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National Pride in Foodservice Week is February 5th-9th. Pride in Foodservice Week applauds nutrition, foodservice professionals and other members of the dietary team. Recognition and gratitude are well deserved for the people who work in these fields. The Andes Central School District has five foodservice professionals that deserve recognition for all that they do to provide and prepare good school lunches for the staff and students. Andes Central’s foodservice professionals are Laura Houseman, Muriel Shinkle, Susan Fuchs, Dawn Coenen and Jessica Johanneson.

Laura Houseman

Laura Houseman is the Foodservice Director for the Andes Central School District. She has been a part of the foodservice team for the last five and half years. Laura was interested in working for the school as a foodservice professional because she enjoys working with food and children. She felt that it was a great opportunity for her. Laura’s day starts at 6 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. Her favorite part of her workday is when the kids come into the cafeteria for lunch. The best part of her day is the feeling that she gets after the kids and staff are all served, have enjoyed their lunch, and the kitchen is cleaned and ready for the next day.

Laura’s favorite school lunch items to make are goulash and cinnamon rolls because the kids and the staff both really enjoy them. Laura has been cooking for many years. She used to own her own bar and grill, and has worked at several restaurants and nursing homes.

Laura has three sons, two of which are married. She also has 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. When she is not busy working, Laura enjoys watching football, going to her grandchildren’s sporting events, painting and spending time at the beach.

Muriel Shinkle Muriel has been a part of the Andes Central foodservice team for the last 28 years. She originally took the job at the school because she needed a job and it was a good opportunity. Her work day begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 1:30 p.m. Muriel’s favorite part of her day is when the kids give her their lunch trays to wash. For her, the little ones are just the cutest. Muriel’s main job is to wash dishes, but she also helps serve. Muriel has two daughters, six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. All of her children and grandchildren have attended the Andes Central school. When Muriel is not working at the school, she enjoys watching the Gameshow Channel and listening to Rock and Roll music.

Jessica Johanneson

Jessica has been a part of the Andes Central foodservice team officially for the last six years. Before she became an official part of the team, she subbed quite a bit in the kitchen. Jessica wanted to take the position at the school because it offered convenient hours for a working mom. If there is no school, then she usually does not have to work and can stay at home with her children. Jessica’s work day begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 1:30 p.m. Her favorite part of her workday is serving the kids, especially when they compliment the food and or salad bar, which lets her know that they really enjoyed the food. Jessica’s favorite items to make are pizza or desserts. Jessica has been cooking for 20-25 years and learned from her mother and grandmother.

Jessica is married to Brian Johanneson and they have three children. Bella is a fourth grader, Emma is a second grader and their son Kaleb is one. When Jessica is not working, she enjoys horseback riding, helping with cattle on the farm, swimming, and taking her children to zoos or pumpkin patches.

Dawn Coenen

Dawn Coenen has been a member of the Andes Central foodservice team for going on five years. Dawn originally wanted to join the foodservice team as a change of pace from fast food cooking. She is so glad that she jumped on the opportunity to work at the school, because she absolutely loves working there. Dawn’s work day begins at 5:30 a.m. and ends at 1:30 p.m. Her favorite part of her work day is getting to see all the faces of the kids that come through the lunch line from kindergarteners to seniors, not to mention all the hugs she receives from the younger children.

Dawn enjoys cooking everything that the Andes Central school kitchen serves, but she thinks if it were up to the kids, they would say that they enjoy the cinnamon rolls and donuts the most. Dawn has been cooking or a part of the restaurant industry since she was 14 years old and had her first job at Donna’s Drive Inn in Lake Andes.

Dawn has one son, Riley, who is 24. In her free time, Dawn enjoys traveling to California to see her sister and nephews, spending time with friends and family, and making shell earrings.

Susan Fuchs

Susan Fuchs is the most recently addedteammembertotheAndes Central foodservice team, working for the school for a year. Susan came to work for the school when she was wanting a job change. She had always thought working at a school with kids would be uplifting and was thankful when Laura took a chance and hired Susan for the position. Susan starts her work day at 7:00 a.m. and ends it at 1:30 p.m. Susan has really enjoyed her time as a foodservice professional, the best part of her work day is when the kids come through the lunch line. It is great to see their faces and hear them talk about and comment on the day’s food.

Susan does not usually cook, but handles more of the preparation of vegetables and fruits for the salad bar and helps with other odds and ends that need to be done before, during and after lunch service. Before starting at the Andes Central school, Susan had worked for 28 years at the Wagner Community Hospital in the kitchen before it closed. She then took a position in the kitchen at the Wagner Good Samaritan Society for four years before the fire happened.

Susan is married to Allen Fuchs and they have three children: Jennifer, Curt and Mike. Jennifer’s children are Brandon and Peyton. Curt is married to Sherri and they have two daughters, McKenzie and Brianna. Mike is married to Kelsie and they have three daughters Gemma, Evelyn and Faye. When Susan is not working, she is enjoying time with her husband going down to the river to enjoy the day or sitting on their backyard patio enjoying the outside.

Thank you, Laura, Muriel, Jessica, Dawn and Susan for all of your hard work and dedication to the students and staff at the Andes Central School District.