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HSFP Pre-Apprenticeship

Scratch Cooking for the Future

A paid Pre-Apprenticeship program to explore a career in healthy school food

Chef Ann Foundation’s Healthy School Food Pathway (HSFP) program is a work-based learning experience that aims to prepare individuals for job opportunities in healthy, scratch-cook school food programs. Click here to sign up for Pre-Apprenticeship news & alerts.

The 2024 application is now closed. For program questions, contact pathway@chefannfoundation.org.

HSFP Pre-Apprenticeship

Scratch Cooking for the Future

A paid Pre-Apprenticeship program to explore a career in healthy school food

Chef Ann Foundation’s Healthy School Food Pathway (HSFP) program is a work-based learning experience that aims to prepare individuals for job opportunities in healthy, scratch-cook school food programs. Click here to sign up for Pre-Apprenticeship news & alerts.

The 2024 application is now closed. For program questions, contact pathway@chefannfoundation.org.

What

Are you interested in exploring a stable career path that has an impact on your community and is centered on healthy food for kids? Then look no further than school food and the Healthy School Food Pathway program. This program gives California Community College students, school food operators and displaced workers an exciting opportunity to receive education and paid hands-on experience in operating healthy K-12 school meal programs!

The program lasts 7 weeks and includes:

  • 4 School Food Institute courses: 20 hours (4 hours pre-read, 4 hours homework, 12 hours online learning)
  • 2 virtual learning sessions: 3 hours (2 sessions, 1.5 hours each)
  • On-the-job learning: 84 hours (12 hours a week)

Pre-Apprentices will be paid $16/hr for on-the-job learning.* Additionally, college credits may be available.**

*Subject to change based on county minimum wage

**Please contact the Work Experience Coordinator at your local community college or email us with any questions.

Why

Careers in school meal programs offer mission-driven work that is during the day Monday through Friday with additional benefits. By participating in this Pre-Apprenticeship program, students can build their professional knowledge and experience in creating and running successful scratch-cook meal programs in schools.

Why

Careers in school meal programs offer mission-driven work that is during the day Monday through Friday with additional benefits. By participating in this Pre-Apprenticeship program, students can build their professional knowledge and experience in creating and running successful scratch-cook meal programs in schools.

When

The 2024 application is now closed. For program questions, contact pathway@chefannfoundation.org.

When

The 2024 application is now closed. For program questions, contact pathway@chefannfoundation.org.

How


The 2024 application is now closed. For program questions, contact pathway@chefannfoundation.org.

Where

Current K-12 District Worksites

*Only Current Staff May Apply
Albany Unified School District (Albany) Cypress Elementary School District (Cypress) Lammersville Unified School District (Mountain House) Oak Park Unified School District (Oak Park) Santa Cruz City Schools (Santa Cruz)
Alum Rock Union School District* (San Jose) Del Norte Unified School District (Crescent City) Live Oak Unified School District (Santa Cruz) Ocean View School District (Oxnard) Santa Paula Unified School District (Santa Paula)
Atascadero Unified School District (Atascadero) Elk Grove Unified School District (Elk Grove) Los Gatos Union Elementary School District (Los Gatos) Oro Grande Unified School District* (Oro Grande) Sweetwater Union High School District (Chula Vista)
Azusa Unified School District (Azusa) Fallbrook Union Elementary School District* (Fallbrook) Lucia Mar Unified District (Arroyo Grande) Oxnard Union High School District* (Oxnard) Tahoe Truckee Unified School District (Truckee)
Bear Valley Unified School District (Big Bear Lake) Fallbrook Union High School District (Fallbrook) Magnolia Elementary School District (Anaheim) Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (Palos Verdes Estates) Templeton Unified School District (Templeton)
Berkeley Unified School District (Berkeley) Fillmore Unified School District* (Fillmore) Marysville Joint Unified School District (Marysville) Paso Robles Joint Unified School District (Paso Robles) Turlock Unified School District (Turlock)
Brentwood Union School District* (Brentwood) Fullerton School District (Fullerton) Menifee Union School District* (Menifee) Porterville Unified School District (Porterville) Twin Rivers Unified School District* (North Highlands)
Burbank Unified School District* (Burbank) Galt Joint Union High School District* (Galt) Morgan Hill Unified School District (Morgan Hill) San Francisco Unified School District* (San Francisco) West Contra Costa Unified School District (Richmond)
Calistoga Joint Unified School District (Calistoga) Hacienda La Puente* (CIty of Industry) Morongo Unified School District* (Twentynine Palms) San Luis Coastal Unified School District (San Luis Obispo) Western Placer Unified School District (Lincoln)
Campbell Union High School District (San Jose) Healdsburg Unified School District (Healdsburg) Mt. Diablo Unified School District (Concord) San Marcos Unified School District* (San Marcos) Yuba Environmental Science (YES) Charter Academy (Oregon House)
Carmel Unified School District* (Carmel) Hughson Unified School District (Hughson) Napa Valley Unified School District (Napa) San Miguel Joint Unified School District
Chico Unified School District (Chico) Klamath-Trinity Joint Unified School District* (Hoopa) Nevada City School of the Arts (Nevada City) Santa Clara Unified School District (Santa Clara)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

