Staff and Board of Directors 2025

Staff:

Mark Phillips
Farm Manager 2023– current

Mark Phillips is the current Barrington Farm School Farm Manager. His duties at the farm encompass the planning and management of all aspects of crop production, overseeing both the field crops and the farm’s high tunnel. Mark has been the owner/operator of Skydog Farm since 1990, operating three 3900 sq. ft. commercial hydroponic greenhouses and conducting various educational and farm-to-school programs. For five years, Mark was President of the Coastal Growers Farmers Market. He has a B.S. in Environmental Studies from URI.

Janelle Heise
Farmer’s Assistant/Volunteer Coordinator 2023- current

Janelle Heise is the Barrington Farm School Farmer’s Assistant. Janelle works alongside our Farm Manager, our Community Engagement Coordinator, and assisting all of our volunteers to ensure we have a successful and productive growing season. Before moving to Rhode Island, Janelle volunteered with an environmental nonprofit, working not only in the field monitoring endangered and invasive plant species, but also at their headquarters giving tours, taking care of the native plant gardens, greeting visitors in the front office, and tabling at advocacy events. Her impressive background in gardening, arts, and education creates valuable experiences for our volunteers.

Jessalyn Link
Community Engagement Director 2024-current

Jessalyn started green at BFS in 2022 as the “Lead Grower” to help facilitate and execute the farming needs with other volunteers. In 2023, Jessalyn joined the Board of Directors, and in 2024, she moved into the Community Engagement role to use her degrees in art and marketing in a new way to help promote the farm to the community! This position works hand-in-hand with the Board, BFS staff, and volunteers to communicate the mission to the town and greater community with hopes to get more people involved. Jessalyn is enthusiastic about the farm’s educational mission and about working with volunteers.

Board of Directors:

Officers:

  • Gail Read, President
  • Wayne Leaver, Vice President
  • Tim Faulkner, Secretary
  • Dane Pursley, Treasurer

At-Large Members:

  • Danielle Kasvikis
  • Patty Kennedy
  • Deb Matson

In Memory:
Penny Lachmann and Bev Migliore