On August 12, 13, and 14, The John C. Stalker Institute of Food and Nutrition at Framingham State University hosted the 2025 Management Institute. This year marked 20 years for the Management Institute and attendance reached an all time high with 76 school nutrition professionals from 32 districts across the Commonwealth who came together to advance their leadership and management skills. Rob Leshin from the Office for Food and Nutrition Programs at DESE kicked off the institute by welcoming the group, offering a statewide update, and expressing his gratitude for the outstanding work and care provided each day to feed the students of the Commonwealth.
The agenda included content on school meal programs, cost effectiveness, marketing healthy foods to students, positive cultures, building a robust team, refining your leadership style, and communication. Each attendee received 21 hours of professional development over the three days.
This year’s Management Institute included school nutrition professionals from the following 32 Massachusetts districts:
- Abington
- Agawam
- Ashland
- Bedford
- Belmont
- Billerica
- Cambridge
- Carlisle
- Dartmouth
- Dover-Sherborn Regional
- Fitchburg
- Foxborough
- Franklin
- Hampden-Wilbraham Regional
- Holliston
- Kingston
- Leominster
- Lincoln
- Littleton
- Milbury
- Milton
- Nauset Regional
- North Atteboro
- Orange
- Shrewsbury
- Silver Lake Regional
- South Middlesex Regional
- Springfield
- Watertown
- Westford
- Westwood
- Worcester