Dr. Mandy Manna
Ag Innovation Expert • Educational Leader • Farm Administrator
Transforming urban education through innovative agricultural experiences, managing the largest urban public school district-operated educational farm in the United States while serving 62K+ student visits annually across 60 schools.
Professional Biography
Dr. Mandy Manna is a nationally recognized agricultural education leader and the driving force behind one of the most innovative urban farm programs in the United States. As Farm Administrator at Fox Chase Farm, the largest urban public school district-operated educational farm in the country, she has spent more than a decade transforming a 112-acre Philadelphia landmark into a living classroom that serves 62,000+ students annually across 60 schools.
A 2024 Neubauer Fellow and National Board Certified educator, Dr. Manna holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and brings deep expertise in curriculum design, workforce development, and Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). She has secured over $2.2 million in competitive grants to fund programming, equipment, and staffing and has built Pennsylvania's first district-wide CEA pre-apprenticeship pipeline, now operating at multiple Philadelphia high schools.
Her work sits at the intersection of equity, innovation, and agriculture, creating career-connected pathways for urban youth while championing agriculture as a vehicle for economic development, food justice, and community resilience.
Professional Journey
Founder & Director
Agriculture Innovations and Strategic Development, K-12
Philadelphia School District
- Founded K-12 Agriculture Empowerment and Innovation initiative for the 8th largest school district in the US
- Repositioned Fox Chase Farm as a district-wide hub connecting classrooms, outreach programming, and community engagement
- Scaled a hub-and-spoke model supporting 62K+ student visits across 60 schools each year
- Designed career-connected pipelines spanning CEA, skilled trades, and student-run enterprises
- Secured $2.2M+ in competitive grants to build sustainable budgets, staffing, and program roadmaps
Farm Administrator
Fox Chase Farm
School District of Philadelphia
- Managing agricultural and environmental programming on a 112-acre demonstration farm
- Leading the largest urban public school district-operated educational farm in the United States
- Implementing CEA labs and student-run enterprises including farm stores, district-wide markets, and Maple Leaf Café
- Delivering inclusive Ag Empowerment, Jr. MANRRS leadership, ESY horticulture, and weekend family programs
- Building strategic partnerships with industry, higher education, and civic organizations to expand impact
Environmental Education Professor
Delaware Valley University
Doylestown, Pennsylvania
- Designing three new conservation-driven and educator-oriented courses
- Growing career connections for Wildlife and Zoo Science students
- Developing Masters Program level curriculum and state approved programs
- Creating real-life curriculum experiences and certifications
- Mentoring future agricultural and environmental educators
Agriculture Education Instructor
Fox Chase Farm
School District of Philadelphia
- Delivered comprehensive agriculture education programming
- Developed hands-on learning experiences for students
- Built foundation for current farm administration role
- Established innovative teaching methodologies
- Created pathways for student engagement in agriculture
Physical Science Teacher
A. Lincoln High School
Philadelphia School District
- Taught comprehensive physical science curriculum
- Developed innovative teaching approaches
- Engaged urban students in STEM learning
- Built foundation for educational leadership career
- Applied hands-on learning methodologies
Agriculture Database Marketing Manager
Farm Journal
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Database and Direct Mail Client Manager for Farm Machinery, Chemical, and Row Crop
- Managed accounts for National Corn Association, New Holland, FMC
- Specialized in database marketing and marketing data analysis
- Developed analytical skills for agricultural market research
- Built expertise in agricultural industry communications
Client Support, Dairy Specialist
Marketing Technologies Incorporated (MTI)
Trevose, Pennsylvania
- Provided client support for innovative dairy products
- Developed expertise in dairy industry operations
- Built client relationship management skills
- Gained comprehensive understanding of agricultural technology
- Established foundation in agricultural business operations
Client Support Representative
Sacchi & Sacchi, Rymill-Hoyt Advertising
Wilmington, Delaware
- Agric-business and marketing client services for DuPont
- Specialized in Specialty Row Crops marketing
- Developed understanding of agricultural marketing strategies
- Built client service and communication skills
- Gained early experience in agricultural industry
Educational Excellence
Superintendent Certification
Superintendency and Educational System Administration
Drexel University
National Board Certified
Career Technical Education
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
National Board Certified
Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
Educational Leadership and Administration
Northcentral University
Education Specialist (Ed.S.)
Educational Leadership
Northcentral University
Master's Degree
Educational Leadership and Administration
Grand Canyon University
Bachelor of Science
Agriculture Education
Delaware Valley University
Professional Skills & Expertise
21 skills across all categories
Recognition & Impact
2026 Integrity Icon Award
The Philadelphia Citizen · 2026
Honored as a 2026 Integrity Icon, recognizing public servants who lead with honesty, dedication, and integrity in service to Philadelphia's students and communities.
2024 Neubauer Fellow
Philadelphia Academy of School Leaders · 2024
Selected for exceptional leadership and transformational impact in Philadelphia schools. Fellows represent less than a quarter of Philadelphia's current principals but comprise 49% of all Lindback Award recipients.
Major Grants & Funding
$250K
Schools-to-Work CEA Pipeline
Pennsylvania Schools-to-Work award funding the district's Controlled Environment Agriculture Pre-Apprenticeship Pipeline for careers in agricultural technology.
Future Priorities
Where Investment Is Headed
Agricultural Innovation Hub expansion, a Dairy Innovation Center, Livestock Innovation, workforce pathways, and STEM learning environments across Philadelphia schools.
Professional Philosophy
"Imagine a child who is engaged in growing their own fresh food, while developing soft skills, and being exposed to entrepreneurial experiences through their entire school career. At the Fox Chase Farm we strive to bring innovative and strategic ways to create student-centered learning opportunities to increase the equity and accessibility to all ages and all learning levels using agriculture and career pathways as the driving force."Dr. Mandy Manna
Student-Centered Learning
Creating authentic, intrinsically motivating educational experiences
Equity & Accessibility
Ensuring all students have access to innovative learning opportunities
Innovation
Leveraging technology and modern agricultural practices for educational impact