Other Education Commons^™

Linda B. Godfrey, Linda B. Godfrey, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Linda B. Godfrey’s 35 years as a registered dietitian have taken her from work on the food service staffs of a hospital and nursing home, as a teacher, and as a U.S. Army reserve unit member to her retirement in 2005. She retired as Child Nutrition Program Director for the Shelby County, Alabama, School System and from the United States Army Reserves with the rank of Colonel.

She received her B.S. Degree from the University of Tennessee in Food Science and Institution Management, completed a dietetic internship at the University of Alabama Medical Center in Birmingham, and received a M.S. …

Anita Ellis, Anita Ellis, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Anita Ellis is a former educator who, as Assistant Director for the West Virginia Department of Education of Child Nutrition, directed the Nutrition Education & Training program. She has conducted training for teachers and food service personnel. She wrote the Kansas Department of Education, Pyramid Builders, Nutrition Curriculum K-6 and the Mississippi Department of Education, Pyramid Pursuit, Nutrition Curriculum K-3 and Grades 4-6.

Mrs. Ellis has various experiences in school food service procurement as well as training. She has organized four (4) purchasing cooperatives in West Virginia and continues to assist them with brand approval and bid specifications. …

Barbara Gauthier, Barbara Gauthier, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Barbara Gauthier is a retired school food service director originally from Thibodaux, Louisiana. After graduating from LSU with a degree in Hospital Dietetics and Institutional Management and working briefly in industry, Gauthier took her first job in school food service in East Baton Rouge Parish. After working for several years and in multiple positions in East Baton Rouge, Gauthier moved on to Lafourche Parish as a food service director in her native Thibodaux. Here in Lafourche Parish Gauthier introduced the Breakfast Program, as well as introducing centralized menu planning and purchasing. At retirement Gauthier left the district with a $5 …

Barbara Songy, Barbara Songy, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Barbara Songy is a native of London, England, but has spent many more years in Louisiana feeding that state’s children than she ever spent in the United Kingdom. Barbara came to the United States as a war bride, having met and married a Louisiana airman during World War II. Displeased with what her first child was being served for lunch, she set about not only improving the menu, she raised the funds to build a new cafeteria. When the person who was supposed to manage the new cafeteria suddenly had to resign she agreed to take on the job temporarily. …

Marcelle Landry, Marcelle Landry, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Marcelle Landry, a proud native of the French Quarter, served for many years with the Louisiana Department of Education as Assistant Director, School Food Services, before joining the Archdiocese of New Orleans as Supervisor of School Food Services. Though now retired, Mrs. Landry is still very active with the Louisiana School Food Service Association, of which she is a past president.

Jacqueline Clements, Jacqueline Clements, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Jacqueline Clements holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics and a Master’s in Administration and Supervision. She taught Home Economics for eighteen years before transferring to school food service. Jacqueline then worked as a Food Service Director for an additional seventeen years.

Wendy Mangiaracina, Wendy Mangiaracina, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Wendy Mangiaracina is a New Orleans native with thirty-three years of experience in child nutrition programs. She chose Southwest Louisiana University for her post-secondary education, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Dietetics. She later attended Tulane University and obtained a Master of Public Health degree. After a long and dedicated career Wendy retired in the summer of 2009. Melba Hollingsworth interviewed Wendy in January 2009.

Pat Farris, Pat Farris, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Pat Farris holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Dietetics and a Master’s Degree in Human Nutrition from Louisiana State University. She has held numerous positions in the field of nutrition, first working in hospitals, and later consulting in child and adult weight management. In 1980 Pat accepted a position with the Louisiana Department of Education’s child nutrition programs, and learned what school lunch was about for the next fourteen years. Since 1994 she has been with the Archdiocese of New Orleans, where she is currently the Director of School Food Services.

Cynthia Ruffin, Cynthia Ruffin, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Cynthia Ruffin began her school nutrition career in Louisiana more than 35 years ago. She received a B.S. in Dietetics from Louisiana State University and an MBA from Southeastern Louisiana University. Cynthia has worked at the local school level, with the Louisiana Department of Education, and as the Director of Child Nutrition in St. Charles Parish Public Schools near New Orleans. Some of her career highlights include developing the Louisiana School Lunch Cycle Menus; expanding Breakfast-on-the-Go programs, implementing The Main Course, a culinary training program for food service technicians; and contributing significantly to district recovery after the devastation of Hurricane …

Lou Simoneaux, Lou Simoneaux, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Lou Simoneaux spent twenty years traveling the world with her military family before returning to her home state of Louisiana and beginning a new career in school food service. She spent several years in the Panama Canal Zone and then moved to France. When her husband finally retired they returned to Lou’s hometown of Napoleonville, Louisiana, where she spent the next twenty-nine years providing healthy, nutritious meals to the children of Assumption Parish.

Mary Eleanor Cole, Mary Eleanor Cole, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

After finishing her Master’s at LSU, Mary Eleanor Cole was recruited by Mildred Stringfield to come to East Baton Rough Parish child nutrition programs to work on food and equipment specifications. After a number of years she became director in 1976.

Mary Carter, Mary Carter, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Mary Carter in in her third-fourth year career in child nutrition. She started out as an assistant manager, then became a single-unit manager, multi-unit manager, and is now the supervisor of thirty-four schools’ child nutrition programs.

