AlliancEdu was created to provide stability where schedules are unpredictable. We serve first responders and families with non-traditional hours by building education models that work around real life—early mornings, late evenings, long shifts, and changing schedules.
Our early learning centers, Fort Firefly, are designed to feel steady, welcoming, and dependable. When parents are called to serve, we make sure children are cared for, supported, and surrounded by familiar faces in a place where they can learn, grow, and feel at home.
MISSION:
To build a strong, sustainable education model that provides dependable, high-quality learning for children and families who need stability the most.
We believe every child deserves access to learning environments that help them grow, build confidence, and develop a strong sense of responsibility.
Integrity - We are honest, consistent, and follow through on our commitments.
Service - We show up for children, families, and each other.
Humility - We listen, learn, and improve.
Confidence - We help children and adults believe in their ability to learn and handle challenges.
Empathy - We lead with understanding, patience, and respect.
Responsibility - We take ownership of our work and the trust families place in us.
VALUES:
EXECUTIVE TEAM:
Patrick Hellman
Executive Director
A Message from Our Leadership
To those who serve and the families who stand beside them:
The families who defend and protect our communities deserve an education system as resilient and dedicated as they are. At AlliancEdu, we’ve built a model designed for the unique lives of military, veteran, and first responder families—rooted in stability, excellence, and care.
Our mission begins at Fort Firefly. Here, we provide more than just a classroom; we provide a "Fort" of safety and a "Firefly" spark of curiosity. By blending academic rigor with our core values of Duty, Integrity, and Service, we ensure our students don't just learn—they lead.
We understand the sacrifices your families make. AlliancEdu is our commitment to you: ensuring your children have the foundation to reach their fullest potential and live meaningful lives.
With Respect and Purpose,
The Executive Team
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS:
Elizabeth Scudder
ECE Trainer/Consultant
Jody Bergstrom
CEO Camp Alliance Inc.
Jordan Flick
Community Development
Laura Hopkins
CMCO Camp Alliance Inc.
Laura Hopkins is the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Camp Alliance Inc., where she has dedicated over 11 years to supporting the organization’s mission of serving and uplifting Service Members, Veterans, and their families (SMVF). In addition to her leadership role, Laura is a talented photographer, graphic designer, and artist. In recent years, Laura has used her creative skills to raise awareness about critical issues such as the opioid crisis in Arkansas. Her work continues to highlight the importance of community support and advocacy for military families. Through her diverse skill set, she ensures that the mission of Camp Alliance resonates with a broad audience, amplifying its impact and outreach.
Jody Bergstrom, the Founder and CEO of Camp Alliance, Inc., has dedicated her life to serving and uplifting Service Members, Veterans, and their families (SMVF). Since founding the nonprofit in 2010, Jody has demonstrated visionary leadership guided by the core values of compassion, empowerment, education, and collaboration. Her strategic expertise, honed through years of entrepreneurship and corporate experience, has been instrumental in building Camp Alliance into a powerful advocate for those who have sacrificed for our nation. Jody’s deep commitment to the military community is not just professional but also personal. As a mother of two, Morgan (22) and Samantha (20), and part of an Army Reserve family, she navigated the challenges of military life, including eight deployments and mobilizations over 18 years of marriage. This firsthand experience fuels her passion to serve those who wear the uniform and their families. Her leadership and service have earned her numerous awards, and she holds key roles on several boards and councils, including the Arkansas State Council for Military Children, the Northwest Arkansas Veterans Coalition, and the Governor’s Challenge team for Mental Health, Awareness, and Suicide Prevention. Jody’s dedication continues to shape the lives of countless SMVFs through her unwavering commitment to their well-being.
Patrick Hellman is an education leader who believes students deserve a high-quality education and families deserve a school they can trust. He leads with grit, empathy, and a focus on removing barriers for students and families. He’s known for building strong teams, strengthening school culture, and bringing clarity to high-pressure environments. Patrick’s connection to service is personal. His grandfather served in the military as one of the chief engineers on the F-16, and Patrick grew up around the values and realities of the military and Department of Defense community. That background shaped how he sees leadership, responsibility, and the importance of doing right by people. One of his favorite memories growing up was attending Change of Command ceremonies. Patrick has also been a leader in the adolescent mental health space, and that work continues to shape how he supports students and families. He believes great schools combine strong instruction with strong systems of care. Under his leadership, students receive a high-quality education, and families can count on real wraparound support—academically, emotionally, and beyond.
