The Leadership Board
President
Jess Buchanan holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and has taught English to children and adults in Honduras, Kenya, Sudan, Uganda, and Somalia—where her love for gardening began when she lived on a hydroponic farm. She has also developed curriculum for institutions such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, and a variety of international non-governmental organizations on issues related to armed violence reduction and conflict management. Jess considers time spent with Nature essential for humans of all ages, especially kids; and her passion for food justice is what motivates her to spend time in the garden with students, especially those with issues relating to food security. She has two children, Auggie and Ebba, and is married to Erik, a native Swede.
VICE PRESIDENT
Tyson Brown leads content development for educators at National Geographic Society. In this role, he contributes to the organization’s strategic plan, leads product development and production for the Resource Library, and delivers delightful content and interactives to educators and students. He and his family live in Hybla Valley near the Sherwood Hall Library. He prefers two wheels to four; enjoys gardening; is involved in the farm-to-table effort in Fairfax County Schools to ensure kids have access to healthy, whole foods in the cafeteria; and he manufactures grid-tied electrons to his neighbors from an array of 305-watt solar panels that quietly sit on the roof of his house.
Treasurer
Amelia Gray works as an HR Business Partner and Consultant for a global research and advisory company. She values coaching employees and managers through tough performance, development, and engagement challenges. As a child, Amelia always found inspiration, healing, and joy from time outdoors. As a teen, she spent significant time in Maryland’s wetlands and woodlands studying the Chesapeake watershed and an endangered squirrel. And as a young adult, she led summer camps, canoe trips, and section hikes for middle schoolers on the Appalachian Trail. These days, Amelia enjoys running, hikes, camping, and gardening in her own shady backyard with her husband, Eugene Gray, and her children, McGuire and Vivian.
At-Large member
Sue Conway has over 25 years of service to to Fairfax County Public Schools and the Alexandria community as a mother of 2 grown children - both of whom started at HMES. From PTA leadership to the development of the first HMES school garden in 2004, her history with the Partnership runs deep. Sue is excited to continue collaborating with this community to re-build the Outdoor Education program at HMES.
