Our Staff
Lauren Zappone Maples, Executive Director
Lauren Maples co-founded PEAS Community Farm & Urban Orchard at Cunningham Elementary in 2011 and has served as the founding Executive Director of PEAS since 2015. Under her leadership, PEAS has grown from a single school garden to a leading nonprofit in Central Texas supporting outdoor, place-based, and edible education across schools and communities. Prior to her work with PEAS, Lauren was a classroom teacher in Austin ISD and served as an environmental educator for the City of Austin. She has also taught as an adjunct professor at two local universities.
Lauren’s work has been recognized through numerous awards, including the John F. Ahrns Award for Environmental Education from Westcave Discovery Center (2014, 2021), the Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching Grant, a Fulbright Alumni Grant (which supported her research in New Zealand and the U.S. on place-based education), and the Slow Food USA Snailblazer Award for school garden education. Her research and leadership have shaped PEAS’ school-day programming, community initiatives, and long-term organizational vision.
Lauren Maples co-founded PEAS Community Farm & Urban Orchard at Cunningham Elementary in 2011 and has served as the founding Executive Director of PEAS since 2015. Under her leadership, PEAS has grown from a single school garden to a leading nonprofit in Central Texas supporting outdoor, place-based, and edible education across schools and communities. Prior to her work with PEAS, Lauren was a classroom teacher in Austin ISD and served as an environmental educator for the City of Austin. She has also taught as an adjunct professor at two local universities.
Lauren’s work has been recognized through numerous awards, including the John F. Ahrns Award for Environmental Education from Westcave Discovery Center (2014, 2021), the Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching Grant, a Fulbright Alumni Grant (which supported her research in New Zealand and the U.S. on place-based education), and the Slow Food USA Snailblazer Award for school garden education. Her research and leadership have shaped PEAS’ school-day programming, community initiatives, and long-term organizational vision.
Tommie Hawthorne, Business and Administrative Manager
Tommie brings decades of experience in bookkeeping, office management, and administrative support, with a professional background that spans a respected law firm, Austin ISD, and the University of Texas. As PEAS’ Administrative Manager, Tommie is the organizational backbone of our team—overseeing internal systems, managing finances, supporting HR processes, and keeping day-to-day operations running smoothly. Her keen attention to detail, reliability, and deep institutional knowledge ensure that our programs and people are well-supported behind the scenes.
Tommie has a long-standing connection to PEAS, dating back to when her twins were in Lauren Maples’ classes and active members of the Cunningham Elementary Gardening Club at PEAS Farm. Her belief in the mission of PEAS is personal and profound, and she is thrilled to now be supporting the work in such an integral role. Whether streamlining workflows or helping a team member problem-solve, Tommie’s caring and capable presence is felt across the organization every day.
Tommie brings decades of experience in bookkeeping, office management, and administrative support, with a professional background that spans a respected law firm, Austin ISD, and the University of Texas. As PEAS’ Administrative Manager, Tommie is the organizational backbone of our team—overseeing internal systems, managing finances, supporting HR processes, and keeping day-to-day operations running smoothly. Her keen attention to detail, reliability, and deep institutional knowledge ensure that our programs and people are well-supported behind the scenes.
Tommie has a long-standing connection to PEAS, dating back to when her twins were in Lauren Maples’ classes and active members of the Cunningham Elementary Gardening Club at PEAS Farm. Her belief in the mission of PEAS is personal and profound, and she is thrilled to now be supporting the work in such an integral role. Whether streamlining workflows or helping a team member problem-solve, Tommie’s caring and capable presence is felt across the organization every day.
Nancy Zepeda, Kitchen Program Manager
Nancy is certified in clinical herbalism from the Wildflower School of Botanical Medicine and has experience teaching kids and adults about nature and medicinal plants. She is a certified community yoga instructor from the Amala Foundation; she infuses mindfulness practices into her personal and professional life. As a trained facilitator, she has worked closely with other facilitators and AISD's Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) team to provide mindfulness training to principals, teachers, parents, and students across the district. Her love of nature and the outdoors has taken her to Hawaii, California, Mexico, and Guatemala to study different sustainability and farming methods. Nancy brings a peaceful and culturally competent perspective to the work she does and the interactions she has. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and dancing salsa!
