Red Lake Schools Food Service Coordinator Wins State Recognition

(Kimball, MN - May 9, 2017) – The non-profit Minnesota School Nutrition Association (MSNA) has awarded Mary Jo Lange, SNS, Food Service Coordinator for Red Lake School District #38, the state Director of the Year Award, which recognizes the extraordinary contributions of school nutrition directors who manage effective school meal programs providing healthy, appetizing meals to students.

As a new food service coordinator working on a tribal reservation, Mary Jo Lange inherited a large deficit, which she eliminated in four years by lowering staffing costs, reducing food costs and increasing sales. When the district was building a new kitchen and cafeteria, she applied for and won the national Winston Industry Grant, which allowed her to purchase new equipment. Lange enrolled her district in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), allowing all students to eat school breakfast and lunch for free. Lange believes the whole community benefits when their children have access to daily nutritious school meals.

Going above and beyond her duties on the Native American reservation in the northern part of the state, Lange trains her staff and surrounding districts on food safety protocols, sanitation procedures and maintaining state mandated Minnesota Department of Health Food manager certificates. She also provides trainings in conjunction with the Tribal Council's New Beginnings program, which helps members to learn new skills so they can work in the community. She believes in education at all levels to make the district stronger and emphasizes that a positive attitude means everything in motivating staff. She has helped write grant applications and received funding through Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) grants to work with the Indian Health Services Committee to provide education on helping Native Americans improve their health through good nutrition and increasing physical activity.

Lange makes daily rounds to help deliver high school "Breakfast in the Classroom" meals, applied for a breakfast improvement grant, and was able to increase high school breakfast participation by 485 percent. She takes time to talk with students and staff about healthy eating and leaves them all with a friendly "Have a great day!"

"The dedication demonstrated by Mary Jo Lange goes beyond her students and staff members, truly making a positive impact on her community as well," said Minnesota School Nutrition Association President Julie Powers. "She has helped improve the lives of so many in her district, showing a passion for education and providing tips for healthy meals and habits to everyone around her."

The Director of the Year Award was created to recognize school nutrition directors who exhibit an extraordinary commitment to their school meal programs. The directors are responsible for maintaining the quality of the program through student interaction, menu planning and a commitment to serving nutritious, tasty and well-balanced school meals. Through effective oversight of all aspects of foodservice operations, including budgeting, staffing, training, marketing and community outreach, school nutrition directors ensure the overall success of school meal programs.

In July, Lange will be honored during the Awards Ceremony at the School Nutrition Association's Annual National Conference in Atlanta, GA. She will also be honored during the Awards Ceremony at Minnesota School Nutrition Association's Annual Conference in Duluth, MN on July 31st.

About the Minnesota School Nutrition Association:

The Minnesota School Nutrition Association (MSNA), founded in 1956 as a state-wide association with local chapters, is a non-profit association of 3,000 members who work to ensure that all children have access to healthy meals and nutrition education in Minnesota. For more information about MSNA and upcoming events, please visit http://www.mnsna.org.