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Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship

In districts across the U.S., devoted school food professionals are working hard to make their meal programs healthier, more sustainable, and more equitable. Our Fellowship program helps experienced school food professionals realize their visions for change — both locally in their home districts and at a national scale. 

Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship

In districts across the U.S., devoted school food professionals are working hard to make their meal programs healthier, more sustainable, and more equitable. Our Fellowship program helps experienced school food professionals realize their visions for change — both locally in their home districts and at a national scale. 

About

The Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship was designed for experienced school food professionals committed to driving healthy, sustainable, and equitable school food reform. 

Over a 13-month period, Fellows cultivate their leadership skills; deepen their knowledge about how school food is influenced by and affects the wider US food system; become experts on and advocates for healthy school food policy; and expand their professional network. 

The Fellowship is open to school food professionals across the country thanks to the program’s founding partners Whole Kids and the State of California.

Applications for the 2025 cohort will open in August 2024.

2024 Cohort

Aaron Shipp

Weld County School District 6 Greeley (CO)

Akasha Anderson-Nelms

KIPP NYC (NY)

Ana Bush

San Ysidro School District (CA)

Beth Bailey

Humboldt County Office of Education (Juvenile Hall) (CA)

Bryanna Ippolito

Acton Boxborough Regional School District (MA)

Chelsey Bennett

Monona Grove School District (WI)

Christy Nezgodinsky

Pointe Coupee Parish School Board (LA)

Jennifer Hutchinson

Barre Unified Union School District (VT)

Jennifer Ruiz

Hacienda La Puente Unified School District (CA)

John Haley

Salamanca City Central School District (NY)

Jorie Gronek

Boulder Valley School District (CO)

Josh Perkins

Madison Metropolitan School District (WI)

Judith Crumpler

Bear Valley Unified School District (CA)

Judy Mireles

Menifee Union School District (CA)

Kindy McCullough

Sutter County Superintendent of Schools (CA)

Maraiah Popeleski-Tilley

Mansfield Public Schools and Region 19 High School (CT)

Maria Amerman

Roseville Area School District and Saint Anthony New Brighton School District (MN)

Melissa (Missy) Terrell

Pittsburgh Public Schools (PA)

Mike Bottarini

Willows Unified School District (CA)

Muhamed Yasin

Napa Unified School District (CA)

Randolph Rios

Lodi Unified School District (CA)

Richard Hannan

Berkeley Unified School District (CA)

Shawn Marie Rivera

Sacramento City Unified School District (CA)

Toni Jackson

Trimble County Public Schools (KY)

2023 Cohort

To view the 2023 Fellowship Capstone Projects, click here

Alonso Alonso

San Bernardino City Unified School District (CA)

Barbara Macleod

Boulder Valley School District (CO)

Brittney Rodriguez

Hacienda La Puente Unified School District (CA)

Christina Lawson

Western Placer Unified School District (CA)

Erin Camacho

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Public School System (NMI)

Iris Tirado

Concordia Charter School (AZ)

Jason Tepper

Alexandria City Public Schools (VA)

Josie Perez

Redlands Unified School District (CA)

Juan Lopez

Mission Consolidated Independent School District (TX)

Kelsey Berrini

Evanston Township High School District (IL)

Liz Estavillo Valdez

Bassett Unified School District (CA)

Nick Dramis

Marysville Joint Unified School District (CA)

Nick Vedia

Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VA)

Randal Lane

West Contra Costa Unified School District (CA)

Renee Swank

Norfolk Public Schools (VA)

Rhima Ramirez

Twin Rivers Unified School District (CA)

Richie Wilim

Vacaville Unified School District (CA)

Shana Cash

Purdue Polytechnic High School District (IN)

Tricia Kastelitz

Suffolk Public Schools (VA)

Warren Ryan

San Bernardino City Unified School District (CA)

Core Pillars

EXPERIENCE - This Fellowship will feature interactive and hands-on components that allow Fellows to gain knowledge through first-hand experiences and apply key learnings to their own district.

BUILD - Throughout the course of the Fellowship, Fellows will expand their network and systems-based skill set while building on their past knowledge and expertise.

LEAD - Fellows will be ready to not only lead their own teams but also demonstrate strong leadership skills to district administrators, community members and others outside their own program.

INSPIRE - Through gained experience and learnings, Fellows will fully understand the power and importance of school food within the larger food system and will feel inspired and confident that not only is change possible but that they can lead that change.

School food is…

  • Poised to be a leader in addressing the climate crisis through strategic procurement practices and menu design.

  • The source of delicious, nutritious food for all children regardless of income.

School food can also be…

  • A well-paid, well-respected career path from cook to manager to supervisor to director.