Nancy is certified in clinical herbalism from the Wildflower School of Botanical Medicine and has experience teaching kids and adults about nature and medicinal plants. She is a certified community yoga instructor from the Amala Foundation; she infuses mindfulness practices into her personal and professional life. As a trained facilitator, she has worked closely with other facilitators and AISD's Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) team to provide mindfulness training to principals, teachers, parents, and students across the district. Her love of nature and the outdoors has taken her to Hawaii, California, Mexico, and Guatemala to study different sustainability and farming methods. Nancy brings a peaceful and culturally competent perspective to the work she does and the interactions she has. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and dancing salsa!
Mathew Garland, Programs Director
Mathew Garland is a former Austin ISD teacher, a school garden collaborator and the founder of the Nearby Naturalists nature program. His love of nature began as a child, exploring the ditches and bayous of his Houston neighborhood. His mother established a protocol that he would always present new turtles and snakes for inspection at the front door, before bringing them into the house. A childhood filled with nature-based learning eventually led him to education. As a teacher at Zilker elementary, he helped to organize and establish their campus vegetable garden. He created outdoor lessons for use in the garden and helped to facilitate the Garden to Cafe program at his campus. He also developed a sustainable classroom model that included composting, water capture and outdoor learning areas. In 2021, he founded Nearby Naturalists to help connect children with nature right where they live. In his current role as PEAS Programs Director, he manages outdoor learning programs, leads professional development and helps to develop curriculum and other learning resources. He lives in south Austin with his family, their dogs and quite a few chickens.
Mathew Garland is a former Austin ISD teacher, a school garden collaborator and the founder of the Nearby Naturalists nature program. His love of nature began as a child, exploring the ditches and bayous of his Houston neighborhood. His mother established a protocol that he would always present new turtles and snakes for inspection at the front door, before bringing them into the house. A childhood filled with nature-based learning eventually led him to education. As a teacher at Zilker elementary, he helped to organize and establish their campus vegetable garden. He created outdoor lessons for use in the garden and helped to facilitate the Garden to Cafe program at his campus. He also developed a sustainable classroom model that included composting, water capture and outdoor learning areas. In 2021, he founded Nearby Naturalists to help connect children with nature right where they live. In his current role as PEAS Programs Director, he manages outdoor learning programs, leads professional development and helps to develop curriculum and other learning resources. He lives in south Austin with his family, their dogs and quite a few chickens.
Lauren Reneé Salinas-Garcia, Lead Outdoor Education Specialist
Lauren Reneé Salinas-Garcia is deeply devoted to celebrating the natural world, as she journeys her path to reconnect to her own indigenous roots and practices. As a teacher, her passion lies in mentorship, youth advocacy, and awakening wonder and community amongst her students. She has experience working in nursery schools, summer camps, elementary and high schools. In 2015 she transitioned from an early childcare center into youth services with the Parks & Rec Department in San Marcos. Over the next few years, her path led her to work as a Teacher's Assistant for AISD. This experience invigorated her passion for Outdoor Education. Lauren Reneé believes one thing that remains constant, is the human necessity for deep connection with the natural world and the equanimity this provides. Her core mission is to provide children an equitable and expansive environment with opportunities to elevate, explore, discover and create, in harmony with nature and community.
Lauren Reneé Salinas-Garcia is deeply devoted to celebrating the natural world, as she journeys her path to reconnect to her own indigenous roots and practices. As a teacher, her passion lies in mentorship, youth advocacy, and awakening wonder and community amongst her students. She has experience working in nursery schools, summer camps, elementary and high schools. In 2015 she transitioned from an early childcare center into youth services with the Parks & Rec Department in San Marcos. Over the next few years, her path led her to work as a Teacher's Assistant for AISD. This experience invigorated her passion for Outdoor Education. Lauren Reneé believes one thing that remains constant, is the human necessity for deep connection with the natural world and the equanimity this provides. Her core mission is to provide children an equitable and expansive environment with opportunities to elevate, explore, discover and create, in harmony with nature and community.
