Warren DeShields Honored by Gov. Phil Murphy, Bridgeton Schools
Warren DeShields (L) with Bridgeton Superintendent Dr. Keith Miles at an April Bridgeton Board of Education meeting.
By Clyde Hughes | AC JosepH Media
BRIDGETON — Last month, Bridgeton Public Schools’ Director of Food Services Warren DeShields was recognized by superintendent Dr. Keith Miles for being honored by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy for serving 1.6 million meals to community children during the pandemic.
Miles’ presentation was made during Bridgeton’s March school board meeting in recognition of the work done by DeShields and his staff. DeShields, among the top recognized school food service providers in the state, said he was pleased with the recognition.
Murphy’s recognition came in a March letter honoring Bridgeton Public Schools for their extraordinary effort on behalf of Bridgeton’s school children.
“I am extremely honored to receive recognition from Governor Murphy for serving 1.6 million meals here in Bridgeton,” DeShields told Front Runner New Jersey about the honor. “I would like to thank the 78 employees in the Bridgeton Food Services Department for their selflessness in service during the pandemic.
“I would also like to thank the Bridgeton Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Keith Miles for supporting us throughout these unprecedented times. This heavy lift has been a collaborative effort in our district that included intense coordination with the School Business Administrator Nicole Albanese, Charles Carter the Supervisor of Maintenance and April Snyder Transportation Coordinator.”
DeShields also thanks Mayor Albert Kelly for his assistance in delivering meals to students who could not make it out to the distribution sites.
“Together our team was #StrongerTogether, “Feeding Education, #KeepPushing,” DeShields said.
Murphy praised the school district for making the effort of keeping the community fed “since the start of the current public health emergency affecting our state and nationwide community.”
Murphy said in his March letter, “I am always proud to learn of the many deeds and civil initiatives carried out by the people and communities of our Great State. Designated as one of the five Garden State “food hubs” by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, the Bridgeton Public Schools District’s governing, administrative and food service team have remained committed to providing students of an approximate 6,000 district students — inclusive of breakfast, lunch, dinner, after-school snacks, and distribution through the summer month.
“What an amazing accomplishment. Kudos to all for your hard work and dedicated service,” Murphy said.
DeShields, who worked his way up from Bridgeton High School’s cafeteria manager, now runs the $6 million budget in the food services department in the district. He is past president of the New Jersey School Nutrition Association and the Northeast director of the School Nutrition Association.
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