Sherwood School District is pleased to announce the selection of Mrs. Gia Saporito as the next Director of Nutrition Services, effective July 1, 2022. Mrs. Saporito will be filling the position vacated by the retirement of the current Director of Nutrition Services, Ms. Lazanne Ward Mustain.
Mrs. Saporito earned her first Bachelor’s degree from Linfield College in Exercise Science, and her second degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Oregon State University. She is a Registered Dietitian, active member of the Oregon Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and a Certified Level 4 Member of the National School Nutrition Association. Prior to her experience in public schools, she worked with the Oregon State University Beavers as a Team Nutritionist, helping to fuel the OSU student-athletes for success. Mrs. Saporito has served as the Director of Nutrition Services at Yamhill-Carlton School District and is currently working with the McMinnville School District as the Assistant Director of Nutrition Services.
Throughout her career in school nutrition, Mrs. Saporito has been an active voice in influencing public policies and legislation that impact Oregon’s child nutrition programs. In 2019, she lobbied Oregon legislators at the State Capitol for the continued funding and investment of Oregon’s Farm to School grant program. In 2021, she testified before the State of Oregon’s Joint Ways and Means Committee for the reinstatement of Oregon’s Farm to School funding in the biennial state budget. These are just a few examples of contributions that she has made to increase funding for and access to school meal programs.
“I am honored to be selected by Sherwood School District to serve as the Director of Nutrition Services,” noted Mrs. Saporito. “Child nutrition programs are the heart of our nation’s efforts to end childhood hunger and promote a student’s ability to thrive in the classroom. I am passionate about this work and I am humbled by a school nutrition department’s ability to positively impact a child’s life and the lives of our community’s families. I look forward to joining the team at Sherwood School District and to contributing to the great work already being done to foster student achievement and success”