School Nutrition Association of Vermont
Meet the Board
MISSION -- SNA VT is the organization of child nutrition professionals dedicated to elevating and advancing professionalism and leadership through education and advocacy
Kayla Strom
Director
Farm to School Manager
Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT)
Kayla brings a rich background in child nutrition, education, and agriculture to her role as the Farm to School Manager at NOFA-VT. Before returning to Vermont in 2018, she managed a school nutrition and farm-to-school program for a K-8 school in Hawaii. There, she broke down barriers to accessing nutritious and affordable food by providing scratch-based meals, offering nutrition education, and fostering collaboration with local growers.
Throughout her career, Kayla has also dedicated significant time to teaching in various capacities. She has taught art classes in ceramics, fiber arts, and mixed media as a passionate maker. As a grower, she has taught in schools and led adult workshops for the Vermont Community Garden Network. Outside of her work with NOFA-VT and Vermont FEED, Kayla enjoys spending time with friends, cooking, creating, and exploring new crafts.
Harley Sterling, SNS
Past-President 2025
WNESU School Nutrition Director
Harley is the director of the WNESU Farm to School Café, a school nutrition program that focuses on creating great food experiences that nourish and inspire. Serving 6 schools in Windham county, Harley and his dedicated school nutrition team focus on nutrient-dense scratch cooking that explores the balance between gourmet and approachable. Harley works to source the best local ingredients, prepare them with care and simplicity, always seeking ways to make the best food accessible to everyone.
As a food activist and chef, Harley has drawn inspiration from his work at restaurants, and his time on organic farms in Oregon where he cultivated a connection between nature, food, and community. As the Galley Coordinator for the Schooner Adventuress in Puget Sound, WA, he became engaged with expanding access to high quality local and organic food for kids.
Harley graduated with a B.S. in psychology and a minor in biology from the University of Vermont. He lives in Keene, NH.
Scott Fay, SNS
President Elect 2025
Director of Child Nutrition for the Essex Westford School District
Scott has been working with the Essex Westford School District since 2007 and with the School Nutrition Association since 2018. Prior to working in school nutrition, Scott was the Sous Chef at Cafe Shelburne for ten years and the Head Dinner Chef at Isabel's on the Waterfront for 5 years. He received an associate degree in hotel and restaurant management from Champlain College. In 2022, Scott earned his credentials as a School Nutrition Specialist through the School Nutrition Association. Scott works collaboratively with his school nutrition team, school administration, teachers, and community partners to ensure school nutrition is recognized as an integral part of the education system. He enjoys skiing, boating, and hiking with his wife, Caitlin, and their two school-aged children.
Stephanie Gates, SNS
Director
Director of Food Services for Bennington Rutland Supervisory Union
Stephanie has been working in the field of school food service since 2007. She started her journey in this industry as a kitchen prep when her oldest son entered kindergarten, and over the years, she has taken on various responsibilities and positions. In 2016, Stephanie earned the School Nutrition Specialist Certification.
As a Food Service Professional, the overarching goal is to ensure kids are excited about school meals. My purpose and gratitude stems from the smiling faces of the students. I love “scratch cooking” in the kitchen and also like to see the kids excited about different meals.
Stephanie and her husband Larry have two sons, Tanner and Tucker. Stephanie loves spending time with her family and you can usually find them on Harriman Reservoir in Wilmington, VT boating in the summer and snowmobiling or ice fishing in the winter.
Karyl Kent, SNS
Treasurer
School Nutrition Director for Lamoille North SU.
Building on a foundation of 30+ years in restaurant and catering work as a Chef and Pastry Chef, Karyl found her calling for child nutrition in 2008 when she became Food Service Manager / Head Chef for Richmond Elementary School, Richmond, Vt. After 8 years at Richmond, Karyl became Production Supervisor for South Burlington School District,South Burlington, Vt.
In 2018 she moved her passion for local food and nutrition education to Lamoille North School District.
SNA School Nutrition Specialist Certification
SNA-VT Past President, President Elect
2012 School Nutrition Association of VT nominee for the National Louise Sublette Award of Excellence in School Nutrition.
Certificate in Mediation and Conflict Resolution from Woodbury College
Karyl lives in Huntington, Vt with her husband.. She is mother to two daughters and a son and grandmother to two fabulous granddaughters. Favorite activities include traveling, camping and kayaking.
Tim Morgan
Director
Child Nutrition & Program Data Manager, Hunger Free Vermont
(he, him)
In his role as Child Nutrition & Program Data Manager, Tim works with schools, community organizations, and state partners throughout the state to grow access to healthy, delicious, and affordable food for all of Vermont’s children. In this role, he provides individualized support to schools and communities to strengthen their use of federal child nutrition programs, including leading efforts to expand use of universal meal provisions and grow breakfast and after school meal programs across the state. He is also using his experience managing and collecting data to create new data utilization tools that help build a broader and more detailed understanding of hunger in Vermont.
Tim worked in food service prior to joining Hunger Free VT, and his background working with food, nutrition, and meal planning fuels a passion for food and food systems. Always actively politically engaged, Tim is thrilled to be focusing his activist energy towards ending hunger.
Tim graduated from Oberlin College where he focused on political theory and comparative political economy with a focus on class and labor politics. He enjoys engaging in lively debates, cooking, gardening, learning, and being outside. Tim lives in Williston with his partner, Barbara.
