As we grow across the country, we are committed to keeping REAL School Gardens relevant to every child, school and community that we serve. We have both a national board and local advisory boards (ACORNS) to ensure our success and responsiveness.
Board of Directors
In addition to fiduciary and legal responsibilities, our diverse group of national directors keeps abreast of best practices, policies, environmental trends and new initiatives. And when given the opportunity to sample some student-grown cherry tomatoes, we’ll happily say yes.
We love to watch our gardens grow.
- Kelly Garrett - Chair
Associate Director, Rainwater FoundationKelly began his education career as a Teach For America corps member teaching fifth grade before co-founding and directing Project Chrysalis Charter Middle School in Houston, Texas, and the Perea Preschool Early Childhood Development program in Memphis, Tennessee. He later served as director of business development for KC Distance Learning in Portland, Oregon. In 2005, he joined the Rainwater Charitable Foundation. Kelly holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Rhodes College and a Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
- Jeanne McCarty
Executive Director, REAL School GardensPrior to leading REAL School Gardens in its national expansion, Jeanne spent eight years as vice president and director of the Jane Goodall Institute’s Roots & Shoots, a global youth service program focused on conservation. With more than 17 years experience in education and program management, she has also served as the director of Undergraduate Programs for the Department of African American Studies and the assistant director of the Upward Bound program, both at the University of Maryland. Jeanne is active in national and international initiatives to connect children and families to nature and to promote youth leadership in conservation. She serves on the Global Leadership Committee for the Nature Action Collaborative for Children and is on the National Advisory Board Member for The Gloria Barron Prize for Youth Heroes and the Advisory Council of the Environmental Leadership Center at Warren Wilson College. She holds a Master of Arts in American Studies from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies, Summa Cum Laude, from the University of Southern Mississippi.
- Suzy Peacock
Executive Director, Rainwater FoundationSupported by investor and longtime friend Richard Rainwater, Suzy locates and provides funding for successful elementary school programs serving at-risk children. Named executive director of the Rainwater Charitable Foundation in 1994 and serving on its board of directors, her most notable projects include collaboration with Crescent Real Estate Equities to connect office complex tenants with local elementary schools; the founding and development of REAL People -- a community of educators, partners and parents who support REAL School Gardens; and the co-founding of REAL School Gardens. Suzy holds a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from Colorado College and a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology from Texas Christian University.
Our ACORNS Advisory Boards
You may not see them, but they’re there. ACORNS help our gardens grow.
ACORNS stands for Alliance to Connect Organizations and Resources to Nurture Students. Yes, it’s a mouthful, but that’s what acronyms are for. Acting as our advisory board, ACORNS is made up of teachers, principals, conservation educators and REAL School Gardens staff members. These advisory boards serve the unique needs of each school community. We believe in the power of local relationships to:
- Focus on families and schools as the center of community,
- Support outstanding teaching and school leadership,
- Foster ecological awareness and conservation,
- Integrate curricula that connect learning with nature,
- Surround children with a spirit of mutual respect, healing and joy.
