Our Team
Undoubtedly, Lionheart’s greatest asset is its staff.
Tracy Burke, B.S., M.B.A
Executive Director
Tracy joined the Lionheart team in 2018, but her relationship with the organization goes back to 2013 — first as a Lionheart parent, then as a deeply involved volunteer, a Lionheart WORKS job coach, and later as Director of Operations. In 2025, she became Executive Director, bringing the full depth of that experience to lead the organization forward.
Her background spans nuclear medicine imaging, classroom support as an assistant teacher, and operations leadership in the software industry. Tracy holds a B.S. in Nuclear Medicine Technology from the University of Dayton and an M.B.A. from the University of Cincinnati Lindner College of Business — a combination that gives her both the analytical rigor and organizational range Lionheart's work demands.
Elizabeth Dulin, M.Ed
Co-Founder & Head of School
Elizabeth is the Co-Founder and Head of School at Lionheart. She holds a Georgia certification to teach special education from pre-K through 12th grade and earned both her bachelor's degree in Psychology and her master's in Early Childhood Special Education from Vanderbilt University. With over 40 years of experience working with children across private school, public school, and private practice settings, Elizabeth brings a rare depth of perspective to her work.
Alongside Victoria McBride, Elizabeth oversees every aspect of student programming at Lionheart. She partners closely with families to identify each child's individual needs and ensure they're met with care and intention. Her approach blends sound teaching practice with specialized, relationship-based training — she is a training leader and expert DIRFloortime™ provider, and supervises the integration of DIR® principles throughout the curriculum. Elizabeth also leads small-group sessions using Floortime™, drawing on her deep understanding of how children grow and thrive.
Elizabeth is a fully certified handler for Lionheart's facility dog, BURKE.
Victoria A. McBride, M.Ed., CCC-SLP
Co-Founder & Head of Therapeutic Services
Victoria is the Co-Founder and Head of Therapeutic Services at Lionheart. She holds a master's degree from the University of Georgia and is a certified and licensed Speech-Language Pathologist with over 40 years of experience working with children across private and public school settings and private practice.
Alongside Elizabeth Dulin, Victoria oversees every aspect of student programming at Lionheart. She partners closely with families to identify each child's individual needs and ensure they're addressed thoughtfully. Her extensive experience has shaped her work helping students transition successfully into adulthood, and she oversees the vocational and therapeutic components of Lionheart WORKS. Victoria also works directly with students on pragmatic language skills, articulation, oral-motor difficulties, and other language-based challenges, while mentoring and supporting Lionheart's teachers and therapists.
Victoria is a DIR® certified specialist, embedding DIR® principles into her intervention strategies and overseeing curriculum objectives across the program.
Tamara B. Spafford, M.B.A.
Founder & Strategic Advisor
Tamara serves as the Executive Director for Lionheart and is a founding parent. Tamara has a concentration in computer information systems, marketing and small business administration, working in various areas both as an employee, business owner and consultant. For the past 20 years she has attended continuing education seminars in learning disabilities and special education areas. Tamara attends to the managerial aspects of Lionheart, maintaining financial records, hiring professionals, negotiating contracts, overseeing professional development and extending awareness of the Lionheart approach to others in the professional and parent communities. Tamara is passionate about expanding the reach of Lionheart and providing a place for parents to receive the best possible education and support for their child that deserves a respectful, nurturing and quality education. It is her feeling that all children should have a place like Lionheart where they are loved and supported through their journey in life, and where parents’ hard work and support is carried through in school.
Cynthia Bradford, B.A.
Development Officer
Cynthia serves as the Development Officer at Lionheart Life Center, bringing a diverse background spanning the corporate and nonprofit sectors. She has extensive experience in fundraising, communications, and donor engagement, and holds a degree in Fine Art and Design from St. Petersburg College, as well as a postgraduate qualification in Graphic Design.
Cynthia builds and nurtures the relationships that allow our mission to grow — connecting with donors, partners, and volunteers, and representing Lionheart at community events throughout the year. She is an Alpharetta Rotarian, a Leadership North Fulton alumna from the Class of 2026, and an active member of the Roswell Women’s Club, deepening her ties to the very community she serves on Lionheart’s behalf. She also plays an integral role in planning and executing Lionheart’s fundraising events.
Passionate about community building and volunteerism, Cynthia is driven by a deep commitment to making a positive impact and brings both creative vision and genuine warmth to everything she does on Lionheart’s behalf.
Robyn Guy, BS
Director of Lionheart WORKS
Robyn graduated from Furman University with a degree in Math and Economics. After a career in software quality assurance, she began substitute teaching. She was drawn to teaching students with special needs and worked as a middle school Special Education Paraprofessional. She began volunteering at Lionheart as a Job Coach and is excited to join the staff at Lionheart as a Vocational Assistant. Robyn enjoys photography, music, painting, and volunteering in her free time.
Ashley Cheek, M.Ed.
Associate Development Officer
Ashley is Lionheart's Associate Development Officer, leading the planning and execution of Lionheart's two signature fundraising events: Grilling and Gridiron each fall, and Party with Heart each winter. She also seeks new funding opportunities and works to expand Lionheart's reach throughout the community.
Ashley holds a Master's Degree in Special Education from Georgia State University and an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Child Development from the University of Georgia. She has been part of Lionheart since 2008, spending her first seven years as a classroom teacher before transitioning into event work — a background that gives her a unique, firsthand understanding of Lionheart's mission and the students it serves.
Ali Curtin, B.A.
Operations and Family Engagement Manager
Ali is Lionheart's Operations and Family Engagement Manager. She supports the executive team, teachers, and therapists; oversees Lionheart's facility operations; manages enrollment and admissions; and serves as a key point of contact for families navigating their journey with Lionheart. She also oversees Lionheart's social media platforms, helping share our story with the broader community.
Ali holds a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of North Carolina, along with a secondary degree in Education, and brings over twenty years of management experience to her role.
Ali joined Lionheart in the fall of 2011, and her deep institutional knowledge and steady, organized presence make her an essential part of how Lionheart runs — and how families experience their first and ongoing connection to our community. For Ali, getting to work alongside Lionheart's extraordinary students is the best part of the job.
