Allison Flint, Board President

Allison grew up in the Upper Valley and has lived here most of her adult life. In her work with Pathways as a DSP, Allison came to Spark and has volunteered for several years. Part of the Friday Fun Night and Events committee, joining the board is an honor to take the contribution to the Spark community further. She has been an English teacher in local public high schools in NH and VT. Currently an instructor at the Virtual Learning Academy Charter School, the online public school serving the state of NH, the flexibility allows time for other interests and opportunities. With past seats on and contributions to various boards over the years, volunteerism is a family commitment: "Service to the community is a value my parents taught me."

Jason Alexander Smith, Vice President

Jason grew up in Southern NH and earned a BFA from Marywood University in Scranton, PA.  His coursework reflected upon Photography, Interior Design and Art Therapy.  He is also a Boston City Year graduate where he served on the MA Community Service Commission Team, turning vacant urban lots into community gardens and playgrounds, running after school programs and traveling the U.S. to expand City Year.  For the past 10 years, his passion has been working as a DSP along with volunteerism.  Jason is also completing a Certification Course at Dartmouth.  His focus is on Nonprofits and the Social, Environmental and Economic impacts of the 21st century.

Barbara Klocek, Treasurer & Secretary

Barbara is a retired teacher/tutor who worked at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, NJ.  She has a B.S. in Psychology from Univ. of Illinois and a masters degree in finance from the Univ. of Chicago.   Many  of the classes  she taught addressed the needs of  entering students with learning disabilities.  She also taught classes on reading effectively in college and is trained in the Wilson Reading Method for adults.  Barbara served on the boards of the American Assn. of University Women in NJ and the New Hampshire Farms Network here in NH, and was a  Scout Leader for three years at the International School of Amsterdam.  She has worked as a volunteer at SPARK! offering various crafts classes and a class to assist individuals with their financial needs.

Bonnie Fields, member

Bonnie is a retired education teacher. She worked at the Hartford Regional Resource Center as an Employment/Transition Coordinator. Bonnie appreciates the importance of having a program like Spark!, which provides social and educational opportunities for adults with special needs and other community members who enjoy being together.

Cheryl Jones, member

Cheryl has lived in the Upper Valley her whole life and is a mother of two.  One of her sons has developmental delays.  Cheryl has worked for the last 20+ years as a certified occupational therapy assistant working with the pediatric and adult population.  Prior to that time, she had her own daycare.  Cheryl enjoys being a member of the Spark! Events committee which helps plan Friday Fun Nights, and working on fundraising events.  Friday nights she can be found spending time at Spark! sharing time and experiences with the participants.

Phillip Eller, member

The need for a resource like Spark for people with special needs that also involves the general public in an experience of inclusion was continuously identified by parents and families that I worked with for 15 years at the Special Needs Support Center and served as Director for the last 10. As a social worker, counselor, community organizer, and educator in a career spanning 50 years I have been involved and working with people that are considered on the margins of society. Helping in the creation and ongoing development and leadership of Spark since its beginning has been a great satisfaction and joy for me.

Ryan Clauson

More information soon.

Cheyenne Begley, Tuck Fellow

More information soon.

Allie Forlenza, Tuck Fellow

More information soon.

Katherine Zimmel, Tuck Fellow

More information soon.

Marie Frojd, participant member

Marie grew up on Long Island in East Patchogue, NY, graduated high school in 1985 from Belport High School. She moved to VT/NH in 2005 when she took care of her nephew, Nicholas, who had health issues, taking him to school and doctors appointments. Nicholas liked being around Marie as she made him laugh. He passed away in 2006.
Marie currently works at Dartmouth at the Collis Center since 2017. Before that she worked at Woodcrest Kennel in Orford (caring for the animals). She hopes to contribute to the design and development of the space. She would like to bring in more participants who have significant needs to share in the Spark experience.

Kristina Downey, participant member

Kristina (Tina) is a resident of Lebanon and has lived in the Upper Valley since 2016. She lives with a homecare provider and currently works at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center as an Environmental Services Technician and Housekeeper. She is going to school for Early Childhood Development with the goal to be able to work with children. She grew up in Quincy, Massachusetts and most of her family still lives there.
Tina's goal in joining the Spark board is to inspire everyone to come to Spark!