School Lunch Heroes Receive National Honors

Coming up this Friday, May 2, School Lunch Hero Day celebrates the hard work and dedication of school nutrition professionals across the country. As a kick-off to these festivities, the School Nutrition Association announced national and regional winners for Employee of the Year, Manager of the Year and Director of the Year in a virtual award ceremony today.

Meet the outstanding individuals earning national honors here and learn more through the week about each of the regional winners. Be inspired by their exemplify dedication to their profession and deep commitment to the students they serve.

National Employee of the Year – Javontae (JJ) Johnson, Café Assistant for Coffee High School, Georgia

JJ’s ability to inspire others and set a standard for excellence makes him an invaluable asset to the team. His outstanding customer service skills and welcoming, engaging personality have contributed to a 30% increase in student breakfast participation compared to the previous year. JJ plays a key role in fostering school spirit by actively promoting and participating in special events, such as themed meal days, spirit week activities and schoolwide celebrations. His enthusiasm is contagious, motivating students and staff to engage, which in turn boosts participation in school meal programs. 

JJ is vital to the district’s summer meal service program at their central facility, where parents and children gather to pick up meals. He supported the success of the program while strengthening relationships within the community he serves. As an autistic individual, he brings a unique perspective and an unmatched dedication to his craft and works to foster a supportive and uplifting environment for both students and coworkers. His insights contributed to creating training that supports individuals with autism in the workplace, equipping staff with tools and strategies to replicate successful practices.

National Manager of the Year – Debbie Lehne, Cafeteria Manager at Hanover Elementary School, Meriden Public Schools, Connecticut

Debbie consistently provides outstanding service and will do whatever is needed to meet the diverse needs of the more than 500 students she serves daily. Within her school, 17% of students take part in a specialized autism program and Debbie delivers meals or provides additional support when needed. With 30% of students enrolled in a bilingual program, Debbie develops creative ways to communicate with all students to best meet their nutritional needs. She also works closely with families and students with dietary restrictions to find suitable hot and cold lunch options.

An active, hands-on leader, she works alongside team members, taking on any task needed to keep operations running smoothly while prioritizing team building and development. She creates a workplace where others feel valued, capable and motivated to take on greater responsibilities.

Debbie advocates for her food service program during and after school hours and constantly seeks opportunities to engage with the community. She collaborated with the district’s Office of Food and Nutrition to film an informational commercial highlighting healthy menu items and food service initiatives. Debbie also participates in a local holiday parade, which brings students, families and community members together. 

National Director of the Year – Jennifer Gordon, MPH, NDTR, SNS, Child Nutrition Director for Laveen School District, Arizona

Jennifer is committed to nutrition and education, fostering opportunities for students to get involved through taste tests and surveys, nutrition education in the classroom and hands-on opportunities in the kitchen. She was instrumental in securing free school meals district-wide through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).

Jennifer worked to implement the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program at five of the district’s nine schools to increase students’ exposure to a variety of fresh produce. She secured nearly $100,000 in grants to pay for equipment and culinary training for staff to develop scratch and quick-scratch recipes. She incorporated a clean label initiative as part of this effort, focused on providing fresh, high-quality meals for all students. Training has empowered staff to confidently execute new skills, such as vegetable roasting techniques or utilizing immersion blenders and induction burners to successfully implement recipes. 

Jennifer is very active within the community and ensures her department is well-represented at school and community events.She assists in setting up informational booths at welcome back events, open houses and meet the teacher nights and engages with parents to answer questions.

The non-profit School Nutrition Association (SNA) is honoring the hard work and dedication of school nutrition professionals throughout the week leading up to School Lunch Hero Day on May 2nd. Regional award winners announced today are:

Employee of the Year:

• Mid-Atlantic:  Linda Harris, Seaford School District, DE
• Midwest:  Barbi King, Centennial School District, ISD #12, MN
• Mountain Plains:  Karen Atherton, Raytown School District, MO
• Northeast:  Cheyenne Trynor, Windham Raymond RSU #14, ME
• Southwest:  Lavette Hutchinson, Gilbert Public Schools, AZ
• Western:  Elvia Flores, West Jefferson School District #253, ID

Manager of the Year:

• Mid-Atlantic:  Shedrece Woods, Woodbridge School District, DE
• Midwest:  Melanie Peebler, Fairfield Community School District, IA
• Mountain Plains: Melissa Dockter, Jamestown Public School District #1, ND
• Southeast:  Evelyn (Marie) Kyle, Hamblen County, TN
• Southwest:  Pamela Sosa, Gilbert Public Schools, AZ
• Western:  Angelica Recinos, Perris Elementary School District, CA

Director of the Year:

• Mid-Atlantic:  Dr. Eric Coleman, Alexandria City Public Schools, VA
• Midwest:  Megan Grippa, Lebanon City Schools, OH
• Northeast:  Lauren Crowley, SNS, Litchfield School District, NH
• Southeast:   Toni Jackson, Trimble County Schools, KY
• Western:  Kimberly Leung, Tigard-Tualatin School District, OR