Our board is committed to being an informed, engaged, and diverse Board with roles that use the strengths of the individual Board members to provide oversight of financial and program alignment with mission, and contribute financially.
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Our Staff
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Lauren Zappone Maples
Executive Director Lauren co-founded PEAS Community Farm & Urban Orchard at Cunningham Elementary in 2011 and became the founding executive director of PEAS in 2015. Prior to leading PEAS, she was a classroom teacher with Austin ISD. In 2014, Lauren received the John F. Ahrns Award for Environmental Education from the Children in Nature Collaborative of Austin and was awarded the Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching Grant which allowed her to spend a semester studying place-based outdoor education in New Zealand. In 2016 she received the Fulbright Alumni Grant where she extended her research into school garden programs in the US. Her research has been highly influential in the development of school day programs, community initiatives, and the long-range organizational goals of PEAS. Lauren also worked as environmental educator for the City of Austin and taught as an adjunct professor at 2 local universities. Lauren is currently a co-chair of AISD's Environmental Stewardship Advisory Committee and serves on the Central Texas School Garden Network's Leadership Team. |
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Kate Martin
Program Coordinator/Outdoor Education Specialist Kate Martin is an outdoor-lover, former AISD teacher, and native Austinite. After graduating from Oberlin College with a degree in literature, she immediately found a job teaching outdoor education in the mountains of California and was hooked on the power of teaching science in in the outdoors. She joined the Peace Corps as a Community-Based Environmental Management Volunteer and served in the dry forest region of northern Peru. After returning, she attended Lewis and Clark College and received her Masters in Teaching, specializing in Integrated Science. She taught science in the English Language Development Academy at Webb Middle School for five years, and moved to Kealing's Academy program where she also taught the elective class in gardening. She watched the garden's power to inspire ownership, connection and curiosity in her elective students, and jumped at the chance to work with a program that supports teachers to provide this opportunity as part of the core curriculum. |
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Elizabeth Hodges
Outdoor Education Specialist Elizabeth is a native Austinite and former Austin ISD teacher. She has her BS in education from the University of Texas at Austin and her MEd from Texas State University. She is a well seasoned teacher with experience in Brooke, Pease, Gullett, Brentwood, and Doss Elementary schools in Austin, teaching kindergarten, 3rd and 4th grades. In addition she has experience teaching in schools in Japan and Ghana, Africa. Elizabeth’s love of the outdoors and gardening started as a child and has trickled into her elementary school teaching. She started the garden at Doss Elementary and continued as the lead garden teacher till recently. Elizabeth is excited to combine her numerous years of teaching experience with the ever so important role we have as citizens of this earth on how to respect, protect, and sustain our precious planet. |
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Emma Talley
Outdoor Education Specialist Emma has her BS in education from Texas State University! After graduation, Emma began working in Round Rock ISD with the fourth graders at Elsa England Elementary. During her 5 years as a classroom teacher, she became the go-to garden educator, environmental club sponsor, & ran the vermiculture program during science events. Emma knew her passion for working with kids was found in the garden, so she left teaching with a mission: To learn more about being a steward of the Earth and bring her findings back to her students. On her journey Emma became certified in permaculture design, built her proficiency in landscape design, and spent some time working on an educational farm. It was through these experiences that Emma found PEAS where she had begun fulfilling her mission by combining her passion for kids with her passion for nature. |
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Maite Saco
Outdoor Education Specialist Maite has had a dedicated relationship with teaching early childhood education for as long as she can remember. Upon graduating from Emory University with a BA in Education and History, she joined Americorps for City Year in New York. As a corps member, one of the many projects she got involved with was Grow NYC, a grassroots organization based in the city where she spearheaded the community garden at her school. It was during her time with City Year that she began helping students engage with the environment, gardening, and conservation. This ignited a passion in her that was deeply rooted in her upbringing. Having grown up in Costa Rica, environmental conservation was always at the heart of her education. School field trips entailed being engulfed in the rainforest linking all of her science lessons to her surroundings. Most recently, Maite pursued a masters in Bilingual Education at the University of Texas at Austin, where she dove deep into cultivating culturally diverse curricula with an emphasis on critical pedagogy. Maite is thrilled to combine her years of experience with her bilingual background to help form environmentally conscious students through outdoor education. |
