New CNS Director Named Vice President

On June 24, 2004 the North Carolina School Food Service Association named Wake County schools' Child Nutrition Services director, vice president of the 3,500-member organization. Marilyn Moody's achievement commences a three-year progression from vice president to president-elect to president. Previous Child Nutrition Services leaders, Jane Bass and Elaine Hunt, have also served.

Moody officially began as CNS director, May 19, 2004, filling the position left vacant by Elaine Hunt's retirement. After serving almost three years as assistant director, Moody is excited about her new role and upcoming challenges.

"I've achieved a personal, professional goal," said Moody. "Auxiliary Services is a wonderful group to work with and I appreciate everyone's support. I certainly realize CNS can't feed children by ourselves."

Goal-oriented, she has already set two rather ambitious targets for the department. Moody wants CNS to develop more healthful initiatives and offer additional nutritious alternatives in the schools. Send her an e-mail, and the TAO automated response reflects her vision - CNS Goal: No Child Left Overweight.

Her second goal is to increase high school participation in school breakfast. "Bigger students need breakfast as much, if not more so, than little kids," she said. Since offering breakfast is a school-level decision, the goal requires the help of principals and administrators. Only two of the 17 high schools in Wake County are participating in 2004-05 (East Wake and Southeast Raleigh High).

Don Haydon, associate superintendent for Auxiliary Services, congratulated Moody. "We performed a national search of high caliber candidates, and Marilyn came out on top - that says a lot."

Moody came to Wake County from Wilson in August 2001 because of the larger program and opportunities for growth. (Wilson County has 24 schools, whereas WCPSS will have 134 this fall.)

Moody knew she wanted a career in school food services since high school. When she graduated, she was a summer feeding monitor in Wilson County, ensuring the district followed federal regulations. "I got bit by the bug," said Moody.

After earning her undergraduate degree in education and her master's degree in home economics from East Carolina University, she taught high school while waiting for a school nutrition position to open up. She would wait almost 24 years before a CNS supervisor retired from Wilson County Schools.

She lives in the Raleigh/Garner area with her husband and two sons. John graduated in December from University of North Carolina at Wilmington and Steven is a senior at UNC-Chapel Hill. When she has spare time, Moody enjoys all forms of needlework.