Santa Fe Standard

At Santa Fe Public Schools (SFPS), every student now enjoys free, nutritious school meals, guided by a fresh perspective in the district’s food services. Diana Tarasiewicz has been appointed as the new director of student nutrition, bringing a unique mix of expertise and passion to the role.

Tarasiewicz's love for food began in childhood and developed while she was growing up in France. Surrounded by her godmother’s garden, she developed a deep appreciation for fresh, quality ingredients.

“I think my passion for food and cooking came from being immersed in it as a child,” Tarasiewicz reflected. “Everything was made from scratch. That connection to great ingredients has stayed with me my whole life. I just can’t resist a fresh vegetable at a farm stand.”

In 1974, Tarasiewicz moved to the United States as a teenager and spent nearly a decade living in New York City exploring its diverse culinary landscape. In the 1990s, she relocated to Colorado where she ran a successful catering business and later began teaching at the Colorado Culinary Academy.

She transitioned to school nutrition in 2012 when she became the district manager of nutrition services for the Mesa County school district in Colorado. After moving to New Mexico, Tarasiewicz served as a culinary specialist and project coordinator at the New Mexico Public Education Department’s Student Success and Wellness Bureau. There, she led efforts to enhance the nutritional quality of school meals, promote healthy food choices, and implement sustainable food service practices. She was named director of student nutrition effective July 1.

“Making a difference in what kids eat at school and introducing them to real, wholesome food makes me incredibly proud,” Tarasiewicz said. “I’m a firm believer in Hippocrates’ philosophy - letting food be thy medicine. Creating healthy, delicious recipes without preservatives or processed ingredients and seeing students enjoy them is incredibly rewarding.”

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