On August 5th, the Surry County School Nutrition (SN) team had the unique opportunity to participate in a K12 Culinary Institute Training led by renowned Chef Cyndie Story, Ph.D., RDN. This event, held at the First Baptist Church of Dobson’s Fellowship Hall, was a significant step in enhancing the skills and knowledge of the district’s school nutrition professionals.
Chef Cyndie Story, based in Atlanta, Georgia, is well-known for her work with programs nationwide, focusing on preparing and serving healthy options for students. Her expertise, coupled with her role in contracting with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NC DPI) for culinary training, provided an invaluable learning experience for Surry County’s SN staff.
The training covered a broad range of topics including:
Culinary Techniques: Enhancing cooking skills and methods.
Work Simplification and Efficiency: Streamlining kitchen workflows for optimal productivity.
Production and Recipes: Developing and executing high-quality recipes and food production strategies.
Food Safety: Ensuring best practices for safe food handling and preparation.
In addition to these core topics, the session included important updates on civil rights, USDA program requirements, and general program requirements presented by Sherri Parks, SN Director.
The day was made even more memorable with special touches, including a welcome yard sign sponsored by Sign Gypsy, and a fun BlackHeart Photo Booth that captured the enthusiasm of the attendees. Local support was also evident, with Jodie and Monty Southern assisting with the space and Chick-fil-A of Mt. Airy providing lunch.
The Surry County School Nutrition team left the training renewed in their commitment to delivering high-quality, appealing meals for students. The engagement and camaraderie displayed throughout the event underscore their dedication to the continued improvement of their culinary programs.
For more information about the K12 Culinary Institute and upcoming training sessions, visit Chef Cyndie’s website or the NC DPI School Nutrition Continuing Education page.
Contact: Sherri C. Parks, Director of School Nutrition
Surry County Schools
336-386-8866
parkss@surry.k12.nc.us