About Tech Spark

Tech Spark is Canada’s first tech and design school committed to empowering children of colour, girls, women and teachers through innovative education. We specialize in creating, revising and teaching inquiry-based, student-centered K-12 curricula through the lens of tech, entrepreneurship, and equity. Our educators and technical mentors are industry experts who reflect the students and communities we serve. We design and develop our curriculum to be culturally relevant and responsive and teach with a mentorship focused approach in order to build the social and emotional skills of our students.

The Unique Challenge

Increasing diversity in the technology ecosystem is an urgent national priority. We recognize there is a breakdown in the pipeline that moves girls and Black youth at the elementary and high school level to pursuing academic STEM courses. This leads to an under representation in higher education and technology careers. Black students in Peel Region report that they are discouraged from taking academic STEM courses and feel disengaged due to the lack of positive representations of Black people and Black culture within the Ontario school curriculum. Women only make up 23% of STEM graduates and black women make up a paltry 2.9%. Our mission is to fix the leaky pipeline for underrepresented Canadians and provide them with opportunities to make meaningful contributions to Canada’s tech ecosystem.

2025 Target Impact

7

High School Curriculums Created

2550

Trained Teachers

25,000

Student alumni

40,000

Spark Plug users

It takes a village

Tamar

Alysha

Jalanni

Ivy

Tamar Huggins

Founder & CEO

After helping black and female tech founders raise over 1.1 million dollars to launch their tech startups in Canada, Tamar realized the importance for young girls and children of colour to see positive reflections of themselves within the tech industry. In 2015, Tamar launched Tech Spark - Canada’s first technology and design school committed to empowering girls and children of colour through innovative tech education. As a result of her endeavors, Tamar was named the Harry Jerome Young Entrepreneur and honored as one of 100 Black Women to Watch in 2015. In 2017, Tamar was honored as Canada's top 150 black women creating impact across the nation by CBC and Herstory In Black.

Alysha Campbell

Director of Operations

Alysha M. Campbell serves as the Director of HR and Culture, bringing a decade of experience that encompasses all facets of Human Resource Management. In Alysha’s various career and growth opportunities in the corporate world, she's successfully executed multi-million dollar workforce recruitment and optimization projects to also spearheading employee culture initiatives for newly merged organizations. Alysha has truly seen and done it all in the HR space.

As Director of HR & Culture, Alysha is the first contact for engaging and connecting with all current and potential talent. She keeps her pulse on the culture and ensures that an atmosphere of development and growth are vivid and that all levels of management live true to the Tech Spark values. As an integral part of the Executive Leadership Team, Alysha helps create and support the organizational structure based on the forecasting of talent needed to take the organization to greater heights.

Jalanni Francis

Director of Finance

Jalanni Francis is the Director of Finance, bringing 13 years experience of tax planning, auditing and consultancy experience. He is a CPA, CGA and a graduate from Ryerson University. He has worked with profit and not for profit organizations to complete budgets, financial statements, and implement financial systems to positively impact an organization’s financial structure.

As Director of Finance, Jay provides leaderships as the company's Finance and Accounting strategist, optimizing the company’s financial performance and strategic position. In his role, Jay contributes fully to the development of company strategy across all areas of the business, providing financial analysis and guidance on all activities, plans, targets and business drivers. He ensures that Tech Spark’ financial systems are robust, compliant and support current activities and future growth.

Ivy Sarpong

Director of Events

Ivy is excited about the intersection of Business, Technology and Marketing. She has 8+ years of experience in both the public and private sectors working in Marketing, Operations and IT. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration and is a Certified Business Analyst Professional (CBAP).

She is experienced in supporting the delivery of business initiatives including SaaS and digital implementations, marketing campaigns, and business process improvements. She also has Client Management experience in the areas of relationship building and stakeholder management.

Ivy loves Education. Her care for children and youth, coupled with her business acumen makes her a great fit for the Leadership Team. She currently serves as a Chapter Lead for Tech Spark where she assists in defining and supporting the execution of Tech Spark’s business strategy through projects, initiatives and strategic events. Ivy provides general oversight of operational functions, including research and development, business development, events, and project management.