KIDS FIRST STAFF

	Marisa Anand Chef Team Leader Chef Marisa holds an AD in Culinary Arts and a BA in Food and Beverage Management both from the NE Culinary Institute. She is ServSafe food safety certified. Marisa has extensive managerial experience in the restaurant industry, with over ten years in both fine dining and quick casual culinary establishments. As a chef, Marisa brings her knowledge of supply chain options, widely tested recipes and hands-on training with kitchen staff of all levels to her nutrition education programs. Marisa is fluent in four languages - English, French, Spanish and Italian.
	Dorothy Brayley, MBA Executive Director Dorothy earned an MBA from Bryant College, a BS in Agricultural Economics from Cornell University and an AS in Culinary Arts from Johnson & Wales University. She has worked a variety of jobs that include full-time college instructor, school lunch professional, consultant to RI Department of Education, entrepreneur/chef, sales and customer service. She is the co-founder of Kids First, the co-founder and former co-chair of the RI Healthy Schools Coalition and a member of the Rhode Island Food Policy Council.
	Kimberly Clark RI Farm to School Coordinator Local Food Forager/Team Chef Chef Kimberly graduated summa cum laude from Johnson and Wales University with a BS in Culinary Nutrition and an AS in Culinary Arts. She is ServSafe certified.  Kimberly’s previous experience includes working as a Nutrition Educator at UMASS Extension, as a personal chef and marketing and coordinating special events in a National Park.  At Kids First, Kimberly is the RI Farm to School Coordinator, helping bring RI grown produce into RI schools.  Kimberly offers educational programs about local farms to audiences of all ages and helps to develop sustainable relationships between farmers, food service directors and distributors throughout the New England region.  As a chef, Kimberly brings her wealth of local food experience to every dish she creates, helping others to understand, appreciate and develop a strong preference for seasonal cooking and locally produced ingredients.
	Mary-Elena DeLuca, MS, RD Chief Dietitian Education Programs Coordinator Mary-Elena is a Registered Dietitian and has a Master of Science in Nutrition from Saint Joseph College, a BS in Nutrition and Dietetics from University of Rhode Island and a BS, Home Economics from University of Rhode Island. Mary-Elena has extensive nutrition experience and has worked with the WIC Senior Program, implementing program procedures and services to WIC participants. She previously worked as a freelance home economist at the Boyd Corporation in Massachusetts and was a home economics teacher. Mary-Elena schedules and arranges all Kids First programs, cooking demos and workshops.
	Susan Donovan Physical Education /Activity Specialist Susan has a BS in Health and Physical Education and a MEd in School Leadership and Administration from Rhode Island College. She recently retired from the Bristol Warren Regional School district where she was named the 2008 Teacher of the Year. In 2007 she received the first Governor’s Award for Wellness Innovation in the school category and was twice named Rhode Island’s Physical Education Teacher of the Year by RIAHPERD. Susan provides training/education, technical assistance and coaching support to schools in regard to the development and implementation of the required new PE curriculum and best practices for school physical education programs.
	Jennifer Quigley-Harris Communications Director Jennifer has a BA in Enlgish from Connecticut College and a Graduate Certificate in Book Publishing from the University of Denver Publishing Institute. Jennifer worked in book publishing for ten years before becoming a freelance writer. She previously served as a member of the Health & Wellness Committee in Newport and was the 2010 Rhode Island delegate to Parenting Magazine's Moms Congress in Washington D.C. Jennifer is responsible for helping to develop effective messaging for the Kids First mission via the website, a variety of print materials, staff presentations and media relations.
	Leah Sarris Team Chef Nutritionist Chef Leah graduated cum laude from Johnson and Wales University with a BS in Culinary Nutrition and an AS in Culinary Arts. She has TAP Series food safety manager certification. Leah has worked as a Research Chef, a Culinary Nutritionist and Project Manager for Chef Services Group, Inc. where she created and documented standardized recipes and restaurant procedures and trained personnel. She is an Assistant Farm Manager at Zephyr Farms and an Adjunct Instructor at Johnson & Wales University. As a chef, Leah delivers customized and personable educational programs that bring her firsthand knowledge of growing and harvesting local vegetables in New England to her cooking demos and workshops.
	Sandra Sepe Team Chef Chef Sandy has an AS from Chamberlayne Jr. College and a Culinary Certificate from CCRI. She is ServSafe food safety certified. Sandy has extensive experience in developing and presenting educational cooking demonstrations for both children and adults in a wide variety of settings and seasons. In addition to encouraging workshop participants to incorporate healthier foods into their everyday life, Sandy works closely with food service directors and cafeteria staff to help easily and seasonally present healthy food offerings in an appealing, artistic and appetizing way.
	Ellen Shaw, RD Grant Writer Ellen has a BS in Health and Physical Education from Northeastern University a MA in Health Education from Teachers College, Columbia University and a BS in Dietetics and Dietetic Internship from University of Rhode Island. She is also a Registered Dietitian. Ellen has an extensive background in teaching health and nutrition and as a Kids First staff member, she works as a nutritionist and grant writer.
	Kelly Swanson Communications Associate Kelly graduated from URI with a BA in journalism and has worked in sales at various television and radio stations for 20 years. She is an active member of the Coventry PTA and serves on the Coventry Health & Wellness Committee. Kelly provides communications and office support for all Kids First staff and creates, designs and customizes a variety of site-specific wellness related promotional materials for online, print and presentation venues.
	Carole Toselli Wellness Committees Specialist Carole has an MD from Dartmouth Medical School and attended the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine. She has a BS from Boston College. She was a Research Assistant at Dartmouth Medical School, Department of Endocrinology and is currently a member of the Barrington Public Schools Wellness Committee and the School Improvement Team at Barrington High School. At Kids First, Carole provides support, faciliation and technical assistance to Wellness Committees in 18 RI school districts. She attends committee meetings, provides guidance for community outreach and connects committees to Kids First programs and other community based resources.
	Karin Wetherill Wellness Committees Specialist Karin has a BA from Providence College in Sociology and Public Administration. Karin has years of marketing and sales experience and has worked in the human resources-recruitment field. She volunteers for Barrington Public Schools and has served as Vice President of the Barrington Parents for Music Education. As a Wellness Committee Specialist, Karin provides technical assistance, facilitation and support to Wellness Committees in 18 RI school districts. Karin routinely represents Kids First on statewide committees and works with community leadership on statewide outreach efforts for wellness. Karin manages the production and presentation of several Kids First regional and national events, including the Healthy School Foods Marketplace and the RI Healthy Schools Coalition Annual Breakfast for School Leaders.

 

 

CONTACTING OUR OFFICE

KIDS FIRST & REAL FOOD FIRST
HOPE ARTISTE VILLAGE
1005 Main Street
Suite #1225
Pawtucket, RI 02860
Ph: 401-475-9696
E-Mail: info@kidsfirstri.org