Experienced Program Director with a demonstrated history of working in the education management industry. Skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Early Childhood Education, Program Evaluation, Volunteer Management, and Public Speaking. Strong business development professional with a Master of Education (M.Ed.) focused in Adult Life Long Learning from University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
The Flick Framework. Jordan Flick, a dedicated community development professional with a strong background in strategic planning, market research, and grant procurement. With a Bachelor's degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from The King's College and specialized training from Columbia University and The School for International Training, I bring a well-rounded expertise to my work. Throughout my career, I have successfully secured and managed substantial grant funding, expanding portfolios from $25.9 million to over $60 million. I have a proven track record of writing successful grant applications, securing over $2.5 million within a two-month period, and developing comprehensive grant packages that support diverse community initiatives. My leadership roles include having served as Vice Chair for the Board of Directors for the Ottawa County Boys & Girls Club, as President & Executive Director of Partners for Ottawa County, Inc., and Chairperson of the Ottawa County Health Department's Board of Health. I am honored to be a Gates Millennium Scholar Alumni and a recipient of the Native American 40 Under 40 award given by the The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development. At The Flick Framework, we are proud to be a Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) and Woman & Minority Owned business, committed to providing exceptional services with integrity, efficiency, and resilience. I look forward to collaborating with you to drive growth and foster resilience in our communities.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Paul Lazenby is the Executive Director of the Arkansas Early Childhood Association (AECA) and State Manager for the TEACH Early Childhood Scholarship program. Since 2021, he has led AECA’s efforts to strengthen Arkansas’s early education workforce through advocacy, professional development, and compensation initiatives. He also serves as an adjunct instructor of Early Childhood Education at the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith. Paul’s career spans more than two decades in early childhood education. Before joining AECA, he directed operations for Western Arkansas Child Development, Inc., overseeing five early education centers. Earlier, he served as Project Manager for Arkansas State University Childhood Services, where he helped programs achieve quality accreditation and improve administrative systems. His public service includes leadership roles at the Arkansas Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education, where he contributed to expanding the Arkansas Better Chance Pre-K program and serving on the workgroup that established the Better Beginnings accreditation system. Paul holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Arkansas and completed graduate coursework in Early Childhood Education at Arkansas State University. He is active in professional organizations, including the Southern Early Childhood Association and the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and serves on multiple advisory committees focused on workforce development and policy.
Jamie Ward is an expert in the field of early education with almost three decades of experience building impactful programs and initiatives. As the owner of Curricula Concepts, Inc. and Managing Partner of Be Well Care Well, LLC, she is dedicated to fostering collaborative relationships and driving meaningful change within the field, with a commitment to creating lasting positive outcomes for all involved, from educators and families to policymakers and community leaders. Jamie is also a lead partner with Excel by Eight Foundations, where she focuses on policy and practice efforts that support children from prenatal to age three. Her expertise lies not only in understanding the complexities of early childhood development but also in harnessing the power of partnerships to create a brighter future for our youngest learners.
Dr. David Mason, Vice Chancellor of Workforce and Career Technical Education, has over 15 years of experience in education, working for both private and state-operated institutions. He holds a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership and a Master’s in Counseling Education. As a first-generation college student, Dr. Mason understands the significance of career pathways that lead to high-wage and high-demand occupations. He is dedicated to cultivating strong partnerships across organizations to see personal and community transformation. Dr. Mason enjoys exploring the outdoors with his wife, Lizeth, and three children, Isabel, David Jr., and Jeremiah. They enjoy hiking, biking, camping, and visiting America’s national parks.
Don Berry is a retired U.S. Air Force officer who continues to serve by voluntarily leading development and adoption of nearly a dozen Arkansas and federal initiatives on behalf of current, former, and future service members and their families. He crafted and was the principal advocate for enactment of the Arkansas Military Child School Transitions Act. The Arkansas Act received Department of Defense recognition in a report to Congress for its innovation and modernization of the twenty-year-old interstate compact. Berry is responsible for Arkansas taking a leadership role and setting the national standard for expedited occupational licensure portability for military spouses. He is a local, state, and national leader in the Military Officers Association of America and serves as a member of two Department of Veteran Affairs Veteran Engagement Councils reviewing and contributing to national veteran research initiatives. Berry has long held that high quality childcare is an outcome of effective early child education which launches participating children on a trajectory for a successful elementary and secondary education. The comfort such a program brings to parents gives them the freedom to pursue their occupational pathway in the workforce market.
Monica Lozano Hughes, M.A. serves as a Board Member of AlliancEdu and is an Early Learning Instructional Specialist with Dallas ISD. In her district leadership role, she leads cross-campus initiatives focused on strengthening instructional quality, building educator capacity, and leveraging data to accelerate student achievement. With more than two decades of experience in early childhood education, Monica has driven instructional excellence, systems-level improvement, and equitable outcomes for young learners. She brings deep expertise in early childhood program leadership, multilingual education, and organizational capacity-building. Her work has supported the implementation of high-impact instructional frameworks, comprehensive professional development systems, and sustainable campus improvement strategies that directly impact student success and teacher effectiveness. Monica holds a Master of Arts in Multilingual and Multicultural Studies and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Child Development and Early Childhood Education, positioning her at the intersection of research, policy, and practice. She has presented at state and national conferences on biliteracy development, early language acquisition, and family engagement, and was honored as Texas TESOL V ESL Teacher of the Year. As a member of the AlliancEdu Board, Monica provides strategic leadership and advocacy to expand access to high-quality early learning, strengthen educator pipelines, and advance innovative, research-based practices that ensure children enter school prepared to succeed.
