Barbara Goodman

Barbara Goodman is an invaluable advocate, helping to earn positive legislation for child nutrition services and funding at the local, regional, State and national levels during her 32-year career in the field.

Employed as Food Services Director at Akron Schools, Ms. Goodman has held several positions with the School Nutrition Association, earning accolades and awards with support from her staff and professional colleagues.

During 1995-96, and again in 2011-12, she served as President of the Erie County School Nutrition Association. In 1997-98, she was awarded the Silver Medal by the Council of Food Services Association, and served as Secretary for the NYS School Nutrition Association from 2000 to 2011.

In 2007, Akron Schools received the Gold Award from the USDA for their food services program led by Ms. Goodman. The many dignitaries from local, State and national organizations attending the award presentation were treated to a special school assembly. Complete with skits, songs and evidence of happy and healthy students, the event was a delight and a highlight in Ms. Goodman’s career. She was named Director of the Year for the Northeastern United States School Nutrition Association not long after, in 2009.

Currently, as a past president, Ms. Goodman serves as Counselor for the Erie County School Nutrition Association.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Goodman and her staff witnessed the impact Akron’s child nutrition services has on the community, as lines of cars continue to come through their meal distribution program during the crisis.

There is a direct correlation between nutrition and education, says Ms. Goodman. Her job gives her the opportunity to make a difference for her school and community and never more so than right now. She is heartened by stories of children still eating their school-provided lunches with their friends using FaceTime or other technologies. She lauds the efforts of her colleagues and friends across the State who are helping their communities in a similar way.

Ms. Goodman was married for 37 years to the late Steven Goodman. She has two sons, Jason (wife Sara) and Adam, and three granddaughters.