Meet the Schoolyard Roots Staff
We are fortunate at Schoolyard Roots to have a dedicated, committed, and passionate group of individuals who thrive on their work. Their passion for garden-based education makes our great state healthier and more sustainable, one child at a time.
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| Eric Courchesne
INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Eric is the CEO of Oak Philanthropy in Tuscaloosa, AL and the Schoolyard Roots Interim Executive Director. With a wealth of nonprofit experience he is working on a strategic plan and the hiring of the organization’s second permanent ED. Click here to apply for the Executive Director Position director@schoolyardroots.org 205.523.5450 |
Stella Pfau Stella has spent the last decade in the field of environmental and garden-based education. When she is not instructing students or coaching teachers in the garden, you might find her on the tennis court, the Latin dance floor, or in the woods with her dogs. |
Becca Gardner
EDUCATION COORDINATOR Becca, an Alabama-native, has a degree in Zoology from LSU and is a former high school math teacher. She enjoys hiking, exploring, traveling, and making a variety of teas with fresh ingredients from the garden. |
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| Kate Brundrett
OFFICE MANAGER Kate comes to us with a degree in |
Sam Hill Sam holds a Master’s degree in Horticulture Science from the University of Tennessee. She spends her extra time training and playing ultimate Frisbee for a club team. At her house in Birmingham, she maintains a small but productive garden which includes fruiting trees and berry bushes, grape vines and raised beds.
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Tom Rathe Coming from Central Virginia where he has spent countless hours gardening as both a personal hobby and full-time occupation, Tom is thrilled to share his passion and enthusiasm for growing vegetables with students and teachers alike. He is also an avid folk musician and loves going on hikes with his dog, Dolly.
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Natalie Wulf Natalie Wulf recently graduated from The University of Alabama with a degree in civil engineering. She co-teaches garden lessons, assists the garden committee, and facilitates school and community events at two of our second year schools.
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Rachael Floyd A native of Atlanta, Rachael joins the Schoolyard Roots team with multiple years of non-profit experience and her B.A. in Religion & Social Justice from Agnes Scott College. She is passionate about helping Southern communities thrive and believes Schoolyard Roots is one piece of that puzzle. When she isn’t working, she is likely out hiking or dreaming about her future garden. |
Riley Giles Riley graduated from the University of Alabama in 2017 with a B.A in film and communications. Riley has a passion for storytelling that makes a difference, and hopes to improve the community by sharing the story of Schoolyard Roots. In his free time, Riley enjoys video gaming, spoiling his cat rotten, and thinking about saving the bees. |
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Davie Higginbotham A Tuscaloosa area native, Davie is a recent graduate of The University of Alabama with a major in advertising and a minor in sociology. Outside of work, his time is most likely to be spent with a good book or history-related podcast. |
Casey Vinson Casey’s education has focused on geography and GIS. He hopes to use what he has learned to further his career in sustainability. He believes gardens can serve as a resource for learning how to feed yourself or local communities. He likes to spend as much time as possible on slacklines, in caves, or on walks with his dog. |
Each semester, Schoolyard Roots receives several part-time students through the Federal Work Study program, administered by The University of Alabama.
OUR BOARD
| Noel Amason | Fleta Edwards | Dr. Chris McGee | Eddie Sherwood |
| Catherine Bridgers | Dr. Wes Hollowell | Sarah Moore | W. Ryan Stallings |
| Anna Burns | Molly Ingram | Bill Petty | Rebecca Young |
| Adelaide Drennen | Emily Wolfe Leigh | Jennifer Schmitt |