The NCDPI, Office of School Nutrition, in conjunction with Chef Cyndie Story and the K-12 team offered eight North Carolina K-12 Culinary Institute regional workshops during the summer of 2023. The Institute is intended for School Nutrition professionals who are currently managing and/or responsible for the supervision of site-level nutrition operations. The purpose is for participants to master fundamental culinary skills to enhance school meals and be empowered to teach-it-forward to their team members at the local level.
Five employees from Surry County School Nutrition attended the training; Rebecca Combs, Manager at Rockford Elementary, Melissa Edmonds, Manager at Shoals Elementary, Malissa Huffman, Manager at Copeland Elementary, Billie Jo Marshall, Assistant Manager at East Surry High School and Jennifer Tate, Interim Manager at Meadowview Middle School. The training was held at Starmount Middle School in Boonville NC.
The workshops prepare participants to serve as Chef Ambassadors in their districts and beyond. Selected attendees of the workshop will learn fundamental culinary techniques such as knife skills, food production strategies such as batch cooking for quality, quick-scratch cooking techniques, and merchandising tips for new K-12 Chef-developed recipes specifically for North Carolina schools. Participants also learn effective teach-it-forward techniques so they can communicate new knowledge and skills with others in their districts.
The objectives for the Institute are to:
- Improve student health, well-being, and academic success through nutritious, appealing meals at school
- Increase participation in high quality, enticing school nutrition programs
- Expand capacity of local school nutrition programs to purchase, prepare and serve fresh, locally grown produce
- Increase consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain rich foods
- Provide continuing education opportunities for school nutrition personnel
We are so proud of our employees that attended this training! We are thankful for their initiative and desire to learn new techniques and expand their knowledge and skills. We are excited to see how they implement what they have learned in their operations in Surry County Schools. Many of our School Nutrition employees have participated in this unique, hands-on professional development since 2016.