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 Afaf Aldhulay.
Board of Trustees
Tom Mestmaker
Board President
Ernie Unruh
KCSOS Representative
Matt Look
SPGA Parent Representative
Manuel Pantoja
Arvin Community 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
Elysa Vargas
Chief Academic Officer
Alfonso Valenzuela
Academic Data Coordinator
Ricardo Esquivel
Chief of Schools
Kari Heilman
Executive Assistant
Afaf Aldhulay
Communications & Branding Manager
Ashley Blandon
Talent Acquisition Specialist
Alan Blandon
Director of Business
Services & Compliance
Elizabeth Ramos
Operations Specialist
Eric Mendez
Director of Human Resources
Jocelyn Scruggs
Family and Community Engagement Coordinator
Sarah Bailey
Human Resources Administrative Assistant
Pedro Rodriguez
Coordinator of
Teacher Residency
Stephanie Sanchez
Human Resources Manager
Rick Phillips
Director of Operations
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.