Martha S. Walker, Martha S. Walker, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Martha S. Walker is New Orleans native and a graduate of Southern University. She has managed school feeding programs in East Baton Rough Parish for twenty-five years.

Cyndi Nobles, Cyndi Nobles, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

A native of Baton Rouge, by way of New Orleans, Cyndi Nobles has spent her career in food service. After spending five years working for a food service management company, Cyndi has been with the Louisiana State Department of Education child nutrition programs for the last thirty years.

Clare Miller, Clare Miller, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Clare Miller spent her career first working for the Louisiana State Department of Education as an Area Supervisor before becoming the Food Service Director for the Diocese of Lafayette. She then went to work for the United States Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC, from where she retired.

Kris M. Chustz, Kris M. Chustz, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Kris M. Chustz, a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is a recently retired school food service professional, having worked as a Manager, Area Supervisor, and Computer Training Coordinator for the Eastern Baton Rouge Parish.

Annette Dupard, Annette Dupard, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Annette Dupard is a native of Vacherie, Louisiana. She is a graduate of Southern University and a retired Food Service Manager for the East Baton Rouge Parish Child Nutrition Programs.

Emma Jo Williamson, Emma Jo Williamson, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Emma Jo Williamson’s first job after college was in social work before making a career change and teaching Home Economics at Plaquemine High School in Iberville Parish for thirteen years. She then decided to go into school food service. She began her new career as an Assistant Director of the parish for two years before assuming the position of Director. Emma Jo is finally retired after twenty-seven years of serving the children of Iberville Parish.

Mary Davis-Palms, Mary Davis-Palms, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Mary Davis-Palms is an Area Supervisor with the East Baton Rough Parish School Nutrition Programs. A graduate of Louisiana State University, Mary has thirty-four years of service in child nutrition.

Nadine Mann, Nadine Mann, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Louisiana native Dr. Nadine Mann is the Director of Operations for the East Baton Rouge Parish Child Nutrition Programs. Nadine holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Louisiana State University and a Doctorate from Texas Woman’s University in Foods and Nutrition Institution Administration. She has been with the district for thirty-one years.

Gail Johnson, Gail Johnson, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Gail Johnson was the longtime director of school food service in East Baton Rough Parish, Louisiana. She was also a very active member of the Advisory Committee for the National School Food Service Management Institute/Institute of Child Nutrition.

Mary T. Wroten, Mary T. Wroten, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Mary Wroten, a native of Mississippi, worked in the East Baton Rouge Parish Child Nutrition Programs for twenty years. Among her many accomplishments while there was to greatly improve the procurement procedures for the district. Mary’s legacy will continue in Dietetics when her daughter graduates in the same field in May 2009.

Sylvia Grabert, Sylvia Grabert, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Sylvia Grabert is a retired Food Service Director for Iberia Parish in Louisiana. Before coming to Iberia Parish, Sylvia founded the first school food service program in St. James Parish. She holds degrees in both Education and Dietetics, and taught school for several years before going into school food service.

Syble T. Jones, Syble T. Jones, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Syble T. Jones is the former Food Service Director for Rapides Parish, Louisiana. When Syble started her career in 1968 she had 27,000 students spread across 54 schools.

Mattie Bradley, Mattie Bradley, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Mattie Bradley was hired as the Food Service Director/Cafeteria Manager for the Weiner School District, Weiner, AR in 1996. She was a local restaurant owner who decided to sell her business and retire. When the local school district found itself in need of a Food Services Director, Ms. Mattie’s reputation as an excellent cook and manager got the attention of the school district and she was immediately offered the position. Working within the guidelines of the Arkansas School Nutrition Program, Mattie and her staff provide wholesome meals, both breakfast and lunch, to over 300 students daily. For many students these …

Hester Dye, Hester Dye, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Lifelong Arkansas resident Hester Dye is a very active member of her local, state, and national food service associations, and is a past recipient of the Louise Sublette Award. She is currently the Food Service Director in Brinkley, Arkansas. She credits Ernestine Camp’s mentoring as playing a vital role in the success of her nearly 40-year career in child nutrition.

Phyllis Hodges, Phyllis Hodges, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Phyllis Hodges of Dickson, Tennessee, spent fifteen years as Food Service Director, and was instrumental in founding a local nutrition association in Dickson County. She is a firm believer in training and networking. For the past five years Phyllis has been the Director of Procurement and an Educational Consultant for her state agency.

Frances L. Self, Frances L. Self, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Frances L. Self was asked to “sub” for a few weeks in the cafeteria of Dickson County Tennessee Schools back in 1973. She is still there, and has been Manager for the last thirty-two years. She credits her ability to adapt and her dedication to lifelong learning as keys to her success.

Marilyn Rylie, Marilyn Rylie, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Marilyn Rylie was born in Ohio and grew up in Wisconsin before settling in Arkansas. She is currently the Food Service Director in Sheridan, Arkansas. Another firm believer in the value of training, she also credits Ms. Ernestine Camp as an invaluable asset to her career development.

Sandra Fisher, Sandra Fisher, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Sandra Fisher, a graduate of Penn State and Hood College, has spent her career working in Pennsylvania and Maryland. She started out as a hospital dietitian before getting involved with the development of the NET Program in Pennsylvania. She later spent twenty years in Maryland as a Processing Specialist for the Commodity Program.