About

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An alumna of the University of Georgia, Jenna began her career in education in 2008 and since then has become one of the leading proponents (and providers) of increasing educational resources in the areas of social justice, food access, and environmental education, earning her the Presidential Innovation Award for Educators, received at the White House in Washington, DC in 2015, as well as Georgia’s 40 Under 40 Award in 2021 and Atlanta’s 40 Under 40 Inspiring Innovators Award in 2022.

At present, she develops curriculum and trains teachers around the world with partner organizations including FoodCorp, Georgia Organics, Life Lab, Whole Kids Foundation, Captain Planet Foundation, and Small Bites Adventure Club . She also continues to play a large role in Atlanta Public Schools, her pilot school being a school-based rooftop gardening program that has garnered local and national press coverage, as well as numerous grants and awards.

Beyond the school walls, she serves as the Director of Education for Community Farmers Markets, developing programs to educate neighborhoods of Atlanta on the community health, economic, and sustainable benefits of local farmers markets.

Education

  • B.S.Ed.        Early Childhood Education. University of Georgia. (2005-2008)

Additional Courses 

  • Life Lab Certified School Garden Educator Course. Life Lab (2021)
  • Cultivating Farm to Early Childhood Course. Vermont Feed. (2020-2021)
  • John Dewey Culinary Institute. University of Vermont (June 2017)
  • Edible Schoolyard Academy. Edible Schoolyard. (July 2014)
  • Urban Agriculture Training Program. Georgia Organics. (2012)
  • Edible Schoolyard Academy. Edible Schoolyard. (July 2010)

Professional Training

  • Coaching Effectively. Emory Continuing Education (September 2017)
  • Facilitation Training. Jeremy Lewis (January 2016)
  • Prioritization Training. Jeremy Lewis (January 2016)

Professional Positions

Board Experience

  • Grow the Good ATL Advisory Board Member. (2021 – Present)
  • Branan Towers Senior Living. Board Member. (Jan 2017 – Present)
  • WYLDE Center. Executive Board Member. (Jan 2015 – June 2020)
  • Georgia School Garden Network. Executive Board Member. (Jan 2017 – Jan 2019)

Professional Experience

  • Summit/Conference Education Planning.
    • Committee Member. Georgia Organics. (2019, 2021)
  • Strategic Plan Development.
    • Staff Member. Community Farmers Markets. (2015, 2019, 2023)
    • Board Member. Wylde Center. (2015, 2019)
  • Evaluation Plan Development.
    • Team Member. Georgia Organics Farm to School. (2016)
  • Design Table Process.
    • Team Member. Food Well Alliance. (2016)
  • Website Development.
    • Staff Member. Community Farmers Markets. (2015)

Professional Memberships

  • Georgia Farm to School Alliance.
  • Environmental Education Alliance of Georgia.
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5 thoughts on “About

    1. I’m so glad you do, Ava! It is made just for you to help you find the resources you need 🙂 Let me know if there is anything I can do to make it better for you!

  1. Jenna, I just read through everything and I could not be more proud. This is an amazing cause and would love to see this first-hand! You are so talented on so many levels. Congratulations and I can’t wait to see what the future holds!

  2. Hi Jenna! Thanks for your website and all the programs you have helped implementing at Springdale Park Elementary to make our little munchkins (we have 2 at Spark!) healthier, greener and happier. We see the results every day in our sons: they remind us of the 3 ‘r’ (reuse, recycle, reduce), are curious about nature, always ready to plant a seed, and they are motivated to eat healthy (fruit and vegetables). Also thanks for your joyfulness and enthusiasm in doing all this!

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