Below you will find the slate of candidates for the 2024-2025 TASN Board of Directors election. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the members who will lead your organization for the next one or two years.
Voting will begin on March 1. You must be an active member as of January 31, 2024, to be eligible to vote. More details and voting instructions will be released in the coming months.
Thank you to all the individuals below who have offered to serve and help lead TASN into the future.
VICE PRESIDENT
One Year Term
John Ceballos
Coordinator of marketing, equipment, technology and catering
Klein ISD
TASN Member: 6 years
SNA Member: 1 year
TASN Positions Held: Membership Chair (2 terms)
TASN Presentations Given: Work Hard Play Hard; Marketing Your Child Nutrition Program (x2); Maximizing TASN Benefits
Education/Certifications: Bachelor of Arts in Communications
Goals for Office:
- Continue to seek benefits for TASN members.
- Make TASN a national recognized association.
- Grow engagement within the association and members.
- Support districts and vendors as needed.
- Work with current board to set additional goals based off associations vision and mission.
Joy Peters
Director of Child Nutrition
Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD
TASN Member: 8 years
SNA Member: 8 years
TASN Positions Held: Area 7 Representative
TASN Presentations Given: None yet - working on some for this summer
Education/Certifications: Bachelor of Arts in Nutrition
Goals for Office:
- I would really like to bring West Texas back into TASN.
- I'd like to set up a Managers Academy out this way.
- Increase membership in the panhandle and West Texas.
EDUCATION CHAIR
Two Year Term
Kasandra Davis
Child Nutrition Director
Brenham ISD
TASN Member: 13 years
SNA Member: 13 years
TASN Positions Held: Education Chair; Conference Planning Committee
TASN Presentations Given: 2022 Annual Conference - Pre-Session NSLP; 2022 Administrative Academy - NSLP and Other Operational Issue of CN Program; 2023 Annual Conference - Maximizing TASN Benefits; 2023 Administrative Academy - NSLP and Other Operational Issue of CN Program
Education/Certifications: Master of Science in Human Resource Development, Emphasis in Adult Learning: Texas A&M University
Bachelor of Science in Food, Nutrition and Dietetics: Stephen F. Austin State University
Registered and Licensed Dietitian
ServSafe Manager Certification
Other Information You Would Like to Include: I have enjoyed serving as the Education Chair this term and participating in TASN education sessions, academies, scholarships and awards. I have learned invaluable information about how TASN operates, what it needs to improve, and what members are looking for.
Goals for Office:
- Continue my work in re-branding TASN education opportunities so that members will recognize our classes as a value-added benefit that helps them succeed in current and future positions.
- The stronger our educational opportunities and membership are, the more impact our state association can make.
No Opposing Candidate
MEMBERSHIP CHAIR
Two Year Term
Brenda Rodriguez
Child Nutrition Director
Fort Sam Houston ISD
TASN Member: 12 years
SNA Member: 6 years
TASN Positions Held: Area 10 Representative
TASN Presentations Given: TASN - Chapter Introduction
Education/Certifications: TASSO Emerging Leader
True Colors
Orange Frog
TASN Directors Academy
Diamond Leadership
Heart Saver - CPR, AED
Goals for Office:
- To increase membership by one member per current member.
- Educate the school food service professionals on member benefits and self investment.
No Opposing Candidate
CHAIR OF AREA REPRESENTATIVES
Two Year Term
Kimberly Blankenship
Director of Child Nutrition
Pleasant Grove ISD
TASN Member: 4 years
SNA Member: 1 year
TASN Positions Held: Chapter President,, Texarkana Association for School Nutrition
Education/Certifications: Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science
Associates Degree in Culinary Arts
Other Information you Would Like to Include:
I have been married for 20 years and have 2 children, ages 18 and 13. I think it is important in todays world that we teach students the importance of nutrition. I feel child nutrition staff is in a unique situation for teaching students how to fuel their bodies in the right way.
Goals for Office:
- Increase participation and leadership opportunities through out Texas.
- To be a voice for all areas in efforts to help to bring change and offer support in our efforts to provide students healthy and delicious meals.
No Opposing Candidate
AREA 4 REPRESENTATIVE
Two Year Term
Tanya Davis
Director of Child Nutrition
Henderson ISD
TASN Member: 15 years
SNA Member: 5 years
TASN Positions Held: Area 4 Representative
Education/Certifications: TASN Director Academy
Train the Trainer
Numerous continuing education credits based in child nutrition
Goals for Office:
- Increase membership and remind directors what our purpose is for Child Nutrition.
- Renew our passion for the great opportunity we are provided to serve hungry students and avoid getting bogged down in regulations.
No Opposing Candidate
AREA 6 REPRESENTATIVE
Two Year Term
Norma Riojas
Supervisor
Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD
TASN Member: 4 years
SNA Member: N/A
TASN Positions Held: Area 6 Representative
TASN Presentations Given: None yet but willing to help where needed.
Education/Certifications: TASN Level 2
38 college credits
Other Information you Would Like to Include:
I am bilingual. My passion is training CNS staff and to motivate CNS staff to grow into management positions.
Goals for Office:
- Be available to help districts in Area 6 if they want help creating a chapter.
No Opposing Candidate
AREA 10 REPRESENTATIVE
Two Year Term
Ramona Love
Child Nutrition Coordinator of Operations
East Central ISD
TASN Member: 15+ years
SNA Member: First year
TASN Positions Held: 5 Years as local chapter president; 4 years as local chapter secretary; 1 year as local chapter historian
Education/Certifications: Associates degree in History
Level 5 TASN certification
Food Manager certified
ServSafe Certified Instructor and Proctor
Other Information you Would Like to Include: I served three terms on the Texas20 Advisory Board.
I am currently the CTSFSDA (Central Texas School Food Service Directors Association) Secretary.
Goals for Office:
- To increase TASN membership and number of local chapters.
- To inspire others to seek out knowledge in order to develop themselves, their teams, and their programs.
- To assist in providing additional training opportunities for members.
No Opposing Candidate
AREA 12 REPRESENTATIVE
Two Year Term
Tina Brooks
School Child Nutrition Director
Stratford ISD
TASN Member: 12 years
SNA Member: 12 years
TASN Positions Held: Current Area 12 Representative
TASN Presentations Given: Not at this time, but ready to do so if necessary
Education/Certifications: Early Childhood Special Education Associates of Science degree
Currently working on Bachelors in Science, Special Education lEC-12 at WTAMU Canyon (4 classes - 12 hours)
Santa Fe College - Nutrition (2 classes - 6 hours)
University of Mississippi - Culinary Art Training (60 credit hours)
Other Information you Would Like to Include: I'm a hard worker, and ready for a new challenge. My number one reason I do what I do is for the kids, to feed our kids. There are too many out there that need extra help. I'm a farm girl,,love the country, riding my Harley, being outdoors, and socializing with friends.
Goals for Office:
- To increase TASN membership and number of local chapters.
- To inspire others to seek out knowledge in order to develop themselves, their teams, and their programs.
- To assist in providing additional training opportunities for members.