Our Staff
Richard Kapolka, Executive Director
Rich is a retired educator having taught Math and serving as Principal of Christiana and Seaford High Schools in Delaware. He has taught at both Wilmington and Cabrini Colleges and has presented at numerous Local, State and National Conferences. He also spent 10 years with the Boys and Girls Club of Western Sussex in Seaford, Delaware. He has served on various non-profit boards including Junior Achievement, the Delaware Community Service Commission and the Boys & Girls Club and has been a lifelong mentor. He holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and a B.A. in Mathematics Education from the University of Delaware. He is married with two children and lives in Middletown. Contact Rich at rkapolka@connecting-generations.org or 302.656.2122 ext. 11.
Joanna Carty, Director of Operations and Seasons of Respect Program
Joanna has worked in the Adult Education and Family Literacy fields for over 15 years. She has extensive experience in program design, training and curriculum writing. She worked as an Instructional Supervisor and Teacher Trainer in Liberia while serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer. She is a former two term board chair of Friends of Liberia and participated as an Election Observer in the 1997 Liberian Elections. Joanna graduated form Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Education and a minor in French. She has a certificate in Non Profit Management from the University of Delaware. Joanna leads the Seasons of Respect program at Connecting Generations. Contact Joanna at jcarty@connecting-generations.org or 302.656.2122 ext. 17.
Jennifer Marek, Creative Mentoring Program Assistant
Jen is responsible for ensuring that all mentors have the necessary paperwork and training to begin their mentoring journey. She is available to answer any questions along the way and be sure that each mentor is assigned to a school that is excited to have them begin.
Contact Jen at jmarek@connecting-generations.org or 302.656.2122 ext. 18.
Rachel Markowitz, Director of Creative Mentoring Program
A graduate of the University of Connecticut, Rachel has worked with the Creative Mentoring program at Connecting Generations since 2007. As the Manager of Recruitment and Training, Rachel is responsible for ensuring that all mentors are prepared to start a one on one relationship with a child, working with businesses to help recruit and support their employees who mentor, and ensuring that schools have the resources needed to run high quality mentoring programs. Contact Rachel at rmarkowitz@connecting-generations.org or 302.656.2122 ext. 15.
Iazia McTeer, AmeriCorps Youth Ambassador Director
After graduating from the University of Kansas with a double major in English and Women’s Studies, Iazia became an AmeriCorps VISTA* member. As an AmeriCorps member Iazia completed her first year of service in Kansas City with the First Step Fund, and her second year in Delaware as a Mentor Coordinator with the Delaware Mentoring Council and the Appoquinimink School District. After her year of service Iazia continued working with the Appoquinimink school district for an additional 3 years as the District’s Mentor Coordinator. Now, as Connecting Generations’ Mentor Manager Iazia is responsible for providing direct support to Creative Mentoring Partners and working with current mentors. Contact Iazia at imcteer@connecting-generations.org or 302.656.2122 ext. 16.
Our Creative Mentoring Trainers
Joyce Fangman
Marie McIntosh
Beverli A. Simms-Jackson
Our Seasons of Respect Facilitators
Pat Scarano
Beverli A. Simms- Jackson
Diane Simon
Kim Taylor
Our Bridges to Employment Program Manager
Joanne Parker-Henry
