Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship
Our Fellowship empowers experienced K-12 school food professionals to champion equitable school food reform and lead healthier, more environmentally sustainable school food programs rooted in scratch cooking. Fellows excel as advocates and innovators, leading the future of school food in their home districts and on the national stage.
- Ready to lead the way for better school food? The application for our 2027 Fellowship program will open on July 27!
Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship
Our Fellowship empowers experienced K-12 school food professionals to champion equitable school food reform and lead healthier, more environmentally sustainable school food programs rooted in scratch cooking. Fellows excel as advocates and innovators, leading the future of school food in their home districts and on the national stage.
- Ready to lead the way for better school food? The application for our 2027 Fellowship program will open on July 27!
Overview
The Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship is designed to give experienced school food professionals the operational knowledge and leadership skills needed to implement transformative change and take the next step in their school food career. The Fellowship is offered free of charge to all participating Fellows and districts. We raise over $62,800 per Fellow to eliminate financial barriers and ensure equitable access to our program.
Over 13 months, Fellows engage in 360+ hours of structured learning and training, receive $5,000 to fund a self-directed capstone project, take part in 5 fully-funded in-person experiences, advocate for healthy school food policy on the national stage, and become active leaders within a network of school food professionals who are working together to serve better school meals for students across the country.
Overview
The Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship is designed to give experienced school food professionals the operational knowledge and leadership skills needed to implement transformative change and take the next step in their school food career. The Fellowship is offered free of charge to all participating Fellows and districts. We raise over $62,800 per Fellow to eliminate financial barriers and ensure equitable access to our program.
Over 13 months, Fellows engage in 360+ hours of structured learning and training, receive $5,000 to fund a self-directed capstone project, take part in 5 fully-funded in-person experiences, advocate for healthy school food policy on the national stage, and become active leaders within a network of school food professionals who are working together to serve better school meals for students across the country.
Program Components
The Fellowship consists of:
- Weekly live virtual learning sessions facilitated by industry experts
- Food systems coursework with Arizona State University’s Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems
- Five online courses with the Chef Ann Foundation’s School Food Institute
- Asynchronous learning and applied on-site work
- Five trips for in-person professional development and relationship-building with a national peer network, including on-site culinary training, and two on-site experiences with host school districts
- Group policy project and advocacy opportunities
- Individualized coaching with subject matter experts
- Self-led capstone project (includes a $5,000 grant to support project implementation)
- Networking with school food change-makers through virtual and in-person engagements
- In-person capstone presentations and closing celebration
Program Components
The Fellowship consists of:
- Weekly live virtual learning sessions facilitated by industry experts
- Food systems coursework with Arizona State University’s Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems
- Five online courses with the Chef Ann Foundation’s School Food Institute
- Asynchronous learning and applied on-site work
- Five trips for in-person professional development and relationship-building with a national peer network, including on-site culinary training, and two on-site experiences with host school districts
- Group policy project and advocacy opportunities
- Individualized coaching with subject matter experts
- Self-led capstone project (includes a $5,000 grant to support project implementation)
- Networking with school food change-makers through virtual and in-person engagements
- In-person capstone presentations and closing celebration
Professional Certifications
By successfully completing the Fellowship components, participants earn a suite of professional certifications, including:
- U.S. Department of Labor Apprenticeship Certificate for School Food Directors
- School Food Institute Silver Certificate
- Arizona State University’s Swette Center Sustainable Food Systems Change for School Food Professionals Micro-Certificate
- Results Coaching Leadership Training Certificate
- ServSafe Manager Certification
- Division of Apprenticeship Standards Certificate (CA Fellows)
Professional Certifications
By successfully completing the Fellowship components, participants earn a suite of professional certifications, including:
- U.S. Department of Labor Apprenticeship Certificate for School Food Directors
- School Food Institute Silver Certificate
- Arizona State University’s Swette Center Sustainable Food Systems Change for School Food Professionals Micro-Certificate
- Results Coaching Leadership Training Certificate
- ServSafe Manager Certification
- Division of Apprenticeship Standards Certificate (CA Fellows)
Time Commitment
The Fellowship is an intensive program that can require up to eight hours of learning time per week (except for in-person curriculum, which requires more time) over 13 months. The capstone project is implemented within each Fellow's school district and must be completed on district time. Fellows are expected to complete the remaining curriculum on their own time or with prior supervisor approval, using dedicated district work hours.
