Culture at the castle: Food assistant reflects on recent award, school nutrition program

PERRY, Ga. — When The Journal met Pamela Heesh, a food assistant at Matt Arthur Elementary School, she wore a t-shirt that read “Feeding kids is a work of heart.” Heesh embodies this concept every day. Her efforts have recently been recognized by the non-profit School Nutrition Association, as she’s been named their Southeast region Employee of The Year, the second award for Matt Arthur’s staff.

According to the SNA, this award is in recognition of valuable contributions from employees who show commitment to their respective school’s nutrition program, and the students by extension. Through Heesh’s contributions and her heart behind her service, her dedication speaks volumes to the program’s success in feeding the students that attend Matt Arthur, with a flair that leaves them delighted as well.

When she learned of her award, she was humbled, and said she believes the SNA saw merit in what she does.

“I don’t do what I do for any awards. I do it because I love to do it … I was shocked, but it was very humbling; it still is,” Heesh said.

As a food assistant, Heesh said her primary focus is feeding the children, as she prepares food before each mealtime, and prepares fresh food during meals. A team player, she also floats around from task to task wherever she is needed.

At start of day, she said she is hitting the ground running: Checking temperatures, dishing out cleaning supplies, booting up the lunchroom’s computer systems, then preparing food carefully.

“Pretty much whatever needs to be done, that’s what I do,” Heesh said.

Heesh has been in the role for six years, previously working in the kitchen at a daycare. Additionally, she served as a pre-k and kindergarten teacher, as well as assistant director at daycare.

With children of her own, and work with the children’s program at her church, she has always been drawn to working with children. The role comes naturally for Heesh.

“I have always loved working with children; I have five children of my own. I started doing things with their friends, and I enjoyed working with them,” Heesh said.

Once her children’s schedules matched up, Heesh took another chance on becoming a food assistant, and once she stepped foot in her school and made connections with the staff, she knew she made the right choice.

“The minute I walked into Matt Arthur, it felt like home,” Heesh said. “We’re a family here. We take care of each other, we look out for each other and we have each other’s backs. It feels more like a family than it does a group of coworkers.”

Heesh said she likes to do her part to ensure that as well.

“I like to be there for my coworkers too. I like to do whatever I can to help anyone that I can,” Heesh said.

On a school wide level, School Nutrition Director Meredith Potter said employees like Heesh contribute to a warm and inviting culture at “the castle” that radiates to each and every child in the cafeteria.

“One thing that makes Matt Arthur special are people like Pam,” Potter said. “It is a true culture at Matt Arthur that is very hard to replicate. And there’s a special feeling when you go into the cafeteria at Matt Arthur, and it’s because of all the things that we know of, and don’t know of, that goes into Matt Arthur. That to me is what stands out about Pam, is she is truly why the culture is the way it is and why the kids look forward to breakfast and lunch.”

“We truly work together and we do what we do because we love it,” Heesh added.

Over the years, the staff, under the direction of School Nutrition Manager Carolyn Ross, has used creativity to ensure students have an unforgettable experience in the lunchroom. Heesh recalled an event she called “Wild about School Lunch,” one of many themed days orchestrated by the school’s nutrition program.

During fall break, Heesh said she was excited to take the chance to decorate. Animal themed decorations lined the cafeteria, complete with animal prints in the serving line, balloons, a bear den, penguins at the entrance, an elephant on stage, as well as a tree and ruins also on stage.

Ross dressed up as a safari guide, while each employee wore animal costumes, with Heesh choosing to dress like an elephant.

“I like to decorate, I like to put a different spin on things.” Heesh said.

Her efforts certainly did not go unnoticed.

“[The kids] were shocked. A coworker and I took our first day of fall break, we came up here and we spent seven hours decorating. I couldn’t wait to see it. I was so excited about that theme. That was one thing I truly loved,” Heesh said.

And to Heesh, while she enjoys the cooking aspect of the job, seeing the smiles that come through the lunch line mean the world to her.

“I enjoyed watching the kids’ faces. There’s a lot of kids that come in here and you never know what their home life is like. You never know. They may just need a hug. They may just need a ‘good morning,’ or a smile. And that’s what I like to do. I like to be that person that says ‘Good morning, how are you?’” Heesh said.

Heesh isn’t going anywhere, but some of the students wish she would move to their middle school.

“I have a couple of babies who are leaving me next year, but I have a couple here who see me every morning, just to get a hug,” Heesh said.

The hugs and smiles go deeper than that, as Heesh is hopeful she can be a light to the lunchroom.

“These may be their only meals that day, you don’t know,” Heesh said. “That I can play a small part in making their day better, makes me feel better.”

HHJ News