Garth Harries
Sparkler Learning
Executive Director
Garth
Harries, Executive Director of Sparkler Learning. Sparkler
Learning provides a mobile platform for organizations and parents to promote off-screen interactions and healthy early brain development for young children. Sparkler learning continues the public sector work of Mindful Inc, which Harries co-founded and sold
to Nickelodeon in March 2019 as the foundation of Nick Jr.’s new early learning strategy. He previously served as Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent of Schools in New Haven, CT. As the architect and leader of the New Haven Public School’s reform strategy,
Garth drove a nearly 20% gain in the high school graduation rate, parallel improvements in college-going and college-retention, a doubling of the state growth on standardized tests, and a 10% percent increase in student population. Before that, he served as
a senior executive in the New York City Department of Education where he led the creation of more than 400 new small schools and charter schools, as well as redesigning special education services to deepen instructional focus. Early in his career, Garth led
engagement teams at McKinsey & Co. specializing in both financial industries and non-profit management, after spending a year teaching. He holds a JD from Stanford and a BA from Yale. He lives with his wife and two sons on an organic farm in Ridgefield Connecticut.