Todd brings 15 years of experience in outdoor science education along with a placed-based teaching perspective of the Next Generation Science Standards to the board. His Geosciences degree (hydrology/geology) provided a foundation to build from as he pursued a career in natural resources. In 2005, he pivoted into teaching, and hasn’t looked back since.  He brings experience in science education, a strong local network of educators, a passion for photography and videography and a deep knowledge of El Dorado county. As a long time El Dorado County resident, serving on the board of Ag in the Classroom is a great opportunity to share his experience in education and natural resources to bolster experiential education opportunities for students in the region.

Lori was born and raised in El Dorado County. Lived in Camino while growing up surrounded within the Apple Hill region of our county. She is married to Brian, has two daughters Tiffany and Rashell along with two son in laws Chad and Andrew. She has 5 grandchildren, Ellie, Emma, Wagner, Jacob and Joshua.

Lori has been a board member with Ag in the Classroom since January 2023. She has also been a Board of Trustee for the El Dorado Union High School District for 20 years. Leadership in this capacity has been her focus and is a great segway into Ag in the Classroom. The desire to involve high school FFA and Natural Resource students with Ag in the Classroom is vitally important for the Field of Learning and Farm Days to thrive and exist. Without this partnership, educating the youth within the county about all the benefits of Agriculture would be very challenging.

Lori serves on many boards within the county that include, Snowline Health/Hospice, El Dorado High School Alumni Association, Save the Graves and Bridging Divides Advisory Committee. This is her way to give back to a county that has given so much to her over her lifetime!

Gabrielle (Gigi) Marchini has served as an educator in El Dorado County for the past 33 years and, along with her husband Ed, is the owner of the Marchini Ranch in the Gold Hill area of the county.  Through Gigi’s work at the El Dorado County Office of Education, she is a passionate advocate for students across the county having access to every possible opportunity to develop an awareness of the culture and natural resources around them.  Seeing her two sons grow up on the family ranch and acquire an appreciation for agriculture and the importance of caring for their environment has fueled this passion even further.  Farm Day is the highlight of the month of May each year for Gigi – one of the numerous Ag in the Classroom events she supports each year.

Matt Smith is always looking for opportunities to better the education of the students in the Camino Union School District through hands-on learning.  When Ag in the Classroom was ready to pilot its Fields of Learning Program, he was quick to jump on board, and it’s now a much anticipated activity for 1st graders at the school.  Following the theme of testing new ways to engage kids in hands-on learning, he helped champion creating the “Hole in the Fence” school garden, and most recently, is piloting the much anticipated new Next Generation Science Standards-based curriculum lessons and supporting kit materials.  Matt serves as an advocate for Ag in the Classroom with the fellow educators in the county and through his engagement with the community at our annual 20 Mile Taste Fundraiser.

Austin has a passion for connecting people with place as a foundation for building a community in which folks care about each other and their surroundings. That is core to his work as an educator at Sly Park. Austin brings a diverse background in environmental sciences and education, along with strong ties and experience in local forestry and natural resources management and a passion for graphic design and videography to his work with AITC. His teaching philosophy is grounded in place-based and experiential learning and he was recognized as a SCOE Teacher of the Year. As an Ag in the Classroom board member, Austin relishes the opportunity to apply his experience and passions towards supporting AITC's core mission and bolstering the organization and the communities it serves.

• Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from University of Arizona

• Lived in El Dorado County for 30 years. 

• Developed and  implemented a garden based learning program for students from pre-K to 6th grade at Camino school 

• Volunteer in multiple capacities with Ag in the Classroom since 2001.

• Involvement includes development and implementation of Fields of Learning, serving on the Board of Directors, volunteer as Field of Learning presenter

• Farm Day presenter

With an early involvement in the School of Agriculture at Cal Poly SLO and experience as a classroom science teacher, Carolyn has cultivated a strong understanding of the value of integrating agricultural education into the curriculum. Proudly serving at the El Dorado County Office of Education, she has been an educator for the past 28 years.

Carolyn has always been passionate about providing students with opportunities to explore and connect with their natural environment. Her commitment extends to empowering teachers through events sponsored by Ag in the Classroom, fostering a community of informed and engaged citizens.

As a board member of Ag in the Classroom, Carolyn deeply believes in the importance of connecting students, teachers, and the rich natural resources of El Dorado County.