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Chelsea Gomez
Outdoor Education Specialist Chelsea is an environmentalist, writer and artist. She graduated from St. Edward’s University with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Policy. While in school, she conducted research for the National Science Foundation on the reestablishment of Loblolly Pine trees in Bastrop State Park. During an internship for a Montessori afterschool program, she learned the art of nonviolent communication and conflict resolution which changed her life. After graduating, she went to The Gambia, West Africa to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer. She lived with the Jola tribe and successfully integrated into her host community, building lasting connections and friendships. Her work included organizing a national bee keeping march, establishing community forest apiaries, tree nurseries, community gardens and forming an environmental club at the senior secondary school. Upon completion of her service she felt the need to continue serving others and share her growing skill set. She returned home in April 2019 and serendipitously found PEAS, where she hopes to inspire others to live a more environmentally and ethically conscious life. |
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Caralee Sadler
Edible Education Specialist Caralee graduated with a degree in Anthropology from Davidson College in 2015, where she also studied Spanish and spent a semester studying abroad in Chile. From there, Caralee moved to Birmingham, Alabama to work as a Teaching Fellow for Jones Valley Teaching Farm. Caralee spent 14 months working on both their urban farm and as the garden teacher at a local elementary school. Following this experience, Caralee WWOOFed, backpacked, and trekked throughout Costa Rica and Peru before moving to Austin. These experiences working in and with nature led her to explore environmental ethics and spirituality at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. In addition to working towards her master’s degree, Caralee worked for the Cuba Oceans Program at the Environmental Defense Fund assisting in sustainable fisheries management initiatives. Caralee graduated with a Master of Arts in Theological Studies in 2019 and is passionate about our holistic connection to the Earth and the food that comes from it. |
Our Board
Anne Muller - Board Chair
Anne is the Outdoor Learning Specialist for the Austin Independent School District. She is passionate about creating systems to help green our school yards, empowering teachers to take their lessons outdoors, and connecting children to nature. Anne has been with Austin ISD for 12 years as both teacher and now Outdoor Learning Specialist. She got her BA in American Studies at Mount Holyoke College and her MA in Science Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas, Arlington. Anne is also a mother of two and loves spending time outside with her family.
Ché Wisdom - Treasurer/Board Member
Ché is an experienced fund-development professional who has spent the last 7 years partnering with non-profits to develop and achieve their fundraising goals. She is passionate about promoting equity and access to the outdoors, as well as ensuring that leaders of color are represented in environmental decision-making. Despite her terrible allergies, Ché loves spending time outside with her husband Josh, and their leash-cat George.
Blake Smith - Secretary/Board Member
Blake Smith has consulted and worked with companies specializing in telecommunications, solar energy, construction and premier custom home building. He holds an MBA in entrepreneurship from St. Edwards University, and has lived in Austin since 2000. He is an avid gardener who enjoys growing seasonal fruits and vegetables. He especially enjoys growing vine ripe tomatoes & pink eyed purple hull peas. Blake joined the board to be a part of encouraging gardening for generations to come.
Margaret Terronez - Board Member
Margaret is a social worker who has worked in government service and administration for over 17 years. She was instrumental in raising funds to build the infrastructure for PEAS Community Farm, and she and her two children have been active volunteers since it was started in 2011. Margaret started on the farm leadership committee transitioned to our nonprofit board when PEAS became an official 501c3 in 2015. She is passionate about being part of a community based organization that educates children and assists schools in agricultural and sustainability.
Blake Shanley - Board Member
Blake brings her wide-ranging expertise as a small business owner, realtor,and healthy lifestyle consultant to the PEAS Board. As an innovator, Blake is always looking for new ways to help people connect with their healthiest self. She does this by enthusiastically leading customized classes and workshops for her clients. Blake believes strongly in the power of community. This belief along with her passion to help people better understand how what they consume effects their health is the reason she has joined the PEAS Board.
