Sterling Clinton-Spellman, affectionately known as the "Polisher" and "Success Alchemist," is a renowned author, speaker, empowerment coach, and transformational business consultant. Her mission is to guide individuals toward realizing their inherent greatness and living their dreams. With a wealth of experience in education, entrepreneurship, and personal development, Sterling brings a unique blend of insight and inspiration to her work. Through her books, workshops, speaking engagements, and consulting methods she has transformed countless lives and businesses. Sterling and her husband, Russell founded The Incred-A-Bowl TM Food Company, a social enterprise, that operates as a multicultural food company, including 2 food trucks and a restaurant, serving delicious and healthy food with bowled(bold) flavors, created out of the love of good food, culture, and the passion to offer healthier food options to their community. They recently launched the Incred-A-BowlTM fresh start program, providing career opportunities for people who are historically disenfranchised and deemed unemployable. The program is a job + job training + leadership development + personal development rolled into one transformational opportunity. Through her leadership and people-connecting skills, Sterling has become a powerful voice in her community, inspiring individuals to actualize their full potential. She currently resides in Providence, Rhode Island, with her husband, Russell Spellman, their daughters' 8-year-old Hasana, and 4-year-old Harmony.

Patrick Collins is Vice President of H.V. Collins Company, the Providence-based general contractor, and a longtime supporter of The Learning Community. Patrick is a native Rhode Islander and graduate of Boston University School of Management and Northeastern University Graduate School of Civil Engineering. He is a third generation employee of his family’s business, H. V. Collins. He is a past board member of Amos House and The Genesis Center and currently serves on the board of the Providence Country Day School. He lives in Barrington with his wife Yue Ling and their three children

Deborah Drew, Director, Philanthropic Development, National Grid Foundation. Deborah Drew has served as a communications professional for the vast majority of her 26-year tenure with National Grid and its legacy company, New England Electric. She has a proven track record of successfully managing internal and external stakeholders, along with effective reputation Management. Deb transitioned from strategic communications to the National Grid Foundation in 2017 and currently is focused on supporting its philosophy and mission by delivering programming, outreach, and communications efforts in New England. She helps manage grantmaking procedures and policies; prepares Foundation materials and documents; serves as Foundation representative and spokesperson in the community; and proactively builds and maintains positive internal and external relationships with National Grid Foundation stakeholders to assure and strengthen the Foundation’s reputation. Deb has a passion for supporting underserved communities, especially helping children, and enjoys working with the Foundation team to advance and grow this area of philanthropy. Deb serves as Chairperson of the Media-Community Outreach Committee for Woonsocket, Rhode Island’s St. James Baptist Church, leading the church’s social media and communications efforts. She serves on the United Way of Central Massachusetts’ Grant Review Committee, the team that evaluates proposals for more than $1.5 million in United Way funding in the Worcester, MA area. Deb is a graduate of Simmons College, the Partnership’s Fellow’s Program and the YMCA Boston’s Black Achievers program. Mother of two adult sons, she lives in Franklin, MA.

SECRETARY

Dr. Mary-Beth Fafard is an educational consultant who has over 25 years of experience in educational organizations that focus on improving educational outcomes for students in public schools. She has worked extensively at the state education policy level and most recently worked with the Rhode Island Department of Education on its successful application and execution of its five year Race to the Top federal grant program. Prior to working with the Rhode Island Department of Education, Dr. Fafard was the Executive Director of the Northeast and Islands Regional Educational Laboratory at Brown University (LAB), one of ten federally funded labs performing applied research and development to improve teaching and promote effective school reform. The LAB (a program of Brown’s Education Alliance) worked with educators, policymakers, and researchers in New England, New York, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Dr. Fafard previously worked for the Massachusetts Department of Education where she was senior associate commissioner of educational improvement responsible for educational programs from preschool through adult education. She also worked as the director of the Office of Curriculum and Professional Development for Special Education for the New York City Board of Education and as an associate professor of special education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Dr. Fafard holds a Ph.D. from the University of Oregon and an M.A. from the Teacher’s College at Columbia University. She has also taught elementary special education students in the New York City Public Schools.

