About Us
SparkShop’s mission is to inspire and mobilize the next generation of engineers, innovators, entrepreneurs & manufacturing geniuses.
SparkShop empowers students to apply their skills to engineering challenges and see their value in the STEM fields. We focus on inspiring 4th and 5th graders with a mix of visits from our staff and interdisciplinary, connected curriculum for their teachers.
We believe the US needs a larger and more diverse pool of technical talent and we're ready to help!
MEET OUR TEAM
Shonali Ditz | Executive director & Co-founder
Shonali launched SparkShop in 2017 with her co-founder, Tiernan Murrell. She began her career as an engineer in the automotive industry, where she witnessed the lack of diversity in technical talent and how it stifles both innovation and opportunity. The vision of a more diverse and inclusive generation of STEM talent is what inspires her work at SparkShop. She is excited and honored to be leading this phase of SparkShop’s growth and impact!
Stephanie batres spezza | Director of ProgramS
Stephanie serves as our Program Manager, overseeing all activities related to programs and partnerships from development to implementation. Stephanie has 10 years of experience as a middle school science educator in CPS and as a teacher educator. Currently, she is pursuing her PhD in Science Education at the University of Illinois Chicago, focusing on equity, social justice, and identity as essential considerations to teaching and learning.
Jess lemaster | operations manager
Jess currently leads our Operations initiatives, coordinates volunteer events, and builds a strong network of partners, suppliers, and volunteers who reflect our ethics and values. Jess has extensive knowledge in the nonprofit sector. Before joining our SparkShop team, she worked as a fundraiser for the Logan Square Neighborhood Association (Palenque LSNA) which develops community leaders and creates equity in Logan Square. Before that, she was also the camp director for “Girls Rock! Chicago”.
Eileen Patton | Program manager
Eileen serves as our Program Manager, recruiting and supporting our partner schools who are implementing SparkShop in their classrooms. She has experience developing programs and advising students and educators in higher education institutions and corporate settings. She has also worked as an adjunct faculty member at Dominican University’s Brennan School of Business. Eileen is passionate about helping SparkShop continue to grow and reach more students and teachers across the city of Chicago!
LUZ HERRERA | cURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT Specialist
Luz, our curriculum development specialist, brings her diverse teaching experience to her role, having taught in different educational settings and centers, including Spain and Brazil. Before joining SparkShop, Luz was a 4th-grade classroom teacher at Jamieson Elementary! Her interest in STEM education and her curiosity to learn more led her to SparkShop and, most recently, to completing her STEM Education and Leadership certification.
MIKAYLA CARTER | OPERATIONS sPECIALIST
Mikayla is our Operations Specialist and works closely with our volunteers, including our Associate Board, improves internal processes, and manages the delivery of STEM materials to our elementary school partners around Chicago. Mikayla started her career in higher education at a small university in central Ohio. In that role, she worked in the diversity and inclusion office, leading a variety of student-focused initiatives for historically marginalized student populations.
ZOE LEWIS | DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE
Zoe focuses on deepening relationships with supporters by cultivating existing connections and building campaigns to bring new donors, volunteers, and community partners into the SparkShop community. She holds a Bachelors in Learning Sciences with a concentration in the Design of Learning Spaces and a Masters of Science in Technology, People and Policy from Northwestern University. She was dedicated to SparkShop’s mission throughout her entire college experience and brings a person-centered approach all of her work.