MEET THE MAC TEAM
Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom was founded in 1983 and incorporated as a non-profit 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization in 1984. We continue to be part of a national effort committed to promoting agricultural education and literacy.
The organization is led by an all volunteer and highly committed Board of Directors consisting of farmers, partners and agriculture education advocates. The Board collaborates with the MAC Executive Director, Technical Associate and School Garden Associate to help integrate agriculture into the lives of students and educators in Massachusetts.
The Board of Directors consists of 10-15 members representing Massachusetts educators, farmers, and community groups.
The Board meets six times per year and actively supports and guides the mission, vision and programs of Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom
2018 Officers
Roberta Oles, President (bobbie @ aginclassroom.org)
(vacant at this time) Vice-President
Doug Gillespie, Treasurer
Marjorie Cooper, Secretary
2018 Board of Directors
Russell Anderson, Retired Science and Technology Teacher
Rita Brennan Olson, Mass Partnership for Food Safety Education
Marjorie Cooper, Past President, Founding Member
Robert Cote, Teacher, Financial Committee
Denise Courtney, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Advisor
Douglas Gillespie, Director of Mass Farm Bureau Federation
Marian Hazzard, Teacher and School Gardener
Ron Holmgren, Mass State Grange Representative
Richard LeBlanc, Mass Dept of Agricultural Resources Advisor
Patricia May, Small Farmer and Educator
Patricia Morena, Marketing and Management
Kate O'Brien, Special Education Teacher, Education Committee
Kenneth Oles, Master Gardener, Beekeeper, Retired Teacher
Roberta Oles, Retired Teacher
Christopher Szkutak, Math Teacher, Education Committee
Advisors
Dr. James Alicata, Fitchburg State University
Diane Baedeker Petit, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Doug Gillespie, Executive Director, Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation
Henry Hicks, Founding Member, MA Council of Social Studies
Mary McCaffrey, Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association
Dr. James Munger, Member at Large (retired)
Ed Bourgeois, Pioneer Valley Sheep Breeders Association
Cynthia Jensen, Retired Science Teacher
June Johnson, Member at Large