It’s now easier than ever to apply for a grant. We’ve created a new, streamlined grant application process that’s much easier to navigate.

Start with this link https://forms.gle/be9wDGNh3fCMoiA47 to the Curriculum Office Proposal Review form. Once it is reviewed, you will receive the link to the Grant Google form. Thank you!

Jent has more than a decade of experience in Consumer Packaged Goods as a longtime employee of Mars Wrigley. She aims to bring her fundraising experience to the board, helping to bring in local businesses and groups into the mission of the SEF. Having grown up in Sparta, she and her husband Mark settled here to raise their two young children. She holds a degree in Visual Communications from Robert Morris University, where she was a member of the women’s basketball team. She is also a proud member of the Sparta High School girls’ basketball coaching staff, having served as a volunteer assistant coach for the past eight years.

Kiera and her husband moved to Sparta in 2014, and have three young children in the district’s schools. She is the owner and manager of the M. John Scanlan Funeral Home in Pompton Plains, and serves as the fourth generation in her family to run that business. She is a 2003 graduate of Susquehanna University, and holds a degree in Journalism.

It’s now easier than ever to apply for a grant. We’ve created a new, streamlined grant application process that’s much easier to navigate.

Start with this link https://forms.gle/DoX9puRPSS1epDT1A to the Curriculum Office Proposal Review form. Once it is reviewed, you will receive the link to the Grant Google form. Thank you!

Matt brings thorough expertise in technology to the SEF. With more than 15 years of experience in digital marketing and web project management, McQueeney’s skill set will be a great asset to the SEF moving forward. He holds a degree in Psychology from New York University, and is nearing the conclusion of his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Rutgers Business School, with a dual concentration in Leadership and Entrepreneurship. McQueeney and his wife settled in Sparta in 2011, and have two young sons.  They are looking forward to raising their children in Sparta’s schools.

Jill was elected to the SEF board in 2021 after being a longtime event volunteer who also shared her remarkable graphic design talents on a number of Annual Reports and mailings. She has been an active participant in both the Turkey Trot and Dragon Boat Festivals, and enjoyed the camaraderie and interactions with SEF members so much that she became a Trustee. Jill is an entrepreneur with her own branding & stationery business, Jula Paper Co. Her extensive marketing and website background comes from management positions she held at Toys ‘R Us, NY&Co. and PSP Sports. Jill played division I Ice Hockey at the University of Vermont, and graduated with a degree in Biological Sciences. She and her husband Craig and their three school-aged sons moved to Sparta for its highly-ranked school district, so she has come full circle as a Trustee with the SEF. Jill is thrilled to lend her talents to an organization that is dedicated to enhancing the educational experience of every student in the district.

Heather was an active volunteer in school activities before joining the SEF board in 2019. As a hands-on leader, she co-chaired the Wine and Craft Beer Tasting, Dragon Boat Festival, and Cornament fundraisers, wholeheartedly putting herself into each event. From setting up decorations and attaining raffle prizes to photography and sponsorships, Heather is involved in every detail while she shares her friendly, gracious personality with others. Her can-do attitude makes her a valuable Board member as well as the SEF’s well-respected Secretary. Heather is a first-grade teacher in the West Milford Township Public School district. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education from Kings College where she played volleyball, and Master of Arts degree in teaching with a focus on reading and literacy from Marygrove College. She and her husband Kevin have a daughter in the Sparta school district.

Donna joined the SEF board in 2014 and soon thereafter was elected to executive leadership roles including two terms as Vice President and currently in her third term as President. Her dedication to creating a cohesive and successful board is seen in the continued popularity of ongoing fundraisers like the Turkey Trot and Dragon Boat Festival, as well as events such as the new Cornament cornhole tournament. Always approachable and open to new ideas, Donna’s spirited leadership has attracted many new Trustees to the Board. She and her husband Tony Lombardo have a son who graduated from Sparta High School in 2020 and is now a U.S. Marine. “I know the SEF has played an important role for so many of our students, from the earliest grades to our graduates. These grants can be truly life-changing for our students.” Donna has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, and an MBA with a focus on finance.

Dan hit the ground running when he joined the SEF in 2019 as a Trustee and future Treasurer. He has excelled in both roles, streamlining the foundation’s financial records and overseeing the intricacies of the bank accounts and taxes. Dan has a strong background in project management for major corporations including Glaxo Smith Kline, Hoffmann LaRoche and Exxon. He is also an active member and volunteer for New Jersey Sharing Network, where he served as Foundation Treasurer. His new ideas and insights have improved many of the day-to-day tasks of the Foundation, and his professional leadership on the Cornament and Dragon Boat Festival fundraisers has been vital. Closely involved in the local community, Dan is a member of the Ambassadors’ Club at Newton Hospital and is involved with the Adopt-a-Family Program at Our Lady of the Lake Church in Sparta. Dan has a BS in civil engineering from Columbia University and a Master’s of Science in structural engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Heather has lived in Sparta since 1996 and graduated from Sparta High School in 2011. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and history from The College of New Jersey and currently teaches fifth grade at the Helen Morgan School. In 2018, Heather applied for and received funding for Google Expeditions Virtual Reality Kits, a grant approved by the SEF. She realized she wanted to become more closely involved with an organization that impacts so many students and teachers in district, joining the board in 2019. A thoughtful and attentive Trustee, she shares her insights about educational trends in the district and understands the best ways to connect the SEF’s mission with fellow teachers. Facebook followers of the SEF may have noticed Heather starring in Turkey Trot 2020 videos as a virtual runner, a star performance that undoubtedly attracted many new participants.

Beth is a longtime Sparta resident who is a Risk Advisor for Gallagher. She was elected to the Board in 2019 and quickly became immersed in a wide range of SEF activities and events. She was co-chair of the 2019 Turkey Trot and again in 2020 when it went virtual due to Covid, and was instrumental in its success. When Dynamic Racing, the Dragon Boat’s professional rowing staff, needed dinner, Beth hosted the entire crew at her home. Always willing to lend a hand, she is an excellent ambassador for the SEF at local Chamber of Commerce meetings, Back to School Nights, Spring Concerts, and at Sparta Day. Active in the community, she is a board member of the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce and past president of Sparta Music Boosters, a role she held until her son graduated from Sparta High School. Beth has a bachelor’s degree in English from Montclair State University.

Paige is a lifelong resident of Sparta and 2011 graduate of Sparta High School. Before joining the Board, she was a frequent volunteer at SEF events, where her trademark enthusiasm and hard work contributed to the success of many fundraisers. As a Trustee, Paige co-chaired the 2019 Turkey Trot and again in 2020 when it went virtual, using her exceptional videography and social media skills to promote the event on a global level. The result was participants from as far away as Ireland signing up for the virtual run. Known for her helpful personality, Paige is the popular director of the Sparta Middle School musical and choreographer for the Sparta High School musical. Since she is a Media Center Assistant at Sparta High School, Paige has recruited countless student volunteers to lend a hand at a variety of SEF events. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from William Paterson University.