School Nutrition- Meet the Team

 Christine Emerson

406-444-2502
School Nutrition
Programs Director

Work-Related Duties:

1. Budget Management
2. Contract Management
3. Grant Management

Christine Emerson is the Director of School Nutrition Programs for the Montana Office of Public Instruction. She administers eight USDA Child Nutrition Programs, including school breakfast and lunch, as well as a state cooperative purchase program for 260 school districts throughout Big Sky country. Christine has worked in School Nutrition Programs since 1999 with the goals of ensuring that all Montana schools serve the most nutritious meals possible and that they promote healthy lifestyles to students, staff, and families.

 Erin Turner

406-559-7588
School Nutrition
Programs Assistant Director

Work-Related Duties:

1. Oversee SNP administrative, procurement, and SFSP reviews
2. Provide training to new program specialists
3. Plan state training for school nutrition professionals

Erin Turner is a Registered Dietetic Technician and School Nutrition Programs Specialist for the Montana Office of Public Instruction. She is a graduate of Montana State University with a bachelor’s in Food & Nutrition and has worked as a School Food Service Director prior to joining the OPI team. Erin enjoys traveling all over Montana to help school districts meet USDA School Nutrition Program requirements and encouraging their farm to school efforts. When not working, she can be found tending to her garden and enjoying Montana’s beautiful outdoors with her family. 

 Kelli Johnson

406-465-1769
School Nutrition
Program Specialist & FFVP Manager

Work-Related Duties:

1. Administrative and Procurement Reviews
2. Professional Development
3. Technical Assistance

Kelli Johnson is a Registered Dietitian and School Nutrition Programs Specialist at the Office of Public Instruction.  She graduated from The University of Tennessee Chattanooga with a degree in Nutrition and completed her Dietetic Internship through Montana State University. She worked for four years as a food service manager for a non-profit organization before joining the OPI team in 2019. Her favorite part of her job is building relationships with clerks and food service directors across the state. When not at work, you can find her hiking, floating the river, gardening, and cooking.

Sydney Dickinson

406-594-7313
School Nutrition Program Specialist

Work-Related Duties:

1. Administrative and Procurement Reviews
2. Professional Development
3. Technical Assistance

Sydney Dickinson RDN, MS, LN is a Registered Dietitian joining OPI as a School Nutrition Program Specialist. She holds a Master of Science in Dietetics Systems Leadership from Montana State University. Sydney has previously worked for organizations like Alternative Energy Resource Organization (AERO) and Abundant Montana, where she supported, advocated, and uplifted local food economies in Central Montana. She also had the opportunity to complete a Community Food Systems Assessment in Helena, Montana during her time there. These experiences, which exposed her to many different sectors of the food system, will help her to continue supporting the enhancement of school meal programs to meet the needs of Montana’s students. Her continued work a Clinical Dietitian offers a unique perspective into nutrition education and health promotion. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, trail running, reading, and exploring the mountains with her dog Bovi, and her partner.

Rachel Ariaz

406-422-3318
School Nutrition Program Specialist

Work-Related Duties:

1. Administrative and Procurement Reviews
2. Professional Development
3. Technical Assistance

Rachael Ariaz is a School Nutrition Program Specialist with the Office of Public Instruction. She graduated from Montana State University with a B.S. in Food & Nutrition. Rachel has worked a variety of jobs related to food, education, and social work. Some of her favorite opportunities included managing a pay-what-you-can food truck, teaching food literacy skills to teenagers on a therapeutic farm, and multiple seasons of farming local produce for her community. Rachel loves working with different communities around Montana and seeing all the beautiful and delicious foods schools serve. When not working, you can find her mountain biking, cooking, farming, or planning/daydreaming about her next international bicycle tour.

Emily Madsen

406-594-4142
School Nutrition Program Specialist

Work-Related Duties:

1. Administrative and Procurement Reviews
2. Professional Development
3. Technical Assistance

Emily Madsen is a registered dietitian and recently joined OPI as a School Nutrition Specialist. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Vermont and recently completed her Masters in Dietetics at Montana State University. Emily comes to OPI with many years of experience in food service ranging from kitchen manager, to farm to school gardener, to farmers market manager. As a registered dietitian and school nutrition specialist, Emily is looking forward to helping Montana schools incorporate more local ingredients into their food service departments and instill healthy eating habits in children. When Emily is not bridging the gap between producers and schools, she is likely camping, hiking, fly fishing or skiing with her partner and their puppy Fisher.

