FoodCorps Welcomes Inaugural Cohort of Kindred Fellows

PORTLAND, Ore. (January 22, 2026) — Today FoodCorps announced its first class of Kindred fellows, a group of professionals selected to hone their skills as a community of school nutrition leaders.

The Kindred Fellowship is a seven-month program designed to equip school nutrition professionals and emerging school food leaders in transforming their fields. Built on FoodCorps’ 15 years of expertise in school food systems, the fellowship will provide leaders with evidence-based, community-centered tools they can bring to their own schools.

The inaugural Kindred fellows include:

Amelia Alonzo, Assistant Director of Nutrition Support at Hartford Public Schools
Ashley Martinez, Garden & Nutrition Educator at Rio School District
Becca McKnight, Farm to School Coordinator at Pajaro Valley USD
Brooke Ratje-Gill, Food Services Director at J. Paul Taylor Academy
Casey Cavanaugh, National Nutrition Consultant at Bureau of Indian Education
Courtney Chapman, Site Supervisor at Minneapolis Public Schools
Cristina Hernandez, Coordinator 2 – Compliance & Accountability at Houston ISD
Joseph Brozovich, Program Coordinator at Alief ISD
Karen Valencia, Nutrition Educator at Bronxworks/SNAP-ED
Kendall Maynard, Food Educator at Jones Valley Teaching Farm – Birmingham City Schools
Kevin Jenkins, Executive Chef at Garland ISD
Kwanzaa King, Coordinator of Compliance & Accountability, Houston Independent School District
Kymberli Dawson, Nutrition Specialist at Seminole County Public Schools
Maggie Sanna, School Nutrition Director at Monona Grove School District
Makala Bach, Food Systems Outreach Associate at University of Illinois Extension
Melissa Bacon, Nutrition Director at Windham North East Supervisory Union
Roberto Ramon Gonzalez, Nutrition Coordinator at Proviso Township High Schools
Ruby Forde, Outdoor and Experiential Learning Educator at Oxford Hills School District, MSAD17
Sandra Ponce, Nutrition Services Operations Manager at Roaring Fork School District
Sarah Eichberger, Extension Educator, Health and Nutrition at Michigan State University Extension
Shalah Hendrix, Nutrition Specialist at Bulloch County School Nutrition
Shannon Hollman, School Nutritionist at Kipp Atlanta Collegiate
Shironda W. Brown, NC Farm to ECE Interim Director, Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) Farm to Early Care & Education (ECE)
Stephan A. Williams, Nutrition Coordinator at Bulloch County
Stephanie Min, Media Manager at Anti Agency Consulting Group
Tommi Ayala, Board Member at Texas Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association
Tyne Bankester, Program Manager at Seeds to Success: The Louisiana Farm to School Program
Zoe Grodsky, School Food Systems Manager at Cumberland County Food Security Council

FoodCorps is grateful to the following funding partners for their support of the Kindred Fellowship and our other leadership development offerings: the Dohmen Company Foundation; the Rachael Ray Foundation; Danone U.S.; Aetna, a CVS Health company; and the Joyce and Irving Goldman Family Foundation.

ABOUT FOODCORPS
FoodCorps is a national nonprofit advancing child well-being through food in school. FoodCorps partners with students, families, and communities to champion nourishing food at local, state, and national levels. Our leaders support schools in providing nutritious meals, locally-informed food education, and welcoming school environments that set kids up for positive, vibrant relationships with food. Building on this program, we develop leaders, grow networks, and advocate for policies in service of every kid’s health and well-being. FoodCorps is working toward a future where all 50 million public school students have access to food education and nourishing meals in school. Learn more at www.foodcorps.org.

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