Steering Committee

Tracey Bates, MPH, RDN, LDN, FAND

School Nutrition Specialist | F2SCNC Co-Chair | Founding Partner

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

Biography

Tracey Bates, MPH, RDN, LDN, FAND is a School Nutrition Specialist for School Nutrition Services with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. In this role, she coordinates nutrition communications and outreach, develops educational materials and resources, supports healthy school environments, and provides professional development for School Nutrition personnel, educators and others working with school-age children and their families.Bates is currently co-chair for the Farm to School Coalition of North Carolina and serves on the advisory committee for FoodCorps NC and the Whole Child NC interagency committee. In addition, she serves on the steering committee and is a past chair for NC Action for Healthy Kids. Bates is a former House of Delegates Director and Board of Directors member for the national Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. A Fellow of the Academy as well as a former delegate and past president for the North Carolina Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Bates received the Recognized Young Dietitian and Member of the Year awards.

Diane Beth, MS, RDN, LDN

Nutrition Program Consultant | Founding Partner

NC Department of Health and Human Services

Biography

Diane is the Nutrition Program Consultant with the Children & Youth Branch at the NC Division of Public Health. Diane leads efforts to incorporate research and evidence about what works for nutrition into Branch programs/services focused in the school system, school-based health centers, local health departments, early care and education settings and other private providers through training, technical assistance and consultation. She also coordinates and collaborates across the Branch and with other sections of the Division, other agencies and organizations to enhance interventions with children and youth.

With over 30 years of experience in public health and dietetics, Ms. Beth is recognized for her leadership, communication, collaboration and integration skills. Diane received a Master of Science degree in Public Health Nutrition from Case Western Reserve University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio University. She also completed a dietetic internship at the University of Cincinnati Hospital.

Diane hails from Ohio and has called North Carolina home since 1992. She is passionate about food, good health, dancing, hiking, and sharing time with family and friends. She also loves performing (lead vocals and percussion) in a band (SWAG) with her wonderful husband, Ray.

Anna Glasgow

Senior Garden Specialist

Poe Center for Health Education

Biography

Anna is the Senior Garden Specialist at the Poe Center for Health Education in Raleigh. The Poe Center is a SNAP-Ed implementing agency and field trip destination. Anna teaches students of all ages how and why to grow their own food.

Anna obtained her bachelor's degree in Biology from UNC Chapel Hill and her Master of Arts in Teaching Secondary Science from East Carolina University.  

Although a North Carolina native, Anna has spent time living, learning, teaching, and gardening in Louisiana, California, and Kenya. Before joining the Poe Center, she was a secondary science educator for 8 years with a special passion for teaching about the connection between environmental and personal health.  

Anna is an Extension Master Gardener volunteer and proud chicken owner.

Basheera Enahora, PhD, MBA, RDN, LDN

Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist

NC State University

Biography

Dr. Enahora is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, focused on Nutrition Education and Behavior, in the Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences at North Carolina State University. Her research is motivated by the desire to reduce health disparities in lower-resourced communities and based on her experience in clinical practice as a Registered Dietitian working primarily with underrepresented minority adults and teenagers. Dr. Enahora utilizes innovative technologies, including SMS text messaging and digital apps, while aiming to influence dietary behaviors and improve health outcomes among disadvantaged families.

Valerie Green

Retired Child Nutrition Director

Biography

Valerie had worked for Child Nutrition for twenty- nine years and had enjoyed the networking and opportunities.  She started her career as an intern in the Child Nutrition Department with Greensboro City Schools while attending UNC-Greensboro.  She spent two years working for a contract foodservice in Greensboro and Raleigh until she joined the Child Nutrition world. She started working in Durham City Schools in 1990 as Assistant Director of Child Nutrition. In 2006, she became Director in Child Nutrition in Warren County Schools. After two years in Warren County, she became the Child Nutrition Director of Orange County Schools. She stayed in that position until she retired in February 2020.  She has served on the NC Food Distribution Advisory Council, Orange County Food Council, and Orange County Cooperative Extension Advisory Board. Valerie received the Farm to School Coalition Honorable Mention Award in 2019.

Morgan King

Extension Agent, Family & Consumer Sciences

NC Cooperative Extension

Biography

Morgan is the Family & Consumer Sciences Agent for N.C. Cooperative Extension in New Hanover County. After graduating from NC State she served five years as the 4-H Youth Development Agent in Brunswick County where she began her journey in Farm to School. As the FoodCorps Site Supervisor for two service members and the youth development agent Morgan engaged with students around gardening, nutrition, food, and fun. Morgan serves on Extensions Local Food Program Team as the Farm to School Working Group co-chair. In her current role she works with communities, adults, and youth in the areas of food access, nutrition, and overall wellness. 

Scott Morrison, MA, PhD

Associate Professor of Education

Elon University

Biography

Scott Morrison spent 11 years as a 6th grade English and social studies teacher in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. He is currently an associate professor of education at Elon University. He teaches courses on diversity, assessment, adolescent development, environmental education, and garden-based learning. His research focuses on ecologically minded teaching, everyday environmental education, and social media in teacher education (e.g., Twitter, Instagram, TikTok).

Heather Morton

Director

North Carolina Farm Bureau | Ag in the Classroom

Biography

Heather Morton is a North Carolina native and grew up working alongside her father at his plant nursery operations. Along with the nursery operations, her family raises beef cattle and farms row crops. Heather graduated from NC State University with a BS degree in Biological Sciences and Horticulture, and has a Master’s degree in Agricultural and Extension Education. She currently serves as the Director of North Carolina Ag in the Classroom, which is affiliated with North Carolina Farm Bureau. In her role as Director, Heather oversees the programs and initiatives of NC Ag in the Classroom, such as the Book Planter, Going Local Grant, Ag Mags, and curriculum writing, and helps facilitate educational outreach between school systems and 100 county Farm Bureaus to include farm to school and ag science events. Heather and her husband Clark live in Wendell, NC.

Danielle Raucheisen

Growing Minds Program Manager

Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project

Biography

Danielle has now settled in the Asheville area after moving from Pennsylvania, where she spent eight years at the School District of Philadelphia working in nutrition education and health and wellness programs. 

Gwen Turner

Family and Consumer Sciences Education Consultant

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

Biography

Gwen Turner serves as the FCS Education Consultant with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.  Gwen works to implement student education programs for Food, Nutrition, Culinary Arts, Hospitality and Tourism, and Counseling and Mental Health to meet the needs of business and industry in preparing students for future careers. Gwen was a Family and Consumer Science Teacher for 12 years in Nash County primarily teaching Food and Nutrition courses.  She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching Family and Consumer Sciences Education from East Carolina University where she also received her Bachelor’s of Science in Family and Community Services. Gwen enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 kids in their home town of Nashville, NC. She enjoys exercising, travelling, and supporting education.   

Lauren Weyand, MDA, RDN, LDN

School Nutrition Director

Craven County Schools