Cultivating Healthy School Food Leaders Through Apprenticeship
November 14, 2023 | By
This National Apprenticeship Week, learn how our Healthy School Food Pathway Apprentices are transforming school meals across California!
Dace Krilova, an Apprentice at Santa Clara Unified School District, is a vital force in one of the busiest schools in the district. Having completed the Pre-Apprenticeship, Dace’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of hands-on learning. Last month, she prepared a delectable array of scratch-cooked food for her students, including scratch-made alfredo sauce, lasagna, sweet curry, and gyro with hummus.
Dace’s enthusiasm for healthy school food operations extends beyond the cafeteria. As part of the Pre-Apprenticeship, Dace completed four School Food Institute online courses and two live virtual learning sessions. As an Apprentice, she supports her district and continues to broaden her expertise in different areas of school food management such as finances, revenue streams, and the direct and indirect costs associated with the healthy school meals she’s preparing. By the end of the Apprenticeship program, Dace will have completed seven School Food Institute online courses, Institute of Child Nutrition courses, and 18 live virtual learning sessions.
Dace Krilova, an Apprentice at Santa Clara Unified School District, is a vital force in one of the busiest schools in the district. Having completed the Pre-Apprenticeship, Dace’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of hands-on learning. Last month, she prepared a delectable array of scratch-cooked food for her students, including scratch-made alfredo sauce, lasagna, sweet curry, and gyro with hummus.
Dace’s enthusiasm for healthy school food operations extends beyond the cafeteria. As part of the Pre-Apprenticeship, Dace completed four School Food Institute online courses and two live virtual learning sessions. As an Apprentice, she supports her district and continues to broaden her expertise in different areas of school food management such as finances, revenue streams, and the direct and indirect costs associated with the healthy school meals she’s preparing. By the end of the Apprenticeship program, Dace will have completed seven School Food Institute online courses, Institute of Child Nutrition courses, and 18 live virtual learning sessions.
Meanwhile, nearly 400 miles away, Apprentice Faith Huss at Cypress School District is spending much of her on-the-job training in the district’s central kitchen. On an average day, she’s engaged in menu development, creating new-scratch cooked items, participating in training, and optimizing kitchen efficiency.
This year, the district’s school food program has made several changes to begin incorporating more scratch-cooked recipes into its menu. Some new menu items Faith has prepared include granola and parfaits, roasted broccoli, chef and Caesar salads, turkey subs, grilled cheese sandwiches, cheese quesadillas, and even recipes that start with raw chicken! Faith and her team are also preparing fun protein-packed foods like scratch-made hummus and “brownie batter” (chocolate hummus).
Meanwhile, nearly 400 miles away, Apprentice Faith Huss at Cypress School District is spending much of her on-the-job training in the district’s central kitchen. On an average day, she’s engaged in menu development, creating new-scratch cooked items, participating in training, and optimizing kitchen efficiency.
This year, the district’s school food program has made several changes to begin incorporating more scratch-cooked recipes into its menu. Some new menu items Faith has prepared include granola and parfaits, roasted broccoli, chef and Caesar salads, turkey subs, grilled cheese sandwiches, cheese quesadillas, and even recipes that start with raw chicken! Faith and her team are also preparing fun protein-packed foods like scratch-made hummus and “brownie batter” (chocolate hummus).
