Board of Directors

Kate Doherty

President

Kate Doherty is a California native who is dedicated to living a peaceful and sustainable life. She has had a love of nature from a young age, and entered the farming world after college through WWOOFing in the Santa Cruz mountains. The experience of living off the land in a permaculture setting changed her direction in life and paved the way for her true calling. Over the next decade she became immersed in the world of regenerative agriculture and managed organic farms, installed backyard gardens, taught horticulture classes, and became a certified Master Gardener and Permaculturist.

She then furthered her love of good food by becoming an Integrative Nutritionist, and got the chance to pursue her two passions in tandem at Calaveras High School, where she taught nutrition and agriculture. She served on school garden and wellness committees, and elevated children’s access to healthy food as well as their connection with the environment. Wild fermentation, foraging, animal husbandry, dancing, and making music are also some of her other passions!

Kate feels most fulfilled when she can share her knowledge of how to be in harmony with the earth and our own bodies, as human and environmental health go hand-in-hand. She is excited to be part of School Garden Network and to continue to help spread awareness of sustainable food systems to children and the greater community.

Megan Wilson

Secretary

Megan has been working with preschool children for over 17 years and is the Executive Director of Tree House Hollow Preschool in Sebastopol. She has a BA in Environmental Studies with a focus in Outdoor Leadership, and a Minor in Early Childhood Education from Sonoma State University. Megan has a theatre and gardening background, and interests in education, the environment, sustainability, and helping young people become good stewards of our planet. One of her greatest joys is helping children learn to identify plant and animal species and marvel at them!

In her personal life, Megan enjoys doing outdoor activities with her husband and two children. They love to hike, wild forage, garden, geocache, and enjoy all of the beauty of Sonoma County. Megan is passionate about young children having access to gardens and garden programs, and intends to help as many schools as possible actualize school gardens and green spaces.

Misty West Gay

Treasurer

Misty is a Mom, Rancher, Writer, and an Herbalist in the Vitalist tradition. She and her husband Jon own and run Freestone Ranch, tending the land with the help of a herd of grass-fed, grass-finished beef cattle in Sonoma County. Misty is also a past member of the Sonoma County Food System Alliance and the Biodynamic Association of Northern California, and a current student member of the American Herbalists Guild. Her garden is wild and untenable, woven into the meshwork of life.

Sharon Besser

Sharon is an educator and flower farmer with a strong commitment to experiential learning and youth development. She brings a deep appreciation for outdoor education and the role that school gardens play in fostering curiosity, environmental stewardship, and student well-being. She currently serves as a Content Supervisor at Benchmark Education Company, where she designs and oversees curriculum development to support English Language Learners in grades K–5. Her work focuses on creating accessible, engaging instructional materials that meet diverse student needs while aligning with educational standards.

Sharon also works as the Flower Manager at Singing Frogs Farm in Sebastopol, where she grows and harvests flowers using no till farming practices. In this role, she manages seasonal crop planning, harvesting, and makes bouquets for a weekly CSA and three farmer’s markets. Her hands-on experience in agriculture deepens her commitment to connecting people—especially young learners—to the natural world.

Sharon has extensive board experience, including five years serving on the Board of Wingra School in Madison, Wisconsin, where she was an active member of the Governance Committee. In that role, she contributed to board development, policy oversight, and strategic leadership. She also served on the board of City Kids Preschool in Hong Kong, supporting programming and organizational growth for families and young children. She is excited to now support School Garden Network in expanding access to garden-based education and strengthening its impact across the community.

Become a SGN Board Member

Do you want to make a lasting impact in Sonoma County? Join SGN's Board of Directors to shape strategic decisions, mobilize funds and resources, and strengthen our network!

As a Board Member you will collaborate with a diverse group of professionals, bringing your unique expertise to the table. Your contributions will play a pivotal role in growing healthy students, families, schools, and communities through garden-based education.

We welcome people with diverse skills and knowledge, and are also looking for board members with the following expertise:
- Legal
- Financial (CPA/Budgeting)
- Fundraising
- Public Relations/Press Relations/Marketing
- Technology/GIS Mapping
- Organizational Development & Strategic Planning
- Healthcare: Physical and Mental Health
- Education: Garden/Classroom/Principal/Admin
- Prior Board Experience

Interested in learning more or applying?
Please email kate.doherty@schoolgardens.org

Board Member Job Description

Length of Term
The customary term is two years. There is no limit to the number of terms that may be served.

Whole Board Expectations
As the highest leadership body of the organization, the board is responsible for:

Fulfilling the mission and purposes of the organization
Supporting strategic and organizational planning
Representing SGN within the community
Ensuring strong fiduciary oversight and financial management
Approving and monitoring SGN's programs and services
Approving the annual budget
Developing fundraising and resource capacity
Assessing it's own performance as the governing body of SGN

Individual Expectations
Each individual board member is expected to:

Know the organization's mission and programs
Serve as a trusted advisor to, and working partner with, the Executive Director and Staff
Leverage connections, networks, and resources to develop collective action to fully achieve SGN's mission
Follow SGN's bylaws and policies
Faithfully read and understand SGN's financial statements
Prepare for, attend, and conscientiously participate in monthly board meetings and the annual retreat
Participate fully in one or more committees
Utilize Google Drive for accessing and filling organizational documents