Mariana "Mo'' Bonilla, Outdoor Education Specialist
Mariana is passionate about nature, agriculture, and education. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies at the New College of Florida and an M.Ed. in Creativity, Talent and Transformation from Texas State University. Her experience working for several small organic farms and non-profits in Central Texas has provided her with a well-rounded perspective on our local food system, with a specialized focus on food justice. Mariana is a trained Clinical Herbalist through the Wildflower School of Botanical Medicine, where she teaches classes on the weekends. She's excited to empower our youth through education about the natural world!
Mariana is passionate about nature, agriculture, and education. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies at the New College of Florida and an M.Ed. in Creativity, Talent and Transformation from Texas State University. Her experience working for several small organic farms and non-profits in Central Texas has provided her with a well-rounded perspective on our local food system, with a specialized focus on food justice. Mariana is a trained Clinical Herbalist through the Wildflower School of Botanical Medicine, where she teaches classes on the weekends. She's excited to empower our youth through education about the natural world!
Magda Hernandez, Learning & Land Coordinator | Outdoor Education Specialist
Magda Hernandez is thrilled to continue her work in the education field with PEAS. Previously she worked as a field trainer at The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk at UT Austin where she implemented research-based curriculum, facilitated courses, and collaborated with teachers to strengthen their best practices. Before that Magda taught for 20+ years in bilingual education with students in grades K-5th. Her intention is to help students, young and older, remember the joy of nature and the lessons to be learned from nature.
Magda is constantly learning how we can work for the land under various teachers with the Austin Permaculture Guild, Sacred Journey School of Herbalism and School of the Sacred Wild. Her interests include yoga, herbalism, plant medicine, food forest, and drumming with Bateristas Do Coraḉão. She is happiest when she gets to spend time with her husband, daughter, and two dogs.
Magda Hernandez is thrilled to continue her work in the education field with PEAS. Previously she worked as a field trainer at The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk at UT Austin where she implemented research-based curriculum, facilitated courses, and collaborated with teachers to strengthen their best practices. Before that Magda taught for 20+ years in bilingual education with students in grades K-5th. Her intention is to help students, young and older, remember the joy of nature and the lessons to be learned from nature.
Magda is constantly learning how we can work for the land under various teachers with the Austin Permaculture Guild, Sacred Journey School of Herbalism and School of the Sacred Wild. Her interests include yoga, herbalism, plant medicine, food forest, and drumming with Bateristas Do Coraḉão. She is happiest when she gets to spend time with her husband, daughter, and two dogs.
Jenny Sladek, Outdoor Education Specialist
Jenny has over 15 years experience as a classroom teacher, working for 8+ years as Science Teacher and Department Chair at the Austin Independent School District to incorporate S.T.E.A.M. and Whole-Child elements into her instruction. She spent 3 years in UT’s MERSEC/NASCENT program developing curriculum for students based upon current research. She has also worked with numerous non-profit organizations, such as the National Wildlife Federation, the Sustainable Food Center, Whole Kids Foundation, and more, to build educational, student-centered science programming, and has coordinated projects that include a monarch garden, an organic vegetable garden, and a S.T.E.A.M. lab. Her goal is to inspire curiosity, creativity, and collaboration through community and education.
Jenny has over 15 years experience as a classroom teacher, working for 8+ years as Science Teacher and Department Chair at the Austin Independent School District to incorporate S.T.E.A.M. and Whole-Child elements into her instruction. She spent 3 years in UT’s MERSEC/NASCENT program developing curriculum for students based upon current research. She has also worked with numerous non-profit organizations, such as the National Wildlife Federation, the Sustainable Food Center, Whole Kids Foundation, and more, to build educational, student-centered science programming, and has coordinated projects that include a monarch garden, an organic vegetable garden, and a S.T.E.A.M. lab. Her goal is to inspire curiosity, creativity, and collaboration through community and education.
