Meet Leigh Ann Bozung
Child Nutrition Supervisor
Healdsburg Unified School District, Healdsburg, CA
Second Place Winner of the 2020 CAN DO Challenge
Pear Hand Pies
What is your background in foodservice?
My experience in foodservice started when I was 14, at a frozen custard shop in Indiana. But where my career really started to take shape was at a mom and pop bagel shop/café. I was asked to fill in for a week, while the baker was out, to be in charge of the bagel production. That was the beginning of the turning point for my career in foodservice. I continued to work in foodservice while I completed my Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic Design and Music.
Shortly after I graduated, I enrolled at Ivy Tech Community College, where I earned my Associate of Applied Science, Culinary Administration degree. Then, I did my internship in San Francisco. My comfort level with baking/pastry helped me land my first job at the Marriott in Tucson, AZ. After that, I transferred to a Marriott in San Diego where I worked for almost four years before I landed my first K-12 position.
Why did you decide to transition from working in
hospitality to K-12?
I was getting burned out on the hospitality work schedule, and I applied to work at Lakeside Union School District where a scratch baking program had just been approved. So, I got my nights and weekends back, had the summers off, and developed their scratch baking program. My boss encouraged me to pursue the School Nutrition Specialist credential, which I received just before the pandemic. There were a lot of changes and that is what led me to my current job at Healdsburg Unified School District. I enjoy the challenges of working in a management role at a smaller school district, and I’ve also been able to work with the community to coordinate a food hub.
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