TREASURER

Grace Farmer helped The Learning Community create its very first budget in its initial charter application. After graduating from Bryn Mawr College with an Economics degree, Grace moved to London to work in the financial district at several brokers and investment banks. After 30 years, and once their two children were grown, Grace and her husband returned to the United State. Since moving to Providence she has worked with various non-profits including the HELP Coalition, the Education Partnership, and the Providence After School Alliance.

Donna M. Gregson serves as Coastal1’s Executive Vice-President of Retail Administration where she oversees the service delivery strategy for the credit union’s 18 branches and Contact Center. She also maintains responsibility for the Property Management & Security, Employee Development and Community Outreach departments. She has been employed by Coastal1 for over 40 years and resides in North Providence with her family. Donna is longtime supporter of The Learning Community, serving for many years on the Development Committee prior to joining the Board. She is presently an Advisory Board member of the RI Salvation Army and volunteers with Special Olympics RI.

Christian J. Ladds has spent more than 35 years engaged with the architecture of New England. After graduating from RISD in 1984, Chris joined the small, prestigious architectural practice of Lerner Associates, later incorporated as Lerner Ladds Associates. Since then he has helped lead the firm, now known as LLB Architects, to expand its regional footprint with offices in Pawtucket, RI and Worcester, MA. In 2011, Chris and business partner Kathleen Bartels purchased and developed a vacant mill building in Pawtucket, RI which became the new home for their growing firm.

In addition to his responsibilities as a practicing architect, Chris has taken on many community leadership roles over the years. He served as President of AIA Rhode Island, on the Rhode Island Board of Examination and Registration of Architects, the Providence Preservation Society Planning and Architecture Review Committee, The Old Slater Mill Association Board of Trustees, and the Construction Management Professional Advisory Board for Roger Williams University School of Engineering, Computing, and Construction Management. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Pawtucket Foundation.

Lynn Lotierzo is a first grade teacher at The Learning Community. During her nearly 20 years in education, she has served as a classroom teacher, teacher consultant, and supervisor for K-12 ESOL and elementary certification candidates. In addition to her work in schools, Lynn co-founded the Rhode Island Coalition for Educators of Color, an organization that worked to elevate the voices of educators of color in Rhode Island. She spent years facilitating weekly social skills groups for teens on the autism spectrum. Lynn believes in the power of young children to lead the way and create a better world. As a longtime member of The Learning Community, Lynn is a fierce advocate for multilingual learners and their families. Her decision to remain in the classroom after so many years is rooted in the understanding that all students deserve access to educators who provide high quality instruction and value lifelong learning. She considers it a privilege to have served generations of students in Central Falls. Lynn holds a Master's degree in teaching from Brown University as well as a Bachelor's degree in human development from Cornell University.

VICE PRESIDENT

Bio coming soon!

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Meg was director of the Olneyville Community-Schools Initiative and has extensive experience working with schools and community-based organizations. Meg directed Teaching for Tomorrow, an innovative professional development program with the Providence public schools and was director of the SCOPE initiative in Central Falls. She believes that children from every economic and cultural background deserve an excellent education and that professional development schools are one way to achieve high quality. Meg holds a degree in Elementary Education from the University of Rhode Island.

Bio coming soon!

PRESIDENT

Hillary Salmons is the Executive Director of the Providence After School Alliance, managing oversight, community engagement and fundraising efforts. Previously, Hillary led Rhode Island Scholars inviting business leaders to speak to middle school students about the importance of college and taking math and science courses in high school. She also served as the Vice President for Program Development for Health & Education Leadership for Providence (HELP), a now-defunct coalition focused on improving the health and education of the children of Providence. Hillary has a MA in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma and a BA from Harvard University.

Kirsten spent seven years at the Learning Community as a 4th grade teacher and Instructional Coach before stepping away to spend more time with her family. In her over 20 years as an educator, Kirsten has been a classroom teacher, an instructional coach and content specialist, and as a school leader focused on anti-bias anti-racist work. She is so happy to be back in the classroom because she loves the sense of community and partnership she gets to build with her students and their families. Kirsten is passionate about empowering her students and helping them become advocates for themselves and the issues that are important to them. When Kirsten isn't in the classroom, she is busy cheering on her three children in their favorite activities, snuggling with her dog, and visiting her husband at their family's restaurant in Woonsocket.