Houston County School Nutrition Program honored for excellence

The Houston County School Nutrition Program (HCSNP) is again

being honored for excellence, winning two state awards and one southeast region

award. 

The district won Georgia Best Practices Awards from the Georgia

Department of Education for its substitute food assistant orientation and

employee wellness program. 

The district also won a United States Department of

Agriculture (USDA) Southeast Region Award in the Leadership Development and

Program Management category for the orientation.

Houston County and other USDA award-winners will be

recognized at the Georgia School Nutrition Association’s Kick-Off Luncheon on

Sept. 26 at the Macon Centreplex. The Georgia State Board of Education will

also recognize award winners during the October State Board meeting.

“We are very excited to receive both state and regional

recognition from the USDA,” said the director of school nutrition, Meredith

Potter. “Houston County strives to improve our school nutrition program every

day to better serve our students, and we are proud of these accomplishments.”

Houston competed against schools that had enrollments

greater than 20,000 students. The awards were judged on sustained excellence,

innovation, impact, cost effectiveness and efficacy, transferability, and

presentation.

The food assistant substitute orientation, which won both

state and regional awards, ensures that workers are appropriately qualified to

work in school kitchens. 

Substitutes begin with a pre-test and then work with a

training manager who customizes the training according to the employee’s

strengths, weaknesses and existing knowledge of school nutrition. 

Using a

training handbook in conjunction with a checklist, the manager provides four

hours of one-on-one instruction. The “sub” then takes a post-test and is

retrained on any missed questions. Frequently missed questions are tracked to

improve the training materials and methods.

This program requires no additional labor, resources or

equipment, making it perfect for implementation in any size district. This

proven method produces well-trained substitutes who feel confident in their

job.

The employee wellness program, which won a state award, is a

“Biggest Loser” competition. Integral pieces to the success of this program

included weekly weigh-ins, newsletters, cooking demonstrations, exercise

classes, sharing circles and nutrition lessons.

The district’s dietitian provided information such as weekly

newsletters with fact-based helpful hints, and activity-based classes

encouraged sharing and discussion among attendees.

HCSNP also partnered with a local gym to offer a discounted

membership and free lunch hour workout space, plus weekly workout sessions were

led by school nutrition staff. Prizes were awarded weekly to the top two

individuals and the team with the highest percentage of weight lost. 

Each

winner received a cash prize (funded by “Biggest Loser” registration fees), a

“skinny jeans” pass (provided by the superintendent), and a complimentary meal

from a school (redeemable for either baked chicken or a chef salad). The top

three individuals with the highest percentage of weight lost were awarded cash

prizes, totaling more than $2,000.

This initiative has become an annual activity due to the

program’s success and employee requests to continue. While weight loss and

increased exercise were the original goals of the “Biggest Loser,” a beneficial

reward was improved communication and bonding between departments.   

“One unintended consequence was increased camaraderie and

morale. This was not just a weight loss venture, but a central office

communication transformation,” stated Superintendent Robin Hines.

The Houston County School Nutrition Program also won Best

Practices Award in 2002, 2005, 2007 and 2010.

HHJ News