Jill Strauss
Education Program Specialist

Jill Strauss joined the Gardens' staff in December of 2007 and serves as education program specialist.

She earned her B.S. in education from the University of Virginia and her M.S in education from Boston University. She has taught every grade level (K-12), serving primarily as a public school English teacher, Future Problem Solving Coach, and counselor to gifted and talented youngsters in Lebanon, Cape Elizabeth, and Kennebunk, Maine. She developed innovative curricula for her students, joined several curriculum committees, and became a school board director who advocated excellence in education.  

In her free time, Jill pursued her cooking passion, eventually transforming her infatuation with food into a new career. She worked as a food publicist in Massachusetts and then as a freelance food writer for the Portland Phoenix, Yankee Magazine, Maine Times magazine, and the Boston Globe. To hone her recipe testing skills, Jill interned during the summer of 2006 in the test kitchen of Cook’s Illustrated magazine in Brookline, Massachusetts. In June, 2007, Jill graduated Summa Cum Laude from Johnson & Wales University, where she received her A.S. in Culinary Arts. 

Jill is happy to help nurture the relationship between Maine schools and the Gardens. She is also delighted to have the opportunity to reconnect with Maine chefs and develop the Kitchen Garden Series at the Gardens.