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Our Leadership
Our Board
Grow Public Schools Board of Directors
A talented and experienced group of professionals comprise Grow Public Schools’ Board of Directors.
With a strong commitment to the specific needs of the communities we serve, our board includes a community member and parent to represent each area where our schools are located.
Board meetings are open to the public. For information on how to participate, please reach out to Kari Heilman
Board of Trustees
Tom Mestmaker
Board President
Manuel Pantoja
Arvin Community Representative
Ernie Unruh
KCSOS Representative
Kristen Watson
California State University, Bakersfield Representative
Our Team
In 2011, the Grimm Family Education Foundation was founded, with the goal of identifying and implementing opportunities to improve student achievement, wellness and opportunity in Kern County.
Barbara Grimm Marshall
Founder
Kevin McGowan
Sandra Mord
Executive Liaison
Superintendent
Chief Business Officer
Director of Human Resources
Director of Marketing & Communications
Director of Learning and Innovation
Assistant Director of Human Resources
Senior Executive Assistant
​Executive Assistant
Administrator of Special Projects
Senior Accounting Manager
Senior Manager of Programs Improvement
Coordinator of Program Analytics
Intervention and Testing Coordinator
Family and Community Engagement Coordinator
Teacher Residency Coordinator
Project Coordinator
Academic Data Coordinator
Accounting Coordinator
Human Resources Generalist
Talent Acquisition Specialist
Human Resources Associate
Accounting Coordinator
Payroll Clerk
Purchasing Clerk
Accounting Clerk
Administrative Assistant
Partners
Grow Public Schools will continue to collaborate with other like-minded, reform-oriented non-profits, private companies, and traditional school districts to maximize our collective impact.
The Grimm Family Education Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Bakersfield, California. Working with students, teachers, and parents, the Foundation supports initiatives to improve education and community wellness in Kern County.
We partner closely with the following organizations to provide high-quality academic, back-office management, and health and wellness services for our students:
Edible Schoolyard Kern County is modeled after the pioneering work of Alice Waters and the Edible Schoolyard Project in Berkeley, California. The Grimm Family Education Foundation created the ESY Kern County programs to encourage children in their discovery and development of a healthy relationship with the food they eat.