Jade Place-Mathews - Board Member
Growing up in Australia, Jade loved nothing more than working with her Grandfather in his vegetable garden. After finishing her university degree in Design & Marketing, Jade moved to America in 2004 and is still getting her hands dirty. The mother of one, is owner of El Diablo Tacos (Brooklyn) and East Austin’s Farm to Table, Hillside Farmacy, where she works with her chef and local farms to help create their seasonal menus and curate a large grocery selection filled with local products.
Elijah Kelley - Board Member
Elijah is an experienced leader at the intersection of strategy, operations, and finance. He has held multiple managerial positions in software firms, most recently serving as Senior VP, Strategy & Business Development for the innovation arm of a large healthcare system. Elijah advises multiple startups, consults on market research and strategy, and is a mentor for Texas Health Catalyst. He holds an M.S. in Technology Commercialization from UT Austin’s McCombs School of Business and a B.A. in English from the College of William and Mary.
Anne is the Outdoor Learning Specialist for the Austin Independent School District. She is passionate about creating systems to help green our school yards, empowering teachers to take their lessons outdoors, and connecting children to nature. Anne has been with Austin ISD for 12 years as both teacher and now Outdoor Learning Specialist. She got her BA in American Studies at Mount Holyoke College and her MA in Science Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas, Arlington. Anne is also a mother of two and loves spending time outside with her family.
Ché Wisdom - Treasurer/Board Member
Ché is an experienced fund-development professional who has spent the last 7 years partnering with non-profits to develop and achieve their fundraising goals. She is passionate about promoting equity and access to the outdoors, as well as ensuring that leaders of color are represented in environmental decision-making. Despite her terrible allergies, Ché loves spending time outside with her husband Josh, and their leash-cat George.
Blake Smith - Secretary/Board Member
Blake Smith has consulted and worked with companies specializing in telecommunications, solar energy, construction and premier custom home building. He holds an MBA in entrepreneurship from St. Edwards University, and has lived in Austin since 2000. He is an avid gardener who enjoys growing seasonal fruits and vegetables. He especially enjoys growing vine ripe tomatoes & pink eyed purple hull peas. Blake joined the board to be a part of encouraging gardening for generations to come.
Margaret Terronez - Board Member
Margaret is a social worker who has worked in government service and administration for over 17 years. She was instrumental in raising funds to build the infrastructure for PEAS Community Farm, and she and her two children have been active volunteers since it was started in 2011. Margaret started on the farm leadership committee transitioned to our nonprofit board when PEAS became an official 501c3 in 2015. She is passionate about being part of a community based organization that educates children and assists schools in agricultural and sustainability.
Blake Shanley - Board Member
Blake brings her wide-ranging expertise as a small business owner, realtor,and healthy lifestyle consultant to the PEAS Board. As an innovator, Blake is always looking for new ways to help people connect with their healthiest self. She does this by enthusiastically leading customized classes and workshops for her clients. Blake believes strongly in the power of community. This belief along with her passion to help people better understand how what they consume effects their health is the reason she has joined the PEAS Board.
Jade Place-Mathews - Board Member
Growing up in Australia, Jade loved nothing more than working with her Grandfather in his vegetable garden. After finishing her university degree in Design & Marketing, Jade moved to America in 2004 and is still getting her hands dirty. The mother of one, is owner of El Diablo Tacos (Brooklyn) and East Austin’s Farm to Table, Hillside Farmacy, where she works with her chef and local farms to help create their seasonal menus and curate a large grocery selection filled with local products.
Elijah Kelley - Board Member
Elijah is an experienced leader at the intersection of strategy, operations, and finance. He has held multiple managerial positions in software firms, most recently serving as Senior VP, Strategy & Business Development for the innovation arm of a large healthcare system. Elijah advises multiple startups, consults on market research and strategy, and is a mentor for Texas Health Catalyst. He holds an M.S. in Technology Commercialization from UT Austin’s McCombs School of Business and a B.A. in English from the College of William and Mary.