Participation in the school breakfast and lunch program has grown significantly through innovative strategies, including school gardens, a strategic focus on fresh fruits and vegetables, in-school and after-school cooking classes, nutrition education and social media marketing. In 2013, Jeanne was the School Nutrition Association’s Outstanding Director of the Year for the state of Maine and for the Northeast Region. In 2020, she was the Maine Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics Recognized Dietetics Technician of the Year, and in 2022, Jeanne was recognized by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as the Outstanding Nutrition and Dietetics Technician of the Year.

Jeanne was recently awarded the International Fresh Produce Association’s Produce Excellence in Foodservice Award for K-12. She is very involved in promoting School Nutrition Programs within her state and across the country. She is a co-administrator for two busy Facebook Groups: Tips for School Meals That Rock and TIPS to Succeed- School Meals in Small Rural Districts. As an administrator in these groups, Jeanne supports other school nutrition programs nationwide as they strive to provide students with healthy and delicious real food in schools.

Prior to working in School Nutrition, she worked in hospitals, long-term care facilities and for the Women, Infants and Children Program. As a dietetic technician, Jeanne found all these positions interesting and rewarding. School Nutrition, however, is where she truly found a lifelong career, building up a new generation of healthy eaters!