partners Washington Central Friends of Education and Montpelier Alive!, which are both 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Since 2001, Community Connections has been serving the children and families of Berlin, Calais, East Montpelier, Middlesex, Montpelier, and Worcester with before- and afterschool programs for youth ages pre-k to 12; mentoring; prevention programs; drop-out prevention and alternative diploma. Her prior work experience includes serving as assistant director of the Adult Education Resource Center at Montclair State College, coordination of home visiting services at the Family Center of Washington County, and development of the Central Vermont New Directions Coalition, a substance abuse prevention coalition.

Email:tricia@nullvermontafterschool.org

Vicki Graf

Vicki Graf

Vicki is the principal at Jericho Elementary School and has been working with students in Vermont as a teacher and principal for 35 years.

Falko Schilling

Falko Schilling

A native of Vermont, Falko received his law degree from Vermont Law School after attending Skidmore College. Prior to joining the American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont as the advocacy director, Falko spent five years leading winning legislative and grassroots campaigns at Vermont Public Interest Research Group. Major victories included helping pass the nation’s first mandatory genetically engineered food labeling law, expanding access to reproductive health care, and allowing dental therapists to practice in Vermont. Falko then joined Amy Shollenberger and the team at Action Circles as an associate where he worked with clients, including Vermont Afterschool, to craft legislative campaign plans, create effective messaging, provide advocacy trainings, and lobby on their behalf. Falko lives in Montpelier with his wife, Elizabeth, and their son, Cedar.

Jim Fitzpatrick

Jim Fitzpatrick

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.

Katie Mobley

Chair

Katie Mobley

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.

Rich Tulikangas

Rich Tulikangas

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.

Susanne Gann

Treasurer

Susanne Gann

Treasurer

Susanne holds a BS in business administration with a certificate in human resource management from Southern NH University. She brings to the board 24 years of experience in finance and HR, almost 19 in leadership roles for Vermont organizations, with 12 of those spent in Vermont SUs or municipalities. As the business administrator, Susanne currently oversees the management of financial affairs for Washington Central Unified Union School District’s member schools: Berlin, Calais, East Montpelier, Rumney, Doty, and U-32.

Barbara Russ

Former Chair

Barbara Russ

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.

Our Team

Our Board

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