Board of Directors

Aisha Ward

Aisha has been raising awareness about the need for more foster parents and being a voice for vulnerable children in the child welfare system for 10 years. She was able to grow a very rewarding passion in life in the foster care world. She was first introduced to vulnerable youth while working as a Summer Camp Praise Director on the outskirts of Chicago, Illinois. This was a heartbreaking experience as she discovered that there were entire communities hidden within developed neighborhoods, surrounded by trees. She was tasked with teaching these children, but the children ended up teaching her so much about resiliency and compassion. Aisha graduated from The University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Management. She went on to attend The University of the Southwest and graduated in 2014 with a Master of Business Administration with a major in Finance. Aisha and her husband, Justin, currently reside in Kingsport, TN. In her free time, she can be found chasing after her son, crafting with her daughter, connecting with her beautiful bonus kids, or working out with FiA (Females in Action).

Danielle Sparrow

She is a mother to nine children, seven of whom she has lovingly adopted and two she is currently fostering with plans to adopt. Her family includes six daughters, three sons, a Golden Retriever named Georgia, and a cat named Ford. Her youngest has Smith-Magenis Syndrome. With over 11 years of fostering experience, she is deeply committed to supporting children in her community. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her kids, baking, going to the gym, and traveling. Her passion for giving back and helping others is at the core of everything she does.

Lisa Salyer

Lisa studied Kinesiology in college and currently works in commercial property management.  She is married and has two amazing children.  Helping children in need is something she loves to do, and being on the board at SMILE gives her that opportunity.

Lisa Bryant

Lisa is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church. She serves two churches in the Kingsport area: Glen Alpine and Kingsley. She has been married to Greg since 1999, and they have one adult son, John Alden. Her passion is watching miracles happen through the work of God’s people. God always cared deeply for children, especially those who are on the margins of society. Her desire is to work alongside God and His people to bring the abundant life of Jesus Christ to all children and families in our region.