  • Driven by the diversity of thought, history, and food culture that defines the American experience.

School food is…

  • Poised to be a leader in addressing the climate crisis through strategic procurement practices and menu design.

  • The source of delicious, nutritious food for all children regardless of income.

School food can also be…

  • A well-paid, well-respected career path from cook to manager to supervisor to director.

  • Driven by the diversity of thought, history, and food culture that defines the American experience.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

CAF is committed to incorporating an equity lens throughout the entirety of the program. Not only is CAF striving to create the next generation of leaders but also to elevate diverse leaders that will bring unique perspectives to the world of school food. Many of the children served by the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) are students of color and seeing individuals that look like them in leadership roles within school food is crucial.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

CAF is committed to incorporating an equity lens throughout the entirety of the program. Not only is CAF striving to create the next generation of leaders but also to elevate diverse leaders that will bring unique perspectives to the world of school food. Many of the children served by the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) are students of color and seeing individuals that look like them in leadership roles within school food is crucial.

Program Components

The Fellowship program consists of the following:

  • Live, virtual learning sessions with pre-reads and homework

  • Five (5) online School Food Institute courses

  • Asynchronous learning and applied/on-site work

  • Two (2) days of on-site learning at the Culinary Institute of Child Nutrition

  • Two (2) four-day, on-site visits at host school districts

  • One (1) four-day, in-person operators’ conference

  • Group policy project

  • Self-led, implementation-based capstone project

  • In-person capstone presentations and closing celebration

Completion of this program is based on learned competencies and not total number of hours. However, we estimate no more than eight hours of learning per week, except for on-site visits. All work, except for the Capstone, can be completed on personal time, unless previously agreed to by the Fellow’s supervisor. The final Capstone project (50 hours) should be work-related and includes a grant to the school district to support the Fellow’s work.

Eligibility

School food operators working under the National School Lunch Program anywhere in the U.S. are eligible to apply for the Fellowship.

Applicants will have experience in school food service as an Assistant Director, Head Chef, Area Supervisor, or similar mid- to upper-level position.

Applications from those in a director-level position will also be considered should they have less experience and/or operate in a small district.

Applications for the 2025 cohort will open in August 2024.
 

Eligibility

School food operators working under the National School Lunch Program anywhere in the U.S. are eligible to apply for the Fellowship.

Applicants will have experience in school food service as an Assistant Director, Head Chef, Area Supervisor, or similar mid- to upper-level position.

Applications from those in a director-level position will also be considered should they have less experience and/or operate in a small district.

Applications for the 2025 cohort will open in August 2024.
 

Chef Ann Foundation will not discriminate against apprenticeship applicants or apprentices based on RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEX (INCLUDING PREGNANCY AND GENDER IDENTITY), SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENETIC INFORMATION, OR BECAUSE THEY ARE AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY OR A PERSON 40 YEARS OLD OR OLDER. Chef Ann Foundation will take affirmative action to provide equal opportunity in apprenticeship and will operate the apprenticeship program as required under Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 30.

Webinar

Want to learn more about the HSFP Fellowship? Watch this brief webinar recorded on August 31, 2023. Natalie Vandenburgh, Senior Coordinator of Fellowship, goes over what the Fellowship is, who’s eligible, and how to apply. To find answers to the frequently asked questions, see this FAQs sheet.

Webinar

Want to learn more about the HSFP Fellowship? Watch this brief webinar recorded on August 31, 2023. Natalie Vandenburgh, Senior Coordinator of Fellowship, goes over what the Fellowship is, who’s eligible, and how to apply. To find answers to the frequently asked questions, see this FAQs sheet.

Main Learning Concepts

- Procurement

- Financial

- Facilities

- Human Resources

- Marketing

- Leadership Development

- School Food within the Food System

- Grant Writing & Fundraising

- Sustainability

- Nutrition

- Policy & Compliance

Main Learning Concepts

- Procurement

- Financial

- Facilities

- Human Resources

- Marketing

- Leadership Development

- School Food within the Food System

- Grant Writing & Fundraising

- Sustainability

- Nutrition

- Policy & Compliance

Discover More

Salad Bars To Schools

Salad Bars to Schools (SB2S) supports schools in expanding their commitment to serving fresh fruits and vegetables by donating salad bars to school districts across the United States.

School Food Institute

The School Food Institute gives school food service professionals and childhood nutrition advocates the in-depth training, operational skills, and strategic vision necessary to make school food fresh, healthy, and sustainable.

The Lunch Box

The Lunch Box is an online resource that is dedicated to supporting school districts and food service teams in transitioning their food programs from relying on processed foods to incorporating scratch cooking and fresh ingredients.

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