Indian Creek’s Marshall honored as Nutrition Group Director of the Year

WINTERSVILLE -- Nicole Marshall has made it her mission to nourish students while they feed their minds at Indian Creek Local Schools, and her work has earned her recognition as the 2026 Director of the Year by The Nutrition Group.

Marshall, who is entering her fourth year at Indian Creek, was honored during the company's Summer Leadership Summit at Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh on July 16. She was among more than 350 people representing facilities in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

The summit featured motivational speakers Simon Bailey, Joe Pettit and Clay Scroggins, along with various activities. It concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding service, with 25 nominees selected for the honors.

Marshall was among several contenders in her region but said winning came as a surprise.

"The managers pick nominees from each region and Vice President Kim Cassidy selects the recipients," she said. "I was not aware I was nominated. It was totally unexpected."

Award criteria included events organized by food service directors as well as adherence to budget guidelines.

In addition to holiday activities, where Marshall has led turkey and ham carvings for Thanksgiving and Christmas, she has provided treats for St. Patrick's Day, Dr. Seuss' birthday and celebrations of America's 250th anniversary.

She also brought in Molly the Cow to spur interest in dairy foods, provided a "Freaky Foods" wheel for students to spin and sample items for Halloween, offered pizza parties to top classes as attendance incentives and held "Select to Elect," in which students voted for their favorite foods as an Election Day tie-in.

The conference theme centered on planting seeds for success and providing for students and staff, but Marshall said that is something she has strived to do since arriving at Indian Creek.

She has built upon the meal programs at Cross Creek Elementary, Hills Elementary and Indian Creek Middle and High schools, introducing students to a variety of flavors.

Marshall also received grant funding to implement the Fresh Fruits and Fresh Vegetables program, exposing elementary students to more unusual foods such as dragon fruit, jicama, kumquats and candy cane beets.

She also has served foods from different countries and special events, including the Chinese Lunar New Year, throughout the schools.

By doing so, Marshall said she is expanding students' palates and recalled a parent telling her that a child had begun asking for some of the foods at home.

"It allows kids to try something new and it's now incorporated at home with the family," she said.

Marshall hopes to extend the Fresh Fruits and Fresh Vegetables program into fifth and sixth grades at Indian Creek Middle School. She also plans to seek a Farm to School Grant that could allow students to grow lettuce in the middle school greenhouse for use on the school menu.

Students also have a say in their meals through Youth Advisory Council meetings and Marshall's conversations with students during lunch.

That interaction has helped shape the school menu, inspiring the addition of grapefruit, which younger students call "sour oranges," as well as a potential fast-food day.

Students also participate in the Lunch Box Helper program and may select food options containing a protein and vegetable or fruit for a complete meal.

During the Lunar New Year celebration, younger students enjoyed General Tso's chicken and fortune cookies, while high school students received a more authentic experience with entree boxes and chopsticks.

Marshall said her professional background in the restaurant business has sharpened her leadership skills and helped her adapt to working with a different demographic.

She spent 12 years with Texas Roadhouse and Applebee's and has used that experience in her work with the schools.

Joining Indian Creek also was like coming home because it is her alma mater. She graduated in 2006 and said returning has brought her career full circle.

"I feel like this is my home. I came from the restaurant business and here I'm making a real impact. I think it's been opening up doors for me and I'm excited," she said. "It's my 20th reunion at Indian Creek and being here and watching the kids grow, it's home."

Marshall has expanded her responsibilities by overseeing the cafeteria at Jefferson County Joint Vocational School for the past year. She also will provide meals to the Jefferson County Educational Service Center's Quest Center alternative school, located at the new Jefferson County Innovation Center near Hills Elementary in Mingo Junction.

Marshall and newly appointed Assistant Director Jessica Rees divide their time among the schools and oversee meals for roughly 3,000 students and staff members.

Marshall also has begun training other food service directors, including Rees and another staff member based in Barnesville.

Indian Creek hosted professional development for Nutrition Group employees Aug. 3, with more than 150 people from 11 school districts participating. Marshall emceed the event in the Indian Creek High School auditorium. She said another event will be held there next year, and she also spoke at a similar training session in Cambridge.

When she is not being a mother to her two children, Maddison and Brayden, Marshall said her future goal is to move up within the company. For now, she is happy serving local schools.

"I want to be that person the students remember if I can show up and make them smile and make them feel seen," she said. "I'm giving them lessons about being kind and being positive. It's more than just feeding the kids."