Janet Sparks
About Janet Sparks
Janet Sparks is the Director of Learning & Development for Customer Service & Support at Thomson Reuters, where she has worked since 2019. She has extensive experience in education and training, having previously held roles at the Minnesota Department of Education and various educational institutions.
Current Role at Thomson Reuters
Janet Sparks serves as the Director of Learning & Development for Customer Service & Support at Thomson Reuters. She has held this position since 2019 and is based in Eagan, Minnesota. In her role, she focuses on developing training programs that enhance the skills and knowledge of customer service personnel. Her work involves designing and delivering both live and distance learning opportunities aimed at integrating educational standards into curriculum and instruction.
Previous Experience at Thomson Reuters
Janet Sparks previously worked at Thomson Reuters as a Marketer from 1999 to 2001. During her time in this role, she contributed to marketing strategies and initiatives that supported the company's objectives. This experience laid the foundation for her later leadership role in Learning & Development.
Educational Background
Janet Sparks has an extensive educational background. She earned a Master of Arts in ESL from Hamline University, studying from 2004 to 2014. Prior to that, she obtained a Master of Business Communication from the University of St. Thomas - Opus College of Business, where she studied from 1999 to 2001. Additionally, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Theology from the University of St. Thomas, which she completed from 1990 to 1995.
Professional Contributions to Education
Throughout her career, Janet Sparks has made significant contributions to educational standards in Minnesota. She launched the College and Career Readiness Standards, English Language Proficiency Standards, and Northstar Digital Literacy Standards across the state for adult basic education. She is also a member of Minnesota's Standards-In-Action Implementation Team, which focuses on enhancing educational standards for adult learners.
Diverse Work Experience
Janet Sparks has held various roles across different organizations. She worked as a Training and Development Consultant at the Minnesota Department of Education from 2014 to 2018. Additionally, she served as a Content Writer for Burlington English Inc. and as a Standards Alignment Correlation Consultant at Cambridge University Press. Her experience also includes teaching roles at South Washington County Schools and Bethel University, where she focused on adult English language learners.