Succeed as a Director - School Nutrition · Succeed as a Director People –You •Be true to who...
Transcript of Succeed as a Director - School Nutrition · Succeed as a Director People –You •Be true to who...
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
Succeed as a Director
The Crash Course from a Seasoned Director
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
Succeed as a Director
My experience
• 36.5 years experience
• Three school districts: medium, large & small
• Worked for six superintendents
• Two different states
• Benefited from long-time membership & participation in SNA
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
Succeed as a Director
Learning Objects
1. Overview of what it means to be a director, tips & wisdom
2. Evaluate your program, track data & use available resources
3. Tell your story to stakeholders
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
Succeed as a Director
Time to share:
As a new or aspiring director what are your concerns or
apprehensions?
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
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School nutrition directors are leaders in a noble profession.
“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”
Frederick Douglas
“Anyone who does anything to help a child is a hero to me”
Fred Rogers
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
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Words of wisdom from my major professor
• Behave in the community where you work
• Don’t get hung up in operations, delegate to others
• Upon your arrival do not start up like a bulldozer.
• Keep a box of tissues in your desk
At the conclusion of my career I can confirm the value of this
advice.
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
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Your focus must be on the BIG PICTURE. Lead your organization.
• Plan
• Do
• Check
• Adjust
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way & shows the way.”
John C. Maxwell
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
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Spend time in your schools, even if you can only do pop in visits.
• You get what you check
• Employees need to know you care about them & the operations
• Visits allow for coaching employees
• Most of what really matters happens in schools, not the central
office
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
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Document each and every visit
• Short standard form (use for quick visits)
• Detailed review form (for more thorough assessments)
• Documenting each visit allows you to see how an operation is
doing over time.
• Documentation may help later with corrective action plans.
• Keep a chart of schools and dates of visits.
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
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As a new director the job may seem overwhelming.
• Observe the program, learn current processes & develop
relationships before making changes
• Start and build
• Small steps add up to big progress over time
• Rough day? Come back to the bottom line. Were the students
fed?
• Keep a sense of humor
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
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District size may impact what you can achieve, industry interaction,
resources available and more
• Small districts (One Woman Wonders)
• Medium size districts
• Major City/Large Districts (typically more resources & staff)
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
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For Better Decisions Understand How Processes Actually Work
• Ask lots of questions to gain understanding
• Example – What do distributors need? How does this impact
your purchasing decisions & product costs?
• Example – Understand the commodity program and how your
requests tie into the state and federal systems.
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
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Be aware & have basic knowledge of contemporary issues,
examples
• Clean labels
• Local foods
• Farm to School
• GMO
Time to share:
Other issues?
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
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Try to anticipate hot topics in advance & take action in your district,
examples:
• Does your community expect vegetarian options?
• Are stakeholders looking for local, Farm to School menu items?
• Is there a perception that fresh foods are not offered?
Offer & market before concerns amplify
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
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Carve out time to focus on projects
• Multi-tasking is a myth. Your brain can only focus on one thing at
a time.
• The good is the enemy of the best
• Schedule a block of time to work on projects
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
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Remember – You are providing a nutrition program!
• Maintain nutrition integrity (Keys of Excellence – Nutrition)
• Be a role model
• Nutrition guidance evolves with research, politics & current
issues
• No one entity has the final word or all the answers on nutrition
“If the childhood obesity epidemic remains unchecked, it will condemn many of our
kids to shorter lives, as well as emotional and financial burdens of poor health.”
Richard Carmona
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
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Everything in school nutrition comes down to:
People
Food
Money
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
Succeed as a Director
People
• You spend most of your day at work value your co-workers
• Build relationships with all stakeholders
• You cannot succeed without other people
• In this profession you will make friends for life
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
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People – Think of all involved
• Communicate with internal & external parties
• Explain the program – There is no other universe where a green
bean is not a green vegetable but a grain is a meat substitute!
• When making a decision or implementing a project consider all
involved & communicate as needed
• Know & follow the chain of command in your district
• Industry members can be good partners for information
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
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People – You
• Be true to who you are
• Watch what you say (Would you sell the office parrot to the town
gossip?)
• Respond to questions & information requests in a timely manner
• Keep learning, growing & be open to new opportunities
• Your formal education is essential for knowledge & credibility
JFK said, “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
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People – You, continued
• Engage in your profession (appropriate to your duties &
resources)
• Join SNA (& other associations, example: ACDA)
• Participate in local, state & national levels
• Attend conferences
• Serve on a short-term project, committee or as an officer
• Participate in regional projects & networks, example: NCPA
• The benefits will exceed the time & energy given
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
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People – Organizational Superiors (What do they want?)
• Provision of nutritious, quality meals to enhance student
performance
• Good financial standing
• Problems solved by you, not them
• Communication to prevent superiors from being blindsided
• Awards and good publicity
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
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People – Employees
• There are no perfect employees
• It is your duty to equip employees to do their jobs
• Provide the equipment & resources needed
• Provide an employee handbook. Obtain signatures & dates
• Communicate
“The art of communication is the language of leadership.”
