ARLINGTON, VA – In celebration of School Lunch Hero Day (Friday, May 1), the national, non-profit School Nutrition Association (SNA) recognizes the tireless efforts of school nutrition professionals who ensure students across the country can benefit from healthy meals each school day.
School Lunch Hero Day (SLHD) celebrates school nutrition professionals for the many positive impacts they make in their communities through the year. From creating welcoming environments and serving culturally relevant meals to ensuring meal access for students in need and providing engaging nutrition education, their efforts are felt by students nationwide. Established in 2013, SLHD is a collaborative effort between SNA and Jarrett J. Krosoczka, author of the popular Lunch Lady graphic novel series.
“School nutrition professionals show a steadfast commitment to their students, finding ways to make their school meal programs thrive with tenacity and grace, despite the challenges they encounter,” said Stephanie Dillard, SNS, School Nutrition Association President. “Often working with limited resources, these unsung heroes use their creativity and compassion to plan, prepare and serve healthy meals to nourish students’ school days.”
School nutrition employees, managers and directors were nominated for awards at the state level, and those winners were considered for awards within seven regions across the country. Of those regional winners, the following were selected as SNA’s 2026 national award recipients:
Jennifer Holbert, Nutrition Administrative Assistant for Lee’s Summit R7 School District, MO, has earned the national Employee of the Year award.
A compassionate and dedicated member of her district’s nutrition team, Jennifer Holbert’s efforts have boosted employee support and morale and strengthened parent and community relations. As leader of the district’s monthly cooking club, Holbert also supports students by teaching essential kitchen and safety skills with hands-on lessons. She encourages teamwork, problem-solving and vocabulary development while exploring new foods and recipes to boost confidence, collaboration skills and pride in their shared accomplishments.
Holbert utilizes her business degree and extensive experience conducting focus groups to identify opportunities for team improvement. Through the department’s Facebook page, Holbert also improved community support and generated positive feedback about the nutrition program, posting photos to highlight menu items and special events and increasing parent involvement through her Question of the Day prompts.
Barbie Doyle, Nutrition Manager at Pleasant Lea Elementary in Lee’s Summit R7 District, MO, has earned the national Manager of the Year award.
Through Barbie Doyle’s innovation and commitment to healthy eating, Pleasant Lea menus feature many fresh, local foods in recipes, including spaghetti squash, purple sweet potatoes, green beans and zucchini. Doyle goes above and beyond to make the cafeteria welcoming and enjoyable, creating catchy signage and displays for the garden bar and spotlighting local farmers for students to learn more about the foods they’re eating.
Understanding the importance of connecting with families, Doyle implements several special events to welcome the community, including a Thanksgiving candlelight luncheon. She also voluntarily launched the Tiger Cafe Club as an option for students interested in cooking to learn fun nutrition facts, create simple recipes and participate in events.
Doyle is a hands-on manager and works side-by-side with staff to train them, instilling a sense of caring and pride. When faced with challenges, she remains calm, focused and positive. Her resilience and problem-solving skills keep staff motivated and on track.
Larry Wade, Sr., M.Div., SNS, Director of School Nutrition Services for Chesapeake Public Schools, VA, has earned the national Director of the Year award.
Larry Wade has led the Chesapeake meal program transition toward scratch cooking, implementing culinary training and skills development for the team to elevate food quality and increase student meal participation. Working collaboratively with the district administration, superintendent and school board, Wade more than doubled the number of schools participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). As a result, more than half of the district’s students have access to a nutritious school breakfast and lunch at no cost, removing financial barriers for families.
Wade expanded staffing and supported a centralized warehouse model to reduce food costs, improve efficiency and provide more consistent service across 45 schools. He has strengthened relationships with community organizations to enhance public perception of school meals, reinforcing the district’s commitment to nourishing students.
Additionally, Wade initiated a comprehensive department restructuring that significantly improved employee retention and morale. He established a career ladder to provide clear pathways for advancement, improve job security and foster professional growth.
SNA is also recognizing these regional award winners:
Employee of the Year:
Mid-Atlantic: Angel Bates, Woodbridge School District, DE
Midwest: Anita Toft, Centennial ISD #12, MN
Mountain Plains: Jennifer Holbert, Lee’s Summit R7 School District, MO (National Winner)
Northeast: Lucia Doria, Braintree Public Schools, MA
Southeast: Hannah-Marie Bond, Tullahoma City Schools, TN
Southwest: Georgia Georgacopulos Lopez, YES Prep Public Schools, TX
Manager of the Year:
Mid-Atlantic: Dawn Zepp, Carroll County District, MD
Midwest: Gail Kreager, Perham Dent School District #549, MN
Mountain Plains: Barbie Doyle, Lee’s Summit R7 District, MO (National Winner)
Northeast: Diana Barabani, Chicopee Public Schools, MA
Southeast: Shaina Whitehead, Jackson County School District, MS
Southwest: Kirstine Sonner, Ogden School District, UT
Western: Tina Roberson, Kern High School District, CA
Director of the Year:
Mid-Atlantic: Larry Wade, Sr., M.Div., SNS, Chesapeake Public Schools, VA (National Winner)
Midwest: Darcy Stueber, SNS, Mankato Area Public Schools, MN
Mountain Plains: Cindy Wall, Jamestown Public Schools, ND
Northeast: Ruth Conner, SNS, Buffalo Public Schools, NY
Southeast: Jennifer Buchanan, Hamblen County School District, TN
Southwest: Debbie Trujillo, SNS, Bernalillo Public Schools, NM
Western: Anne Leavens, SNS, Central Point School District 6, OR
Regional award winners will be profiled on Facebook.com/TrayTalk and TrayTalk.org around School Lunch Hero Day. SNA award winners will also be highlighted in School Nutrition magazine, on schoolnutrition.org and related social media platforms and at SNA’s Annual National Conference in Charlotte, NC, in July.
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.
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