Spotlight on Louise Dean – Maine’s Director of the Year for 2018 & School Nutrition Association’s Northeast Regional Director of the Year for 2018
Louise Dean is a true School Nutrition Super Hero!! She has been rocking the school nutrition world for 28 years, and has served Maine School Nutrition Association by holding the office of Vice President and President, and she was also the President of the Aroostook County Chapter of the Maine School Nutrition Association.
Over the years, Louise has inspired and mentored so many school nutrition professionals! She has dedicated herself and her career to feeding hungry children, and as the School Nutrition Director of RSU 39 in northern Maine, she has championed Community Eligibility, ensuring that children throughout her district have access to healthy school meals. While in RSU #39, by implementing strategies such as Breakfast in the Classroom, Community Eligibility, Point of Sale System and online payment options, school breakfast participation has increased 350% and student visits to the school nurse have decreased 50%. Lunch participation is up by 25%, too, indicating that school meals are really feeding the future in RSU #39!
But Louise doesn’t stop there! She’s so dedicated to excellence in school nutrition, she sought out a Maine Child Nutrition Program Grant to host a training workshop for School Nutrition Professionals in Northern Maine, and she continues to train her staff annually, providing staff with opportunities to meet their professional standard training hours, as well as opportunities to grow & excel in the School Nutrition field.
Over the years, Louise has been featured in School Nutrition Magazine, the Maine Light, the Wall Street Journal, and MeASBO Magazine. She is a true champion, role model & mentor – a perfect example of a School Nutrition Super Hero, and Maine’s 2018 Director of the Year, as well as School Nutrition Association’s Northeast Region’s Director of the Year for 2018.