Carla Sparks

Carla Sparks, Ed. D. earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership from National Louis University where she also earned a Master’s of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Her dissertation centered on innovative instructional practices including a program evaluation project on single gender education; a change leadership project on the use of authentic instruction, project based learning, problem based learning, inquiry based learning, and Capstone Projects; and a policy advocacy plan to require the implementation of capstone projects at selected grades in K-12 education. Her field study and Master’s thesis were based upon the premise that Capstone Projects are an authentic method of learning and an authentic method of assessment.  She implemented Capstone Projects for seven years, during which time she conducted action research on the topic of Capstone Projects with her own students.  She initiated capstone projects as a school-wide requirement that became a cross-curricular experience for students.

Carla Sparks also holds a Bachelor's Degree in English from Roberts Wesleyan College.  She taught elementary school, middle grades, and high school in Tampa.  She taught all-boys classes, all-girls classes, and co-gender classes.  She served as a program Lead Teacher, department chair, School Advisory Council chair, and site based director of a Preparing New Educators Support Program.  She worked as an Academic Counselor at a boarding school in northeast Georgia.  She served as the District Resource Teacher for Career Pathways and Specialist for Student Placement and Choice Attractor Programs in Tampa.  She was appointed Supervisor of Single Gender Programs for Hillsborough County Public Schools, Florida in June 2011.  Her role was expanded in 2013 to include a variety of Choice curriculum programs, as well as parent/community partnerships. She continues to serve Hillsborough County Public Schools, Florida in that capacity.

Some of  Dr. Sparks’ achievements and recognitions include earning certification as a Gurian Institute Trainer for Boys and Girls Learn Differently; becoming certified as a national trainer of Critical Friends Group; achieving National Board Certification in 2001 and again in 2010 as a renewal candidate; receiving the Journalism Achievement Award - Gold Medallion from the Florida Scholastic Press Association; being named High School Teacher of the Year in 2007 by the Hillsborough Technical, Career, and Adult Association; being selected as Teacher of the Year at Tampa Bay Technical High School in 1996 and again in 2006 when she went on to become a Hillsborough County finalist; and being named Who's Who Among America's Teachers in 1992, 2002, 2004, and 2005; winning the Program of Excellence Award for the Academy of Journalism in 2003, and being named "Best of the Bay" for the Academy of Journalism in 2002.

Dr. Sparks was a trainer for Hillsborough County Public Schools since 2003 on various topics ranging from Teacher Induction Training to Classroom Action Research, Exhibition of Mastery and Critical Friends Group.  She also presented workshops at local, state, and national education conferences. She served as an instructor for Hillsborough District Certification teaching “Philosophy, Practices, and Management of Career and Technical Education Programs.” She also served as an online facilitator of ESOL courses required by Florida Department of Education for ESOL Endorsement for school counselors and for school and district administrators.

Recently, Dr. Sparks published an article titled “A Possible Solution to Student Engagement and Rigor” in the online periodical Friday Facts, a publication of the Florida Association of School Administrators. She also published Programs of Study & Articulation Agreements for all Secondary Career & Technical Education Programs in Hillsborough County Public Schools, 2008. Dr. Sparks published two articles in Cultivating Success:  Tech Prep Best Practices Across the United States – “Career Pathways Connections” and “CSI: Career Seeking Investigation” (NATPL, 2009).