Staff
Annie Ferris became the Art Director and Global Gardens Educator for Rosa Parks Elementary after being captured by the program at Eugene Field. As an artist and Global Gardens volunteer Annie was inspired by the student's eclectic garden art projects, garden brainstorming lists and garden journals. The inspiration moved her to crate a series of paintings expressing her love of the program. The creative possibilities of Global Gardens along with the program's commitment to peace and cultural diversity education lead her to join the staff. Annie has 12 years experience working with children including as a VISTA volunteer and through art therapy. In addition to working with Global Gardens Annie facilitates weekly art sessions with Alzheimer's patients and continues to fill her days with painting, knitting, reading and traveling with her husband Scott and their dog, Ella.
Jenny Nemec-Charles was one of Global Garden’s first team members. She met Heather Oakley in December of 2006 to discuss the phenomenal idea of empowering children through gardening. During the program’s inaugural semester at Eugene Field Jenny volunteered weekly while she finished her studies at OSU-Tulsa. After graduating in May 2007 with a degree in Liberal Studies she joined the staff as a full-time employee. In November 2007 she gave birth to her first child and is now a full-time mother and part-time Global Gardens Educator. Influenced by her mother’s passion for gardening, Jenny created and maintained a community garden at the apartment complex where she used to reside. She now lives in a house with her husband, daughter, dog and cat where she continues to dig up the yard to accommodate her ever-growing and fluctuating collection of plants.
Ayschia Saiymeh began as a Global Gardens volunteer in August 2007 and quickly transitioned to staff taking on the role of Community Outreach Director & Educator. A Tulsa native and OSU public relations graduate she is familiar with the community, and knows that the citizens of Tulsa are among the most philanthropic in the country and giving is a as much a part of the culture as biking down riverside and high school football rivalries. Believing that gardening can be a catalyst for building strong communities Ayschia found her calling in Global Gardens. She is so thankful for the time she spends in the classroom as well, with students who continue to amaze and inspire. Traveling the world, writing and flying a kite are a few other things that make her come alive!
Maggie Regan is thrilled to be joining the team as the Rosa Parks Global Gardens Educator. This work is a natural extension of her well-established commitment to sustainability practices, creative thinking, and youth empowerment. Maggie earned a degree in Human Development at Prescott College, where she gained first-hand experience of inquiry-based and experiential education. Since graduating, Maggie has been working with youth, art and gardens in various capacities; promoting social and environmental justice has always been at the core of this work. The concept of using the creation of gardens to educate students about peace, community, and how they can positively affect the world is incredibly inspiring to Maggie. Since planting herself back in Tulsa, Maggie and her husband have been involved with community gardening and recently started one in their neighborhood. They have also been thrilled to witness their young daughter's experience of the seed-to-plant-to-food miracle. Maggie's favorite things include painting, cooking, traveling, gardening, and living with her husband, daughter, dog and cat.
Bhadri Verduzco is excited to be the Global Gardens Educator at Eugene Field Elementary. After leaving Poland and the world of English language teaching to explore the world of organic farming and gardening in Costa Rica and Illinois, Bhadri hoped that these two joys, teaching and gardening, would one day come together. And they have in Global Gardens. He believes that in order to secure a prosperous future and happiness on this planet we must empower our young people, and the best way to do that is to learn along side them to find higher understanding through experiential learning in an environment that encourages discovery, promotes peace and love, and allows the students to explore their ideas and natural environment. Bhadri also enjoys playing and traveling with his wonderful wife Bethanie, cruising on his old Schwinn or longboard, getting to know his new home, Tulsa, playing any sport any time and the sound of the harmonica, which he is learning, very slowly.