Nikki Newman Sobhani, Development & Communications Manager
Nikki brings 20 years of experience in the natural foods industry, guided by a personal mission to ensure everyone has equal access to healthy, nourishing food. A graduate of UT Austin with a degree in photojournalism, Nikki has built a career rooted in purpose-driven work across social media, integrated marketing, brand management, communications and philanthropy.
As a mom of two young boys, Nikki is passionate about hands-on learning and outdoor education and is excited to help expand these experiences for more students across Austin. She focuses on building meaningful relationships with PEAS supporters and strengthening the community that makes our work possible.
Nikki brings 20 years of experience in the natural foods industry, guided by a personal mission to ensure everyone has equal access to healthy, nourishing food. A graduate of UT Austin with a degree in photojournalism, Nikki has built a career rooted in purpose-driven work across social media, integrated marketing, brand management, communications and philanthropy.
As a mom of two young boys, Nikki is passionate about hands-on learning and outdoor education and is excited to help expand these experiences for more students across Austin. She focuses on building meaningful relationships with PEAS supporters and strengthening the community that makes our work possible.
Joanna Orozco, Outdoor Education Specialist
Joanna is passionate about honoring Nature as a primary teacher, fostering a sense of belonging in the outdoors, and integrating Indigenous traditional knowledge. After earning her B.S. in Animal Biology from TAMUCC, she spent six years on the East Coast working in environmental education, community outreach, and trail building with organizations like the N.C. Arboretum, Mountain Trail Outdoor School, and local conservation corps. She later earned her M.S. in Experiential and Outdoor Education from Western Carolina University, focusing her research on racial equity in the outdoors.
Since May 2025, Joanna has served as an Outdoor Learning Specialist at Austin ISD’s Outdoor Wonder and Learning (OWL) Center, and she is thrilled to join the PEAS team part-time in Edible Education! In her free time, you can find her making music, carving linoleum relief prints for her studio (@TintaYTierraStudio), or hanging out with her cat, Luna, and gargoyle gecko, Canela.
Joanna is passionate about honoring Nature as a primary teacher, fostering a sense of belonging in the outdoors, and integrating Indigenous traditional knowledge. After earning her B.S. in Animal Biology from TAMUCC, she spent six years on the East Coast working in environmental education, community outreach, and trail building with organizations like the N.C. Arboretum, Mountain Trail Outdoor School, and local conservation corps. She later earned her M.S. in Experiential and Outdoor Education from Western Carolina University, focusing her research on racial equity in the outdoors.
Since May 2025, Joanna has served as an Outdoor Learning Specialist at Austin ISD’s Outdoor Wonder and Learning (OWL) Center, and she is thrilled to join the PEAS team part-time in Edible Education! In her free time, you can find her making music, carving linoleum relief prints for her studio (@TintaYTierraStudio), or hanging out with her cat, Luna, and gargoyle gecko, Canela.
Karina Grande, Kitchen Intern
Karina (she/her), is excited to join the PEAS team as the 2026-2027 Kitchen Intern. Karina brings a plethora of experiences from her former jobs, such as being a water quality scientist, environmental scientist and a public health educator at Austin Public Health. She received her bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Colorado College and is an active member of the Capital Area Master Naturalists. She enjoys volunteering at Urban Roots as a Community Ambassador, where she can connect with her community while also tending to the land.
When she's not outside, she loves learning about all things food, food storytelling, food history, and cooking food!
Karina (she/her), is excited to join the PEAS team as the 2026-2027 Kitchen Intern. Karina brings a plethora of experiences from her former jobs, such as being a water quality scientist, environmental scientist and a public health educator at Austin Public Health. She received her bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Colorado College and is an active member of the Capital Area Master Naturalists. She enjoys volunteering at Urban Roots as a Community Ambassador, where she can connect with her community while also tending to the land.
When she's not outside, she loves learning about all things food, food storytelling, food history, and cooking food!
