After beginning her foodservice career in sales, Julia Bauscher has spent the past 19 years as director of school and community nutrition services at Jefferson County Public Schools, in Louisville, Ky. During her tenure Bauscher has creating a central kitchen, a farm-to-school program and enacted healthy initiatives, like reducing sodium in meals. 
Janey Thornton, deputy under secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services for the USD (top right), has known Bauscher since her days as a child nutrition director in Kentucky. Thornton has this to say about Bauscher: “She was very instrumental in initializing the central production kitchen. As a leader, she took that from an idea to a very successful opening. I believe it was the only central kitchen in Kentucky at the time.”
Local chef Jim Whaley worked with the department to reduce the amount of sodium in menu items.
Bauscher and Thornton (middle two) at the White House's Chefs Move To Schools celebration.
Bauscher has increased the amount of fresh and local produce offered in the schools.