James Humes
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
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People – Employees, continued
• Provide initial training for new employees (Welcome to SN)
• Provide & track ongoing professional development
• Maintain documentation for progressive employee discipline
(verbal, written, corrective action, further discipline and/or
dismissal)
• Never give a bad reference – confirm employment with no further
comment
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
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Food
• Food safety is the highest priority
• Buy the best quality your budget will allow
• Report product problems & deficiencies, USDA & purchased
• Procurement procedures must provide free & open competition
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
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Food, A cycle menu is a must
• Builds volume for lower prices
• Improves efficiencies (example, keeping nutrient analysis up to
date, maintaining production forms & more)
• Facilitates costing
• Improves distributor fill rates
• Aides in meeting regulatory requirements of the meal patterns
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
Succeed as a Director
Food, continued
• Manage inventories to avoid waste
• Upon arrival check dates of inventory
• Join with others to create buying groups to build volume & lower
prices
• Make commodity choices to fit your planned menu (not the other
way around)
• Commodity foods should be viewed as revenue, not as “free”
food
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
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Money - State and Federal Requirements
• In order to obtain government funding you agree to fulfill
requirements
• Participate in comment periods on proposed regulations
• Reviews are an opportunity to learn & improve your program
• Preparation for reviews - place primary focus on avoiding
monetary reclaims
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
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Money
• The biggest expenses are food & labor. Get these under control
• Take every vacancy as an opportunity to review labor costs
• A financially sound program allows you the freedom to do more
• Be aware of the potential for theft & put standard operating
procedures in place
• Apply for grants (consider the time involved versus reward)
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
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To help set goals ask the questions:
• What do people say about your program?
• What do you wish people would say?
• Set goals to bridge the gap
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
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Assess the status of your program - SNA Keys of Excellence
• Looks at the four Key areas: Operations, Administration,
Nutrition, Communications/Marketing
• Allows benchmarking against other districts
• Heightens your awareness of areas needing attention
• Others in your organization can share in the assessment
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
Succeed as a Director
Track Data from before you arrived & throughout your tenure
• Data provides objective measurements of progress & concerns
• Data demonstrates the impact of regulatory changes
• Data can be used to tell your story
• Data allows benchmarking of your district to other comparable
districts
• Data allows you to be ready for information requests
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
Succeed as a Director
Examples of Data to Track
• Health Department point deductions by school
• Profit/Loss
• Percent participation for breakfast & lunch
• Free & reduced percentages
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
Succeed as a Director
Examples of Data to Track, continued
• Numbers of snacks, breakfasts & lunches served daily
• Meals per labor hour
• Cost per meal equivalent
• Keep an ongoing list of your accomplishments
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
Succeed as a Director
Use available resources & tools. Don’t reinvent the wheel.
• Keys of Excellence
• Professionals standards hub
• Talking points, issue papers & fact sheets
• Institute of Child Nutrition
• Smarter Lunchroom Movement
• Archived SNA meetings & webinars
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
Succeed as a Director
Use available resources & tools. Don’t reinvent the wheel
• Call on your local health department
• Ask for help from your state agency
• Extension agents may help with training
• Network, share & borrow with other directors
• Industry may be able to help with resources & training events
• Subscribe to electronic newsletters (Tuesday Morning, SNA
SmartBrief, etc.)
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
Succeed as a Director
Tell your story - Social Media & Website
• Know your school district social media policies and
expectations
• Inform employees of district policies
• Participate as allowed by your district
• Post helpful information on your website (menu, prices, special
diet information, news releases & more)
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
Succeed as a Director
Tell your story - Issue frequent press releases, examples
• Report on professional development activities
• Tell about Farm to School happenings
• Share about grants obtained
• Examples follow
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
Succeed as a Director
News Release
School Nutrition Promotes Food Safety with ServSafe course for all employees
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
Succeed as a Director
News Release
School Nutrition Back to
School Training
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
Succeed as a Director
News Release
North Carolina Sweet
Potatoes Featured in
School Cafeterias
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
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News
Release
State &
National
Scholarship
Recipient
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
Succeed as a Director
News Release
Fresh Salads Offered by
School Nutrition
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News Release
School Nutrition
Wins Best in State
for Fresh Salads
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
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News
Release
School
Nutrition
Participates
in National
Conference
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
Succeed as a Director
News Release
School Nutrition
Receives
Equipment
Grant to Display
Yogurt Parfaits
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
Succeed as a Director
News
Release
Regional
Buying
Cooperate
Reaps
USDA Best
Practices
Award
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
Succeed as a Director
News Release
School Nutrition & County
Partner for Recycling in
Schools
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
Succeed as a Director
News
Release
NC K-12
Culinary
Institute for
School
Nutrition
Employees
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
Time to Share
• Tell about a director that you have admired and consider a role
model.
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
Succeed as a Director
Conclusion
• Get the basics straight
• Don’t just maintain your program, advance your program
• The best to you as you serve the nation’s students
“Work is love made visible.”
Kahlil Gibran
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
Succeed as a Director
Disclaimer
• Carol Sykes, MS, SNS (Retired Director)
• This session is presented for public service and out of personal
interest in advancing school nutrition careers.
• I have nothing to disclose. Neither I nor any member of my
immediate family have any relevant financial relationships with
any commercial industry organizations associated with my
presentation.
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
Succeed as a Director
Professional Standards Code
• This session provides one (1) CEU
– Key Area 3: Administration
– Professional Standards Code: 3210
© COPYRIGHT 2017 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION | #ANC17 | ATLANTA, GA
Succeed as a Director
Retirement office:
Carol Sykes, MS, [email protected]