Albuquerque Public Schools
APS Food & Nutrition Services Leader Graduates as Chef Ann Foundation Fellow
Marie Johnson joins an elite national cohort advancing healthy, sustainable and equitable school food.
Albuquerque Public Schools Food & Nutrition Services Executive Director Marie Johnson has officially graduated as a Fellow of the Chef Ann Foundation’s Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship, an elite national program designed for leaders committed to transforming school meals for students.
The yearlong fellowship brings together a small group of professionals from across the country who are working to advance healthier, more sustainable, and more equitable school food systems. Johnson was one of only two Fellows selected from New Mexico in the 2025 cohort, representing APS and the state on a national stage focused on reimagining how schools nourish students.
Through the program, Fellows collaborate, share best practices, and tackle real-world challenges facing school nutrition programs. For Johnson, the experience offered both professional growth and lasting connections with peers who share a passion for improving student outcomes through better food.
“Completing the program was bittersweet, however more sweet than anything as I have a new, fresh outlook on continuing school nutrition work as we face an ever-changing program landscape and not to mention the 23 forever friends from the cohort that I can reach out to whenever I need advice or support,” Johnson said. “I will forever be grateful to Chef Ann for daring to dream and create this movement to make school food better!”
APS Deputy Superintendent of Operations Dr. Antonio Gonzales praised Johnson’s accomplishment and its impact on the district.
“Marie’s selection and graduation as a Chef Ann Foundation Fellow speaks volumes about her dedication, leadership, and vision for student wellness,” Gonzales said. “Having a Fellow of this caliber leading our Food & Nutrition Services team strengthens our commitment to providing high-quality, healthy meals for APS students every day.”
Johnson’s fellowship underscores APS’s ongoing focus on student health and well-being, ensuring school meals support learning, equity, and long-term success for every student.