BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) – Dr. Colleen Fillmore, who has overseen nutritious meals applications for 2 generations of Idaho schoolchildren, will retire Tuesday, Feb. 15.
“Colleen has been an ideal associate in our shared mission to help faculties and college students to attain,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra mentioned. “I thank her for her a few years of tireless service, and for her compassion, dedication, grace and good humor.”
Fillmore joined the State Division of Training within the Nationwide College Lunch Program April 30, 1996, and was named director of Youngster Diet Applications in October 2004. She had already served underneath three superintendents of public instruction earlier than Superintendent Ybarra was elected in 2014.
“Throughout her time with the division the breadth of faculty diet applications, and the necessity for them, has grown frequently,” Superintendent Ybarra mentioned. “Federal rules have grow to be way more complicated, and reimbursements to varsities have grown from $28 million in fiscal 1996 to $122 million final fiscal 12 months. By all of it, Colleen has offered robust management and help to districts.”
“Serving to districts and constitution faculties navigate the thicket of rules and functions has been particularly difficult and necessary throughout this long-running pandemic,” the superintendent mentioned. “And sustaining constant, nourishing meal applications throughout disruptions at school schedules has been an amazing problem, particularly within the spring of 2019, when COVID-19 compelled a comfortable closure of public faculties and most college students have been studying remotely.”
“Colleen and her group made certain faculties and districts had most flexibility to satisfy native wants creatively, resembling utilizing faculty bus routes to ship lunch or providing grab-and-go meals households might choose up.”
Providing help to such dedicated native leaders has been one of many pleasures of main CNP, Fillmore mentioned.
“This job and the folks in little one diet providers all through Idaho have introduced a deep sense of function and belonging to my life,” Fillmore mentioned. “Idaho has grow to be a nationwide chief in little one diet applications, and it has been an honor to be a part of that.”
“I’ve combined emotions about retiring from SDE and leaving the proficient and fantastic folks on my group and all through the division,” she mentioned. “Though I’ll miss everybody, I’m longing for the chance to spend extra time with household biking, kayaking and strolling my furry infants.”
Superintendent Ybarra mentioned the transition to a brand new Youngster Diet chief can be eased by the truth that Fillmore’s position can be stuffed by Lynda Westphal, herself a veteran of greater than 21 years with the division.
Since August 2011, Westphal has served as Nationwide College Lunch Program coordinator, the job Fillmore held earlier than she turned director.
“Colleen has been an amazing boss and mentor,” Westphal mentioned. “I’ve realized quite a bit from her throughout our 20-plus years working collectively. I want her effectively within the subsequent chapter of her life, however I’ll miss her encouragement, help and steering.”
Westphal’s first day as the brand new director of Youngster Diet Applications can be Monday, Feb. 21.
