G.O.E. Team
Teresa Fogolini, Garden of Eatin’ Director
Teresa Fogolini brings over 20 years of experience and education developing and leading garden, nutrition, literacy and education programs for children and communities in Sonoma and Marin counties. Her work in education includes program leadership serving students ages preschool through adult in schools, library’s and workforce settings. She holds a California multiple subjects teaching credential and a certificate in reading and literacy. She earned her Master’s degrees in Education and Reading & Literacy in order to further her commitment to provide enhanced and equitable learning experiences to children and families. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Education Leadership at UC Davis.
Kelly Allen, Garden of Eatin’ Supervisor
Kelly is a garden artist who believes that transformation and education begins in the garden. From tending to plants at a young age, Kelly learned to nurture herself through growing, tending and singing to plants. Her artistic background allows her to see the natural world as a whole. Working with art, horses and plants, Kelly helped kids to discover themselves in a whole new way. By working on their outside landscape they were able to blossom inside. Her passion is to bring kids closer to their food source and help them discover who they are with the elements of earth, air and water to form budding relationships helping to close the gap.
Stephanie Robinson, Garden Educator
Stephanie is passionate about nutrition, cooking, exploring the outdoors, and working with children. During college she earned a BA in Nutrition and believes that everyone deserves to learn about food and how to build healthy habits. She aspires to educate young people about where their food comes from, how to make smart food choices, and why it is important to fuel your body with nutrient dense foods. Stephanie is looking forward to guiding the children in their journey of exploration in the garden space and help them make meaningful connections between what they grow and what they eat.
Jeanne Zbinden, Garden Educator
Jeanne, a teacher for 30 years, is driven by a passion for nature and a whole approach to learning inspired from living in the country. Surrounded by homegrown fruits & vegetables, she learned early on the importance of nurturing what is in season and reaping the rewards of patience and
care. Jeanne believes children are much like gardens-when nurtured with attention and compassion, they flourish. A garden engages all the senses, sparking curiosity, wonder, and joy. Jeanne brings the same philosophy into her teaching, guiding each child to blossom in their own unique way.
Sonny Parasimo, Garden Educator
Sonny has been a garden educator for 9 years, beginning their journey in Oregon at a 10-acre permaculture farm. Born and raised outside of Philadelphia, they ate mostly processed food and didn’t realize the importance of nutrition until they began farming. They started managing urban farms and encouraging urban youth to grow their own food and cook healthy, local, and organic meals. Sonny is a musician and loves to use creativity in the classroom. Sonny is passionate about instilling confidence in their students to stay true to who they are and know the importance of self-care. They advocate connecting with nature and work toward a sustainable future in which everyone understands how to respect and protect our earth.
Robyn Grahn, Garden Educator
Robyn is thrilled to join the Gardening Team! A UC Santa Cruz Marine Biology graduate, she grew up locally in the Bay Area where she has become a Master Gardener. For over a decade, Robyn has taught science and theatre to children of all ages. Her passions include SCUBA diving, Shakespeare, foraging, and playing pretend with her toddler. Robyn aims to be a steward of the environment, fostering youthful connections to the wild world.
North Bay Children’s Center
932 C Street, Novato, CA 94949 415.883.6222
14 North Bay Locations
Novato • Petaluma • Rohnert Park • Sonoma • Santa Rosa • Healdsburg
Paivi works with the NBCC program, senior leadership, and human resource teams on Professional and Workforce Development to support the professional growth of teachers and center leaders and to build sustainable early childhood education workforce models of excellence. She manages training compliance, child development permit obtainment, renewal and upgrading and educational stipends and professional benefits. She also manages NBCC’s Apprentice, Apprentice Mentor, and Internship programs in Marin and Sonoma Counties and collaborates with Community Colleges, Apprentice Program Employer Partners and other NBCC Community Partners. Paivi received her Master of Science degree in Curriculum/Early Childhood Education from California State University East Bay. She holds a Vocational Teacher certification from Finland and a Life Children’s Center Supervision Permit from the CA Commission on Teacher Credentialing. She has over 30 years of experience in nonprofit administration, early childhood program advancement, teaching, mentoring and leadership development in the United States and in Finland.
Jill St. Peter brings four decades of experience to the field of early childhood education. With a diverse background that includes roles as a Teacher, Site Supervisor, Early Learning Coach, Trainer, and her current position as Curriculum and Training Director, Jill has consistently demonstrated her unwavering commitment to early childhood education. Jill holds a Master of Arts degree in Education and Bachelor of Arts degree in Child Development. This commitment to academic excellence underscores her dedication to advancing the field and ensuring the well-being of young children and educators. Jill is certified by West Ed as a trainer for the Program for Infant and Toddler Care and Beginning Together Inclusion. She is also certified by the Center for Optimal Brain Integration as a Trauma Informed Care Trainer. Her expertise has been showcased at esteemed conferences such as NAEYC, CAEYC, and Head Start. Her involvement in professional communities underscores her dedication to continuous improvement and collaboration. Jill has been an active member of the California Coaching Advisory Group, Trauma Informed Care Community of Practice, Sonoma County Quality Counts Consortia, Region 1 Coaching Community of Practice Leader, Sonoma County Coaching Collaborative, Hope and Healing Early Learning Collaborative, and the Evening of Honor committee. Jill’s passion for early childhood education and her extensive experience makes her an asset to the field, continually inspiring and supporting educators their mission to provide the best possible start for young children.
Mariah has worked in the insurance industry since her adolescence. Less than a week after graduating college, she accepted a position at Arrow as an Associate. During the last 13 years, Mariah has worked in almost every position available at Arrow to learn the intricacies of the business and build her skill set. Mariah has helped companies from start-up to enterprise-levels review market options and elect benefit programs that allow those companies to recruit and retain top level employees. Outside of the office, Mariah is passionate about her work in the community. Mariah focuses on organizations that work to create limitless opportunities for children and the handicap able community. She is proud to serve as the Board Chair for NBCC. In her free time, Mariah is the mother of two beautiful little dudes, married to a Kaiser numbers nerd and enjoys going on horseback rides around the Bay Area.
