Laura Baritt

School Nutrition Foundation Member Award-ANC 2026

Years in School Nutrition: 6 years

Students Served: 8,000

Super Bakery’s 22 Seconds Society in Memory of Franco Harris returning attendee scholarship

“Receiving this scholarship was a relief, as it allowed me to access professional development at ANC without placing a financial burden on our district’s food service budget. The sessions and networking gave me a professional recharge and reminded me of the joy that drew me to this career six years ago.”

Why School Nutrition?

For the past six years, I have dedicated my career to school food service, currently serving as the Food & Nutrition Assistant Director for Elmbrook Schools. My favorite part of this work is menu planning. I love the process of introducing new items to our students and staff, and I look forward to hearing their feedback and seeing what they enjoy most.

Bringing It Back to My District

Going back to my experience in the leadership session, the single most important thing I plan to bring back to Elmbrook Schools is my joy. School food service can be incredibly demanding, and it is easy for teams to get bogged down by daily stress. I’ve realized that as a leader, my energy sets the tone for our department. By bringing back my joy, I am bringing back a renewed sense of enthusiasm, patience, and warmth. Re-anchoring myself in the joy of this work is the best tool I have to support and inspire my team.

The Impact of This Scholarship

The SNF Conference Scholarship impacted me on both a personal and professional level: Professionally: It gave me the rare opportunity to connect face-to-face with other Wisconsin directors. Swapping stories and sharing real-world advice helped me feel deeply connected to my local professional community again. Personally: After struggling to keep my usual positive spark alive over the last six months, the ‘Be Happy. Lead Happy’ session completely re-energized me. This scholarship provided the exact mental and emotional recharge I needed to bring true joy back to my leadership role at Elmbrook Schools.