Our Team

Michelle (she/her) brings over 20 years of public sector experience in the Bay Area, with 12 of those years as the OUSD Wellness Coordinator.  As the Director of Programs for The Center, she leads education, programming, partnership and policy work to bring better food and opportunities to our students, staff and families. Michelle is an Oakland Unified parent to two OUSD students and has a Masters of Public Health from the University of Michigan.  

Sarah (she/her) joined Oakland Unified School District in 2010. She taught Biology at Skyline High School and 8th Grade Science at Life Academy. After teaching she joined the OUSD Science team working as a high school specialist and NGSS Coordinator, supporting K-12 science teaching and learning and District-wide science events like the Science Fair and Dinner with a Scientist. Sarah is passionate about getting students learning and exploring outside, building curriculum around authentic, community-centric projects and supporting student-led efforts to bring more environmental and climate change education to the District. As Education Coordinator at The Center, Sarah works with the team to design and support K-12 student programming, including Field Trips to The Center and in the community, high school internships and more. When not at work Sarah enjoys hiking and trying to complete the East Bay Regional Park District's yearly Trail Challenge, sending letters through the mail and meeting with her Book Club The Page Turners.

Kat (she/her) graduated from UCSC with a BA in American Studies and has an MS degree from Cal State in Educational Leadership. She holds a teaching credential and a Tier 2 administrative credential. Kat has a long history with OUSD. She began here in 1996 and has been a teacher, instructional facilitator, literacy coach, principal and Central Office partner. She is part of the Ed Programming Team at The Center and coordinates school gardens. While Kat was a teacher at Markham, she started a school garden there and is so happy that it is still a vibrant growing space! In her free time, she loves to garden (of course), exercise, run, read, eat delicious foods, play with my family and friends, have adventures, and travel.

Troy (he/him) started his journey working with Oakland Unified School District in 2023 as The Center’s Nutrition and Garden Education Specialist. He received two B.S. degrees in Biology and Secondary Education from the University of Nevada before continuing on to become a 9th-grade Biology teacher in Reno, NV. Several formative years later, he went back to school and earned a Master’s degree in Learning Sciences and Human Development from the University of California, Berkeley. He is now pursuing his passion for teaching unforgettable garden-to-table field trips to OUSD learners at The Center. In his free time, he loves traveling and spending every opportunity he can exploring the world. He's been to 34 states and 23 countries from Albania to Thailand. Outside is where he finds peace and is an avid climber, biker, yogi, and backpacker. He's excited to foster learner’s love for the natural world and create a space full of reciprocity and joy.

Abby (she/her) grew up in the Bay Area and has a deep appreciation for the local community and environment. She earned her B.S. in International Agricultural Development from UC Davis, and she is excited to return to OUSD where she previously served as a FoodCorps Service member (2018-2019). Food and garden education is her passion, and she is especially driven by high-impact work focusing on issues around food security and agency. Outside of work, Abby is an avid gardener (of course!), with a particular obsession for growing heirloom tomatoes and cut flowers. She also loves backpacking, traveling, cooking, floral arrangement, reading, and spending time with her family, friends, and her dog, Lily!

Kit (they/them) began working with EFG Programs at The Center as a graduate school intern in the summer of 2023, and then rejoined the team after finishing their MPH at Berkeley, where they focused on equitable food systems and reparations. Prior to grad school, Kit taught cooking and nutrition classes in OUSD schools with 18 Reasons and also worked as a paralegal and a prep cook. 

Outside of work, Kit loves to ride bikes, swim, read fiction, and bake for their friends. 

Kimmy (she/her) grew up in San Jose and recently graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in Public Health. Sharing food and recipes has always been a joy, thanks to growing up at her parents’ Korean restaurant. This past year, Kimmy deepened her understanding of the local food system while working at the Agricultural Institute of Marin’s Farmers Markets in the Bay Area. She is excited to continue this journey, learning how to best support the school community and local farmers. In her free time, Kimmy enjoys scrolling through Instagram for new recipes to try, spending time with her dog, making ceramics, and running. She’s excited to spend the academic year with everyone.

Sam (he/him) grew up in Los Angeles and has been living in Oakland for the past year. He graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2023 with a degree in Environmental Studies and Economics. Always fascinated by food production and preparation, he interned at the Center for Agroecology during his time at UCSC, working on a farm that supplied food access programs for students. He also gained experience managing and cooking in several restaurants in Santa Cruz. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, biking, cooking, and spending time with his rabbit, Denny. He is eager to meet everyone and deepen his understanding of food systems.

August (he/him) grew up in North Jersey, just outside of NYC. This more urban area always left him with a desire to explore nature. August attended UC Santa Barbara, where he graduated with a degree in Geography and Chinese, and then decided to go into a more hands-on environmental role. After college, he began producing olive oil, with farms based in Sebastopol and north of Sacramento. There, he was able to fully engage in the farm-to-table process with a uniquely sustainable product like olive oil. He also works a couple of days each month on Cloverfield Farm in El Sobrante.

August currently resides in San Francisco. For fun, he likes to hike, birdwatch, forage, and addictively log movies on Letterbox. He's also a big sports fan, specifically AS Roma and the New York Jets. August is very passionate about sustainable agriculture and healthy food access, and can't wait to share it with you all!

Amaury (he/him) is excited to join the West Oakland farm team as a sustainability services corps fellow this year! He grew up in the bay, from the SF mission as a kid to Berkeley up until college. Amaury taught music in after school programs in Berkeley Unified School District and OUSD for some time and volunteered at the UC Gill Tract Farm in Albany for a year. From there, he then transferred from BCC and earned my bachelors in Sociology and Latino Studies at UC Santa Cruz in 2023. 

Amaury's first job in the environmental field  after college was in community organizing with the Watershed Project which opened his eyes to the possibilities that environmental work can bring! Also, he's creative, loves soccer, cooking, and exploring in nature, especially with his house dog, Luna!