Support
To ensure Fellows’ success, we provide individualized 1:1 coaching and feedback from content leads and assign each Fellow a Chef Ann Foundation school food operations advisor for their capstone project. Chef Ann Foundation staff also help Fellows evaluate their district’s progress along our Scratch-Cooking Continuum and identify a roadmap of next steps to increase scratch-cooked school meals. Additionally, current and past Fellows form a tight-knit network of 66 Fellowship alumni and 23 peer Fellows that provides opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and peer-to-peer support.
Time Commitment
The Fellowship is an intensive program that can require up to eight hours of learning time per week (except for in-person curriculum, which requires more time) over 13 months. The capstone project is implemented within each Fellow's school district and must be completed on district time. Fellows are expected to complete the remaining curriculum on their own time or with prior supervisor approval, using dedicated district work hours.
Support
To ensure Fellows’ success, we provide individualized 1:1 coaching and feedback from content leads and assign each Fellow a Chef Ann Foundation school food operations advisor for their capstone project. Chef Ann Foundation staff also help Fellows evaluate their district’s progress along our Scratch-Cooking Continuum and identify a roadmap of next steps to increase scratch-cooked school meals. Additionally, current and past Fellows form a tight-knit network of 66 Fellowship alumni and 23 peer Fellows that provides opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and peer-to-peer support.
Eligibility
School food professionals working in a self-operated program under the National School Lunch Program anywhere in the U.S. are eligible to apply for the Fellowship. This includes all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories including Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Successful applicants are typically mid- to senior-level school food professionals who have a district-wide role and impact. Qualified applicants often have experience as assistant directors, head chefs, area supervisors, or in related district-wide positions. Applications from individuals in a director-level position will also be considered if their operation is new to scratch cooking, they are newer to the role, and/or they operate in a small district.
Applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to increasing scratch cooking and advancing school food equity at their district are a strong fit for our Fellowship. We are excited for Fellows to join our co-founder and president, Chef Ann Cooper, as faces of the healthy school food movement. One renegade lunch lady can not transform school food alone. We seek applicants who are eager to step into leadership roles not only in their districts but also within the national movement for better school food.
Eligibility
School food professionals working in a self-operated program under the National School Lunch Program anywhere in the U.S. are eligible to apply for the Fellowship. This includes all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories including Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Successful applicants are typically mid- to senior-level school food professionals who have a district-wide role and impact. Qualified applicants often have experience as assistant directors, head chefs, area supervisors, or in related district-wide positions. Applications from individuals in a director-level position will also be considered if their operation is new to scratch cooking, they are newer to the role, and/or they operate in a small district.
Applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to increasing scratch cooking and advancing school food equity at their district are a strong fit for our Fellowship. We are excited for Fellows to join our co-founder and president, Chef Ann Cooper, as faces of the healthy school food movement. One renegade lunch lady can not transform school food alone. We seek applicants who are eager to step into leadership roles not only in their districts but also within the national movement for better school food.
Program Timeline
The 2026 Fellowship application is now closed. The application for the 2027 cohort will open on July 27.
Program Timeline
The 2026 Fellowship application is now closed. The application for the 2027 cohort will open on July 27.
A.J. Mangas
Pinellas County Schools (FL)
America Amaro
El Monte City School District (CA)
Anne Rosenthal
Baltimore City Public Schools (MD)
Blaine Fleming
KIPP Capital Region (NY)
Chris Lichtman
Santa Paula Unified School District (CA)
Dace Krilova
Evergreen School District (CA)
Dawn Kelley
Portage Township Schools Corporation (IN)
Esther Lee
Brentwood Union School District (CA)
Gloria Kozeliski
Albuquerque Public School District (NM)
Joana Flor
Capistrano Unified School District (CA)
John McTear
Oakley Union Elementary School District (CA)
Julie Bjorkstrand
Del Norte County Unified School District (CA)
MaRendia Garner
Greensville County Public Schools (VA)
Mary Kirkland
Prince George's County Public Schools (MD)
Melissa Ellett (Dohrer)
Iowa City Community School District (IA)
Mina Graham
Galt Joint Union High School District (CA)
Ociel De La Sancha
Redlands Unified School District (CA)
Paula Bailey
Watson Chapel School District 24 (AR)
Raecine Sahabdool
Val Verde Unified School District (CA)
Rosa Mendoza
Santa Fe Public Schools (NM)
Sheila Wilde
Colorado River Union High School District (AZ)
Sydney DiGrazia
Santee School District (CA)
Tim Briggs
Washington Elementary School District 6 (AZ)
