School Nutrition Manager from Hamblen County Schools Named 2025 Josephine Martin National Policy Fellow 

School Nutrition Manager from Hamblen County Schools Named 2025 Josephine Martin National Policy Fellow

Contact: Diane Pratt-Heavner, 703-576-7526, media@schoolnutrition.org

ARLINGTON, VA – The national, non-profit School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) has awarded Jessica McKinney, Area Manager at Hamblen County Schools in Tennessee, the Josephine Martin National Policy Fellow 2025 scholarship. Covering registration and travel expenses, the scholarship will allow McKinney to participate in the School Nutrition Association’s (SNA) 53rd Legislative Action Conference (LAC) and meet with her congressional representatives in Washington, D.C., March 9-11, 2025. 

McKinney will join 850 fellow school nutrition professionals from across the country at LAC, advocating for priorities outlined in SNA’s 2025 Position Paper and urging Congress to increase federal reimbursements for meals served under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs. McKinney will participate in informative discussions with Members of Congress and share successes and challenges with peers as they continue efforts to support students, despite critical cost concerns. According to SNA’s 2024/25 School Nutrition Trends Survey, only 20.5% of responding school districts report federal reimbursement rates for school meals are sufficient to cover the costs of producing lunch.   

“Attending LAC gives me the opportunity to engage with policymakers, voice my concerns, and contribute to shaping policies that support healthy school meal programs,” said Jessica McKinney, Area Manager at Hamblen County Schools.  “The insights gained from this experience will allow me to better navigate ever-changing policies and bring back valuable knowledge to share with my colleagues.” 

McKinney says she’s looking forward to talking with the Tennessee congressional delegation about protecting and expanding the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which allows schools to offer free meals to all students without an application. Making CEP available statewide would reduce administrative burdens and ensure that every student in Tennessee has the same access to healthy, nutritious meals at school. 

An active member of SNA both nationally and locally, McKinney currently serves on the Resolution and Bylaw Committee for the Tennessee School Nutrition Association (TSNA) 

“Jessica will join colleagues from across the U.S. in helping legislators understand the urgent need to protect school meal programs and increase federal meal reimbursements,” said SNA/SNF Chief Executive Officer Patricia Montague, FASAE, CAE. “Attending this important conference empowers SNA members, enabling them to share firsthand experiences and raise awareness of the importance of school meal programs to the students they serve.” 

The Josephine Martin National Policy Fellow scholarship is awarded annually to an active SNA member—either an employee or manager—who has not previously attended LAC. It provides up to $3,000 to cover travel expenses. The fellowship honors Dr. Josephine Martin, a pioneer in the field of school nutrition who began her career at the Georgia Department of Education in 1950 as Assistant School Lunch Director. Dr. Martin became a passionate advocate for child nutrition, influencing legislation at the community, state, and federal levels. 

LAC will take place in Washington, D.C. on March 9-11, 2025. More details are available at https://schoolnutrition.org/LAC 

About School Nutrition Association:
The School Nutrition Association (SNA) is a national, non-profit professional organization representing 50,000 school nutrition professionals across the country. Founded in 1946, SNA and its members are dedicated to making healthy school meals and nutrition education available to all students. For more information on school meals, visit www.SchoolNutrition.org/SchoolMeals. 

About School Nutrition Foundation:  

The School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) is an independent 501(c) (3) and the charitable arm of the non-profit School Nutrition Association (SNA). Since 1964, SNF has supported school nutrition professionals nationwide through scholarships, research and professional development programs.