Iris Tirado, born and raised in Puerto Rico. She obtained a Nutrition and Dietetics degree from University of Puerto Rico, and worked for over 10 years in various food industries. Upon her move to Wisconsin, she worked with the Madison Metropolitan School District for 20 years in school nutrition, always exploring locally procured foods and flavors. In 2016, Iris moved to Arizona to enjoy retirement, but she longed to return to the school cafeteria and develop a Farm to School- centered nutrition program. Iris joined Concordia Charter School in 2019 where she enjoys serving as Concordia’s School Food and Nutrition Director. In 2023, striving to learn more, Iris completed a one-year, Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship, where school food leaders’ hones skills in “scratch-cook” food operations that support a sustainable program and drive school food reform.

Additionally, she was named one of ten nationally recognized “Renegade Food Service Managers” (https://www.chefannfoundation.org/blog/10-school-food-renegades/). This means she puts into practice a passion for delicious, nutritious, and locally sourced food for her students.

Iris is also a Maricopa County Master Gardner Associate who loves to Garden and care for our chickens.