When Cassopolis Public Schools’ Food Service Director Robyn Bright was hired, she was given a challenge: get the department in a good, solid financial state.

“I guaranteed them I would stay at least 10 years, and that I would get it done,” Bright said.

Now that she has made good on both promises, she is leaving the school district.

After 12 years of service, Bright is retiring. As food service director, she managed the day to day operations of the food services department, as well as spearheaded programs like the Meet Up and Eat Up summer meal program, which provides free meals for children during the summer months.

Bright’s final day will be July 27.

“It’s time for me to retire and go be with my family,” she said.

Bright’s retirement has been in the plans for more than a year. For this reason, she feels she is leaving the food service department in a better state than when she came in and in a good state for her successor.

In addition to increasing food service participation and achieving a positive fund-equity balance, she has overseen the upgrade of all the kitchen equipment.

“The timing is perfect,” Bright said. “Whoever steps into my role will not have to worry about about the financial part. They can just focus on continuing to develop the programs and participating with the students.”

Even though she is retiring, Bright has many fond personal memories of her time at Cassopolis Public Schools.

“We’ve accomplished so much since I’ve been here,” Bright said. “The kids were always my favorite part. I love our kids. We have the best students in Cassopolis. I’ve always enjoyed my job making sure their nutritional needs were met.”

Despite the fact that she loved her job, Bright feels that now is the right time to retire.

She has always known she wanted to to retire before she turned 62. As her 62nd birthday is in December, she was glad to be able to retire at the end of July.

After she retires, Bright and her husband plan to move to Florida to be close to and catch up with their children and grandchildren. In fact, one of the first things they plan to do once they make the move will be to attend one of their grandchildren’s sweet 16 birthday party.

“Living 1,200 miles away, you miss out on so many of their things,” Bright said. “I want to be able to be apart of more.”

Bright plans to spend retirement relaxing with her family, though she thinks working may be in her future in some capacity, likely on a volunteer basis.

“My grandchildren are begging me to come be their lunch lady, so I might volunteer in their lunchrooms or do something like that in the districts that they are involved in,” Bright said.