Meet Your Food Service Director

Jaca Hughes has worked for The Abbey Group for 11 years, she started her career in Food service at Jamaica Elementary School. During her time there she was passionate about providing scratch made meals and local foods. In 2015, she won the Outstanding Achievement in Child Nutrition Award from SNA VT.

Currently, Jaca is the FSD for Fall Mountain Regional, in 2018 she received the Certificate of Excellence for outstanding breakfast participation from the NHDOE and has written and received more than $65,000 in grants to provide Summer and Emergency Meals to families in need. Her management skills and guidance have been an asset for surrounding school districts as well as local non profit organizations.

Today, she is rooted in Vermont with her husband, children and grandchildren. Along with her FMRSD team, she continues to crusade to feed hungry children and families the best quality food in the Connecticut River Valley area.

John Vigneau has been working in culinary arts and food service his entire career. As a self taught chef and self-admitted foodie he has honed his skills over the years at the Walpole Tavern and later as the FSD for the Cedar Hill Assisted Living in Windsor VT.

Today, John has spent his first year with The Abbey Group building a progressive meal program for FMHS, as head chef and assistant to the FSD, John is bringing fresh, local and contemporary meals to the staff and students.

Vigneau grew up in Walpole and lived there for 28 years. He now lives in Charlestown with his wife, Tiffany Putnam-Vigneau, 32; his two daughters, Isabell, 5, and Madison, 8; and their English springer spaniel, Millie.In his free time, he likes to be outdoors — hunting, fishing and gardening.

Food has always been a passion, he says. “I like working with food, fresh food,” he said. “You make people happy with the food you serve them”.