Food for Thought Spring 2022

ASSOCIATION NEWS

Christine Clarahan , MS,SNS,RDN, President Elect School City of Hammond

Christine Clarahan has been the Director of Food and Nutrition for the School City of Hammond for the last 5 years. In addition to being the director, she is also their registered dietitian and holds the School Nutrition Specialist credential. She previously served on the national School Nutrition Association’s Professional Development Committee.

MEET YOUR 2021-2022 ISNA executive board

Christine completed her dietetics undergraduate work at Iowa State University and her dietetics internship at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. She also has her master’s degree in Human Nutrition. After completing her dietetics internship, she worked at duPont Hospital for Children and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) as a clinical and outpatient pediatric dietitian prior to moving back to the Midwest to be close to family. Christine is passionate about training/professional development and is always looking for ways to be a better leader for her department. Christine was a co-advisor for SNA’s Director’s Best Practices virtual conference in October 2020 and a speaker at the 2019 School Nutrition Association Annual National Conference (ANC). Her non-work-related interests include reading, true crime podcasts, puns, cross-stitching, food-themed earrings, and spoiling her dog Watson.

Courtney FitzSimons, RD,SNS, Vice President West Lafayette Community School Corporation

Stacie Light, President Warsaw Community Schools

Courtney FitzSimons is the Food Service Director for West Lafayette Community School Corporation. She joined ISNA’s Executive Board in November of 2017 and served two years as Region 5 Representative and two years as Secretary/Treasurer.

Stacie Light is the Director for Warsaw Community Schools, Food & Nutrition Services. Stacie grew up the eldest of four children and learned how to cook for a crowd from the best, her mom, Gail. After a brief hiatus as a stay-at-home mom, Stacie has worked the last fourteen years with Warsaw Community Schools serving students as a cashier, kitchen manager, administrative assistant, and assistant director. While the hours of operation were the most attractive aspect of the job, she has stayed with Food Services because of the FUN she has with the students and staff. This is Stacie’s fifth year of serving on the ISNA board. Stacie has been active with ISNA for the last eight years serving with the Operations Committee, Region 2 Representative, ISNA Vice President, and President-Elect. She looks forward to networking, learning, and growing as a leader with ISNA. In Stacie’s free time she enjoys decorating, walking her dog Wrigley, and traveling “up north” with family.

Courtney received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Ball State University in Muncie, IN, and became a registered dietitian in October 2012. She began her career as an eating disorder dietitian, but found her love for school nutrition in April 2015 when she was hired as the dietitian for Anderson Community School Corporation. Courtney enjoys the complexity of school nutrition and received her School Nutrition Specialist credential in November 2017. In July 2018 West Lafayette Community School Corporation hired Courtney as Food Service Director where she continues to learn and grow every day. Courtney is grateful for the opportunity to be on ISNA’s Executive Board and enjoys sharing her passion for school nutrition by serving as ISNA’s Vice President. Courtney is a proud mom of twins Grayson & Quinn and loves to dote on her three beautiful cats. In her free time, she enjoys watching scary movies with her husband, Sean, playing (winning) strategic board games, and socializing with friends and family. She can’t wait to see what the future holds both personally and professionally.

Leeanne Koeneman, Immediate Past President Northwest Allen County Schools

Leeanne Koeneman is the Immediate Past President of the Indiana School Nutrition Association. She has enjoyed school food service at Northwest Allen County Schools since 1998. She was the Manager at Carroll High School for 11 years and has been the F.S. Director for the last 13 years. Prior to that, she spent 11 years as a cake decorator, baker, and caterer. She has “Charged the Hill” to fight for School Nutrition at the Legislative Action Conferences in Washington D.C. She has also attended leadership conferences where she was inspired to pursue her current journey with the Executive Board of ISNA. She has attended many state and national conferences and she highly encourages each and every food service superstar to also attend these extremely worthwhile conferences. She enjoys seeking blue water therapy during her time away. She can be found enjoying God’s beautiful creation of nature on her boat with her husband, friends, and family. Married to Jim for 33 years, they have 2 daughters, a son-in- law, and 3 short little balls of energy she adoringly refers to as her grandchildren. They are 7, 5, and 9 months. They are already interested in cooking and can often be found by her side in her kitchen ready to help or at least lick the spoon.

Valarie Miller, Secretary/Treasurer Center Grove Community School Corporation

Valarie Miller, ISNA’s newly appointed Secretary/Treasurer, is the Assistant Director for Center Grove Food & Nutrition Services. In 2018 Valarie graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition & Dietetics. She completed her dietetic internship at IUPUI in 2019. During the internship, Valarie completed her School Nutrition rotation with Center Grove Community Schools. At the beginning of her time there, she knew this would be her passion and was blessed to be able to get a foot in the door. Valarie is excited to continue to grow with ISNA. She enjoys spending time outside with her dog and taking hiking trips.

14

15

Powered by