Erika Dolan
Director
Harwood Unified Union School District Food & Nutrition Co-Director, Pre-K-12
Erika Dolan, Harwood Unified Union School District Food & Nutrition Co-Director, Pre-K-12, in Vermont, makes the health and wellbeing of all students her main priority by providing nutritious and fresh whole foods every day. Erika’s main goal is to provide food access and equity to all her students. With passion and creativity she helps integrate local products into the menus creating a strong Farm to School Program for the district. Overseeing a total of 7 schools this is her third year as the District Co-Director.
She is an active member of:
HUUSD School Health Advisory Council (SHAC)
Vermont Farm to School Network - State Strategic Plan, School Leaders Campaign, Demand/Policy Team.
School Nutrition Association of Vermont Past President and board advisor. Where Erika provides education, support, and networking for school nutrition professionals across the state. Initially joined the SNA-VT board in 2010.
Erika has a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Urban Planning and previously worked with architect Paolo Soleri at Arcosanti, AZ; architect Michael Reynolds at Earthship Biotecture, NM; at Shelburne Farms, VT; and for the Waterbury/Duxbury School District as the Food Service Director for 11 years. Her work and her Child Nutrition Program have been recognized statewide and nationally by many organizations.
When you don’t see Erika at work you can find her at the soccer field, at the ice rink, at church, at the gym, or taking care of her gardens and house plants.
Erika, who speaks three languages, is originally from São Paulo, Brazil, but now lives off the grid with her husband and daughter in an Earthship in Vermont.
Kathy Alexander, SNS
Director
Director of the MAUSD and ANWSD School Nutrition Cooperative
Kathy Alexander is the Director of the MAUSD and ANWSD School Nutrition Cooperative, a group of nine school nutrition programs. Kathy began her career in School Nutrition as the program manager at Ferrisburgh Central School. Over the past 23 years Kathy has built a strong foundation in program management, finances, and administration. She has been a member of SNA and SNA-VT throughout her career and has viewed this professional membership as a sustaining factor in her career. She has served on the SNA-VT Executive Board filling roles including President and Co-Chair of the Professional Development committee. Kathy was a lead author of Vermont’s New School Cuisine Cookbook published in 2012. Most recently Kathy developed a Seasonal 6-week Cycle Menu for the VT AOE- Child Nutrition Office to offer as a tool to School Nutrition programs in VT. Kathy loves recipe development and menu planning as a creative process that guides the entire program and bridges the school and community with local purchasing efforts. She loves teaching and any opportunity to support other School Nutrition programs to thrive because she believes wholeheartedly that school nutrition programs are at the core of education and student success. Kathy has three adult children who live and work the U.S. and abroad providing opportunities for occasional travel. She lives with her husband and their pug in Monkton, VT. When there is a quiet moment, Kathy loves to knit and believe it or not cook!
Maureen O'Neil, SNS
President 2025
Executive Director Abbey Food Service Group
Food Service Director for Southwest VT Supervisory Union and
Village School North Bennington
Before child nutrition and the “art of feeding kids” became Maureen’s passion, she earned her degree in Children’s Drama from Keene State College, NH. Her love of cooking and the food industry out weighed her desire to teach so she immersed herself in learning the business. She became chef/owner of Catered Affairs, a catering company in Southern VT and chef/owner of Alldays & Onions, a Bennington favorite for over 20 years. After selling the restaurant, Maureen managed the Spiral Press Cafe in the Northshire Bookstore until joining the Abbey Food Service Company.
Maureen became a member of SNA - VT in 2009 and earned her School Nutrition Specialist (SNS) credentials in 2016. Maureen's enthusiasm for serving locally sourced foods, led her to build a strong Farm to School Program for the twelve schools she oversees.
When not working, Maureen enjoys paddle boarding on the lake she lives on, hiking, fishing, gardening and catching an amazing sunset.
Jaca Hughes
Director
Executive Director Abbey Food Service Group
Jaca Hughes has worked for The Abbey Group for 14 years, she started her career in Food service at Jamaica Elementary School. During her time there she was passionate about providing scratch made meals and local foods. In 2015, she won the Outstanding Achievement in Child Nutrition Award from
SNA VT. Currently, Jaca is an Executive Director involved with districts both in Vermont and New Hampshire, in 2018 she received the Certificate of Excellence for outstanding breakfast participation from the NHDOE and has written and received more than $65,000 in grants to provide Summer and Emergency Meals to families in need. Her management skills and guidance have been an asset for multiple school districts as well as local non profit organizations. Today, she is rooted in Vermont with her husband, children and grandchildren. Along with her team, she continues to crusade to feed hungry children and families healthy, fresh and local food in Southeastern Vermont and the Connecticut River Valley area.
Kelly White
Director
Essex Westford School District
Lead Cafeteria Coordinator K-8
Kelly White is the Lead Coordinator in the Essex Westford School District. She started her school nutrition journey with The Abbey Group at Rice High School where she was cross trained in all aspects of child nutrition. She worked at Rice for 4 years and moved closer to home and into the same district as her kids. Kelly started at EWSD in 2018 running her own kitchen at Essex Elementary School and has since worked her way up to Lead Coordinator for all of EWSD’s K-8 schools. As Lead Coordinator, Kelly trains new Coordinators and mentors existing. Kelly has worked in the hospitality industry for over 20 years and graduated from Champlain College with a degree in Hotel/Restaurant Management. Feeding kids has become more of a passion than a job and she looks forward to helping create standards and change in the School Nutrition world.