Heartfelt Heroes

Farm to School Specialist, Baltimore City Public Schools - Food & Nutrition Services

Laura Genello

Laura Genello has been a Farm to School Specialist at City Schools since October of 2018. Laura holds a Master’s degree in Sustainable Food Systems from Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Brown University. She has more than 10 years of experience working in food systems as a farmer, advocate, researcher and educator. After apprenticing on a vegetable farm in Rhode Island, Laura joined FRESHFARM Markets in DC, working to create a thriving local food economy. Subsequently, Laura managed the Food System Lab at Cylburn, a Baltimore-based, educational farm run by the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future.

Farm Manager, Baltimore City Public Schools - Food & Nutrition Services

James Koval

James Koval is the Farm Manager at Great Kids Farm. James holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education from Penn State University. He was a high school social teacher before moving to Maryland in 2017. Starting as an Americorp intern, James quickly moved into the Farm Manager position and has been the Manager since May of 2018. As a trained an experienced educator, James also takes an active role in the Farm’s programming, particularly working with high school interns on the Farm.

Farm to School Specialist, Baltimore City Public Schools - Food & Nutrition Services

Laura Menyuk

Laura Menyuk has been a Farm to School Specialist at City Schools since November of 2018. Laura holds a Bachelor of Arts from University of Maryland. She also has an Executive Certificate in Facilitator Design and Implementation from Georgetown University and a Leadership Certificate in Outdoor Education from NOLS. Laura’s experience includes 3 years teaching literacy in D.C., teaching in the experiential education “classroom” at the Echo Hill Outdoor School on the Chesapeake Bay. Laura worked at Thrive 21, as a facilitator with Art With A Heart, and spent 4 years as a program coordinator and farm educator at the Pearlstone Center in Reisterstown, MD.

Farm to School Specialist, Baltimore City Public Schools - Food & Nutrition Services

Anne Rosenthal

Anne Rosenthal has been a Farm to School Specialist at City Schools since November of 2018. Anne holds a Master’s of Public Health degree from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a Bachelor Degree in Environmental Studies from Wesleyan University.  Prior to coming to Great Kids farm, Anne conducted research on global health and sustainability in New York and Belgium; supported community health workers in Mexico; and taught English to elementary schoolers in Spain.