Meet Darina!

Hey! My name is Darina DeBenedictis and I am the owner of Spark Learning.  I have many years of experience creating and teaching my own unique curriculum to children of all ages. My STEAM-based programs focus on the concept of wonder and the importance of being inquisitive. You can find my programming in various schools around the greater Charleston area. Personally, I dabble in plenty of other art forms, such as weaving, painting, drawing, photography, and more! I love any excuse to learn something new, especially if it involves crafting. My experiences as a scientist, an artist, and a teacher have made me equipped to be a very inquisitive, passionate, and adaptable educator. I love sharing my passions and experiences with the children that I get to teach. I absolutely love getting to see the little sparks that go off in children’s minds when they are able to follow their curiosity through their own exploration in either a science experiment or an art project. My favorite experiments definitely involve ANYTHING that explodes or is super colorful! 

Meet Kendall!

My name is Kendall Bishop, and I’m a College of Charleston graduate where I studied Public Health and Psychology. I’m excited to be heading back to CofC this summer to pursue my Master’s in Teaching! In my free time, I love to paint, attend yoga classes, read a book at the beach, or spend time with friends and family.

I’ve always been drawn to working with kids and have many years of experience with all age groups, both in and outside of the classroom. Working for Spark has been an incredible experience because it allows me to express and share my creative side with all of my students. The kiddos never fail to make me laugh, get me excited, and teach me something new in every class, which is why I love this career so much. I know that having a passionate, creative, and driven teacher makes all the difference for students, and my true passion for art, along with my love and curiosity for science, helps me to be just that.

Meet Lauren!

My name is Lauren House and I'm a graduate from the University of South Carolina where I studied Visual Communications! 

In my free time, you can find me taking long walks, roller blading, grabbing coffee with friends, or painting!! 

I find myself being drawn to teaching because I feel like I really lucked out with teachers that let me exercise my creative muscles and who really let me explore who I am in and outside of the classroom- I want to give that opportunity to other kids! 

Art always seemed to be my favorite subject in school, but honestly, whenever I had a rockstar teacher, I could be learning about anything and it would've been my favorite. I really believe that the teachers make such an impact and that's why I adore the mission of Spark so much!!

Meet Ruby!

Hello! My name is Ruby Smith and I am studying psychology and childhood development at the College of Charleston! My favorite hobbies include watercoloring, drawing, and going to the beach! I love working hands-on with kids and have been doing it since high school! I have worked in childcare since a very young age and aspire to work in the field of Behavioral Psychology post-grad! Working with kids reminds me of the small joys in life and how we can often take them for granted. My favorite science projects are making ocean slime, lava lamps, and dinosaur eggs!