From Kitchen to Leadership: Lessons from the Front Lines of School Nutrition
- David Pisanick
- May 4
- 3 min read
In school nutrition, leadership doesn’t always start in the boardroom - it often begins in the kitchen.
In this episode of the NutriSmart Snax podcast, Maureen Pisanick sits down with Andrew Mendez RDN, CC, LD, Nutrition Services Director at Kenston Local Schools, to unpack what it really means to grow as a leader in school nutrition.
Their conversation is packed with practical insights, personal stories, and actionable strategies for anyone—from frontline staff to directors - looking to elevate their impact.
Here’s what stood out.
School Nutrition Leadership Starts with Learning
Andrew’s journey didn’t follow a straight line and that’s exactly the point.
Like many in the field, he was trained for clinical nutrition but discovered school nutrition through experience. Instead of stopping there, he leaned in further, going back to culinary school while working full-time to better understand kitchen operations and food production.
That decision reflects a core leadership trait:
Great leaders are always learning leaders.
Whether it’s:
Taking culinary classes
Learning new equipment and techniques
Understanding operations at a deeper level
Growth happens when you intentionally pursue it.
Mentorship Isn’t Optional - It’s Essential
Andrew doesn’t just grow himself - he brings others along with him.
Each year, he mentors interns, giving them hands-on experience in real school kitchens. But more importantly, he invites them to challenge the system:
Evaluate operations
Suggest improvements
Contribute to menu development
Lead taste testing with students
This mindset flips the script.
Leadership isn’t about holding knowledge-it’s about sharing it and multiplying it.
Goal Setting That Actually Works
Let’s be honest - goal setting can feel frustrating. Andrew admits he used to avoid it altogether after missing goals.
What changed?
He adopted a simple but powerful framework inspired by The One Thing:
Start with a big vision (5 years out)
Work backward to 1 year, 6 months, 1 month
Then focus on one action today
“What’s the one thing I can do today to move the needle?”
This approach:
Reduces overwhelm
Creates clarity
Builds momentum through small wins
And most importantly - it’s sustainable.
Consistency Beats Intensity
One of the best analogies from the conversation:
You don’t get a healthy mouth by brushing your teeth twice a year for 30 minutes. You do it by brushing every day for 2 minutes.
The same applies to leadership.
Small actions
Done consistently
Over time
That’s how real change happens in school nutrition programs.
Collaboration Over Competition
One of the most powerful themes in the discussion is this:
School nutrition is not a competitive industry - it’s a collaborative one.
Unlike restaurants or private foodservice:
Directors share ideas
Teams support each other
Colleagues pick up the phone and help
This culture creates something rare:
➡️ A nationwide network of professionals committed to helping each other succeed
And great leaders don’t just benefit from this - they contribute to it.
Taking Risks to Grow
Andrew’s leadership journey also includes stepping onto the national stage presenting at the School Nutrition Association conference.
That didn’t happen by accident.
He: Took a chance, submitted proposals and leaned into encouragement from peers
And it paid off.
You can’t win if you don’t play.
Leadership requires stepping outside your comfort zone and sometimes, that means raising your hand before you feel ready.
People First, Always
If there’s one takeaway that applies to every role in school nutrition, it’s this:
Leadership is about people.
Andrew’s advice:
Learn names
Understand personal lives
Build relationships
Create trust
Because when trust is strong, teams become:
More resilient
More collaborative
More effective
And ultimately - more impactful for students.
Final Advice for Future Leaders
Andrew leaves us with two powerful pieces of advice:
1. Invest in Relationships
No matter your role, you influence team culture.
2. Never Stop Growing
If you’re the smartest person in the room - you’re in the wrong room.
Seek out:
Challenges
Learning opportunities
People who push you
Full Circle: From Student to Leader
The episode wraps with a fun reflection - Andrew’s middle school lunch:
Honey bun
Cosmic brownie
Two chocolate milks
A reminder of how far school nutrition has come - and how much leaders like Andrew are shaping its future.
Today, he’s focused on:
Build-your-own concepts
Student engagement
Better, more appealing meals
That’s leadership in action.
The Bottom Line
Leadership in school nutrition isn’t about titles - it’s about:
Continuous learning
Mentorship
Consistency
Collaboration
And putting people first
If you focus on those, you’re already on the right path.
Watch or Listen:
To hear the full conversation with Andrew and explore more insights like these, tune into the latest episode by searching for NutriSmart SNAX podcast your favorite podcast platform or watch the Episode on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiYsdP_p0XE