Abigail Vanorny

406-475-5302
School Nutrition Program Specialist
 

Work-Related Duties:

1. Administrative and Procurement Reviews
2. Professional Development
3. Technical Assistance

Abigail Vanorny RDN, MS, LN is a Registered Dietitian joining OPI as a School Nutrition Program Specialist. She holds a Master of Science in Dietetics Systems Leadership from Montana State University. Abigail comes to OPI with years of experience in food service and specific experience as Nutrition Specialist working within the CACFP for Montana State University’s Child Development. She has created many nutrition education and counseling opportunities through independent contracts including community workshops and corporate wellness programs. Additionally, she exemplifies her passion for food access work in her partnership with Farm Connect Montana teaching cooking classes to high-risk populations including seniors, low-income families, and neo independent adults. These experiences, across the food system and as an educator, will help her to support the needs of Montana’s students and school nutrition programs. In her down time, she enjoys exploring mountain trails with her partner, reading, crocheting, cooking a tasty meal to share, and dreaming of her future farm endeavors.

Erin Benson

406-444-4412
406-410-5719
Food Distribution Program Specialist

Work-Related Duties:

1. Manages the acquisition and warehousing of USDA Foods for Montana schools.
2. Coordinates USDA Food distribution to Montana schools.
3. Provides technical assistance and training to program participants.

Erin comes from a culinary background and has worked in the food industry for 25 years and school food services for 8 years holding down positions in many different areas. She enjoys trying new foods and creating recipes. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, traveling, quilting, bowling and spending time with her husband, son and dogs.

 Amber Lyman

406-594-7232
Farm to School Specialist
 

Work-Related Duties:

1. Support F2S efforts
2. Technical assistance for food procurement resources
3. Collaborate with partners to advance local procurement in Montana

Amber Lyman is the Farm to School Specialist for the Montana Office of Public Instruction. Amber has a background in Hospitality and Food Service Management obtaining her bachelor’s degree from Johnson & Wales University in Denver. In previous roles she worked as an OPI School Nutrition Specialist and Nutrition Services Supervisor at a school district in Northern California. She helped build their Farm to School Program across the district with Farm to School Implementation and Sustainability Grants with a focus on sourcing fresh local fruits, vegetables beef and pork. She worked with many local vendors, community organizations and internal staff to promote the use of garden programs and salad bars in schools. She looks forward to continuing her service to the students of Montana by enhancing the Child Nutrition Program through Farm to School.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, camping, traveling, and exploring new places.

Sarah Kuhn

406-590-8086
Summer Food Service Program Specialist

Work-Related Duties:

1. Coordinates the federal Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and assists with the Summer EBT program for Montana.
2. Processes applications & monitors sponsor compliance with the SFSP federal requirements.
3. Provides state-wide technical assistance & training to SFSP sponsors.

Sarah is a Registered Dietitian joining the OPI team as the Summer Food Service Program Specialist. She received her degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of North Dakota and has over 18 years of experience as a Dietitian in several sectors such as clinical nutrition, wellness promotion, and foodservice management. She has led clinical care programs and foodservice management entities with VA Montana and served the State of Montana for over 9 years providing wellness education and conducting clinical programs to clients in a mental health setting. Sarah is excited to be joining the School Nutrition Team and looks forward to building new relationships, learning new avenues of nutrition and public health, and assisting SFSP sites and sponsors across the great state of Montana. When she isn’t working, you can find her cheering on her two competitive kids in their many sporting activities, running with her dogs, and enjoying the outdoors at the family ranch.

 Alie Wolf

406-459-5394
Data Analyst

Work-Related Duties:

1. Processes sponsor’s monthly meal reimbursement claim payments.
2. Compiles systems data for data requests and submits various data reports to the USDA.
3. Coordinates sponsors electing to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and integrates eligibility data from the Direct Certification Application system.

Alie Wolf is a Data Analyst at the Montana Office of Public Instruction, School Nutrition Programs.  She works to improve program integrity and access to school meals.  She is a key member of the team that developed and continues to enhance the Direct Certification Application (DCA) system that Montana uses to conduct state level direct certification of students eligible for free school meals.  She also provides technical assistance and training with the DCA system, MAPS reimbursement claims and the Community Eligibility Provision. 

 Ashley Bodle

406-594-9228
Data Processor

Work-Related Duties:

1. Maintain user access and electronic records for the OPI School Nutrition Programs sponsor agreements.
2. Use systems data to prepare federal reports and analyze program information.
3. Provide technical assistance and direction to program participants.

Ashley joins the team as a Data Processor for the Montana Office of Public Instruction, School Nutrition Programs. She is very passionate about Montana students as a former teacher and hopes to continue that love with the School Nutrition program. Working directly with schools, she plans to provide all assistance needed to maintain the integrity of the data collected as well as help create a smooth school year. She resides in Townsend with her husband and many animals. Living in the middle of nowhere on her husband’s family ranch, she loves anything outdoors when time allows. Her goal this year is to try cross-country skiing above her home. Ashley could eat pizza daily and live off coffee.