We recently caught up with Lori Danella, Food Service Director (FSD) for Lee’s Summit School District in Missouri. Lori applied for the Salad Bars to Schools grant in 2019 and was one of the last recipients of salad bars before the program paused due to the COVID outbreak and school closures in early 2020. Lee’s Summit was awarded 8 salad bars for three high schools, three middle schools and two elementary schools in the district. Here Lori shares her successes, challenges, and insights about operating salad bars while in the midst of a global pandemic.
Lee’s Summit is a small city within the Kansas City district with 24 schools including 18 Elementary, 3 Middle, and 3 High Schools. The district is both rural and urban with a free and reduced rate of 21%. Lori Danella was promoted to FSD of Lee’s Summit in early 2019 after 13 years as Assistant Director for the district. Prior to that Lori worked as a nutrition/kitchen manager for the Kansas Public Schools in Kansas City, Kansas for 10 years. Last year Lori was awarded the 2021 Missouri School Nutrition Association’s Director of the year award, and with her 26 years combined experience Lori is full steam ahead, prioritizing the health and futures of the students of Lee’s Summit.
