Her Story
About Kelly
Kelly Shomo is an accomplished school nutrition leader with extensive experience spanning school districts, state-level education programs, public health, and culinary services. She currently serves as the School Nutrition Director for Waynesboro Public Schools, where she oversees the full operation of district kitchens, including menu development, nutrition education initiatives, and compliance with federal and state nutrition regulations. In addition, she manages program applications, reporting, and ongoing monitoring in partnership with state agencies to ensure high-quality, compliant, and student-centered meal services.
Kelly’s career in school nutrition began in 2013 after working in fine dining in California while completing her master’s degree. With a strong foundation in culinary arts, nutrition, and public health, she discovered school nutrition as the ideal intersection of her professional passions. Her first role was as a Supervisor of Nutrition Education and Marketing at a school district in California, where she developed student-focused nutrition programs, educational initiatives, and outreach strategies designed to encourage healthy eating habits among K–12 students.
Before joining Waynesboro Public Schools, Kelly spent eight years with the Virginia Department of Education, where she worked closely under the leadership of Dr. Sandy Kerwood and advanced through roles focused on training, program improvement, and grants administration. During this time, she led statewide initiatives to strengthen school nutrition programs and support professional development across Virginia. She also serves as the interim Public Policy and Legislative Chair for the Virginia School Nutrition Association, reflecting her continued commitment to advancing the field. Looking back on her career, Kelly notes that if she had the opportunity to begin again, she would still choose school nutrition an industry that unites her expertise and passion in service of student well-being.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kelly
01What do you attribute your success to?
Kelly attributes her success to a strong work ethic and a genuine commitment to the field of school nutrition. She believes that consistently working hard, paired with a deep sense of care for the students and communities she serves, has been essential to her professional growth and long-term success. This combination of dedication and purpose has enabled her to persevere through challenges, continuously improve nutrition programs, and remain focused on delivering high-quality, impactful services that support student health and well-being.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice Kelly has received is to maintain perspective during the often fast-paced and demanding nature of school nutrition work. She has learned that, even in chaotic or high-pressure moments, students will be fed and programs will continue to run effectively thanks to the dedication of school nutrition professionals. This perspective has helped her focus on doing what she can each day while trusting in the strength, commitment, and resilience of the teams and systems that support student meals.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Kelly encourages young women entering the school nutrition industry to seek diverse and well-rounded experience across multiple facets of the field. She advises gaining exposure to different roles and responsibilities, as well as working at the local, state, and, if possible, federal levels to build a comprehensive understanding of the system. By broadening their experience in this way, she believes professionals can strengthen their expertise, expand their perspective, and ultimately make a greater and more meaningful impact in the field.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in the school nutrition field today is maintaining financial sustainability within programs that are designed to operate on a break-even, nonprofit basis. Many districts across the country are currently running deficits as federal reimbursement rates have not kept pace with rising costs for food, labor, and supplies. As a result, a key challenge has been ensuring programs remain financially independent and do not need to rely on a school division’s general fund, while still continuing to provide high-quality, nutritious meals to students.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity, honesty, hard work, and dedication are the core values that guide Kelly both professionally and personally. She emphasizes the importance of staying committed to the field of school nutrition and to the students served, ensuring that every decision is grounded in doing what is right, maintaining trust, and consistently giving her best effort in support of student health and well-being.
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