Welcome Kelly, Jack, & April
April 23rd, 2026
KELLY BAKER | EXECUTIVE ASSISTANTAfter growing up along the coast in Mobile, Alabama, Kelly attended Auburn University before moving to the big city of Birmingham. There, she joined Jones Valley Teaching Farm, where she farmed, taught, and happily geeked out over bugs with students. She spent three years teaching classes and leading Farm Clubs at Putnam Middle School, followed by three more years working alongside students and interns at Woodlawn High School. Since 2022, Kelly has continued cultivating connections to food and nature as the Program Coordinator at McDowell Farm School. When she’s not organizing spreadsheets and systems, you can find Kelly deep into a puzzle, watching Bob’s Burgers, painting tiny watercolors, or throwing a frisbee with her dog, Peanut and her husband, Sean. She is thrilled to return to the organization that helped shape her professional journey, reconnect with former colleagues, and get to know all the folks whom she has yet to meet!
JACK MARUNA | DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPSJack Maruna grew up in Montgomery, Alabama and has spent most of his career living somewhere between controlled environment agriculture and restaurant kitchens. He earned his B.S. in Agricultural Economics from Auburn University, though most of what he knows about food systems has come from growers and chefs. His work has taken him from consulting with growers across North America at Biobest to working alongside chefs through FreshPoint, where he spent a good deal of time learning what chefs actually care about when it comes to produce, and what they absolutely do not. Most recently, at Auburn University, Jack managed FoodU as a working example of a closed-loop food system connecting controlled environment production directly with chefs, students, and hospitality venues. Around the same time, he co-founded Local Grow to push that idea further, occasionally convincing both growers and chefs that they actually want the same thing. Jack is driven by great food, travel, and the chance to experience new people and cultures. He’s usually happiest somewhere between a greenhouse, a kitchen, and a long dinner where the conversation runs late.
APRIL MUHAMMED | INSTRUCTOR
April is an accomplished food educator, chef, master gardener, and community organizer with extensive experience in program management, community engagement, and sustainable food education. Driven by a deep commitment to cultivating healthy communities, April leverages food and education to inspire positive change. With expertise in curriculum development, strategic planning, and event management, she consistently designs and executes impactful initiatives. In 2024, April deepened her passion for nutrition and garden education through collaboration with Jones Valley Teaching Farm as part of the FoodCorps Inc. program, serving as a food educator for grades 3–5 at Minor Elementary School. In 2025, she took on the role of program director for Bush Hill Connection Inc. and Urban Farm. Inspired by the mission and impact of Jones Valley Teaching Farm, April is excited to join the team as the high school instructor for Jackson Olin High School, where she looks forward to continuing her dedication to fostering sustainable food practices and building stronger, healthier communities.