If you have a specific question that isn’t answered here in our FAQs, you may find the information on our Healthy School Food Pathway page. Of course, you can also contact us at pathway@chefannfoundation.org any time.

Puedes encontrar las preguntas frecuentes en español Aqui

Program Details

The program is seven weeks long.

Please reach out to pathway@chefannfoundation.org if you need more information.

Participants work 12 hours per week in a school district. If a participant is already a current school food team member, the number of hours they work each week depends on their existing work schedule. If you are a community member, you are expected to work  12 hours per week and complete the 84 hours required to complete the program.

The Chef Ann Foundation will pay you $16 per hour or meet the minimum wage of the county where your work on-site school district is located.

The online School Food Institute (SFI) courses can be done from anywhere through Moodle, our learning platform that is used for this program, but we highly recommend completing them on a laptop or computer as you will be required to write and submit assignments for the courses. Zoom is used for the Virtual Learning Sessions and Word or Google Docs is occasionally used for assignments.

Yes, the SFI courses have Spanish subtitles, you can change your preferred language on Moodle, and Virtual Learning Sessions have live Spanish translation. We also have bilingual staff to support you throughout the program from application through completion.

No, participants are only paid for the Anti-Harassment training (if required) and their worksite hours at the school district.

During the seven weeks you will complete a variety of tasks including chopping fruits and vegetables, batch cooking, serving students, running the POS system as students move through the line and washing dishes.

After you get selected

Yes, we will reimburse you for any expenses incurred in preparing for the program, including a background check or LiveScan, TB test and ServeSafe certificate. 

Please let us know as soon as you receive notification that your background check is complete via email at pathway@chefannfoundation.org
 

As part of your onboarding, you will receive instructions and an invitation to set up your account. You can also view instructions HERE and watch the VIDEO for more guidance. 

After you start the program

To fill out timesheets, please include the hours you work daily and have it signed off by your supervisor every other Wednesday according to the Payment Schedule you received as part of your onboarding documents. Here is the file HERE

Your timesheet must be submitted by the end of day every other Wednesday, to pathway@chefannfoundation.org. As part of your onboarding materials you will receive a calendar HERE that includes exact dates for when timesheets need to be submitted. 

You will receive the recording via email, and will need to complete a reflection prompt about the topics covered in the session. You will submit your response via Moodle, our learning platform.  

Career Catalyst is a third party that the Chef Ann Foundation works with to handle payroll and workers compensation. 
Workday is the platform Career Catalyst uses to handle paperwork and payroll. 

You will receive a debit card from Career Catalyst or you may set up direct deposit on the Workday platform.

Moodle is the learning platform used for this program. This is where you will access all your online courses, find helpful materials, receive important program updates and announcements and submit reflection prompts as needed. 

Your setup information will be in your orientation guide. If you need more information, please contact pathway@chefannfoundation.org.
You will be prompted to reset your password to a password of your choice.
 

Participants should submit their expenses through the Workday system. Once reimbursements are approved they are added to payroll.  You can view a guide that shows you the process HERE. Spanish version guide is HERE.

It is usually within 4-6 days but can take up to 10 days.

Please reach out to pathway@chefannfoundation.org and work with your supervisor to reschedule any missed hours before the end of the program.

All participants must work 12 hours per week and complete a total of 84 hours to complete the program.

More Info

Interested in learning more? Download the full job-description below.

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.


Discover More

Healthy School Food Pathway

Healthy School Food Pathway (HSFP) program is a work-based learning experience that aims to prepare individuals for job opportunities in healthy, scratch-cook school food programs.

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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