Donelson earns rare state-wide recognition
A program teaching third-graders the importance of consuming enough calcium has earned Eastside Elementary cafeteria manager Barbara Donelson the highest honor a school food service professional can achieve.
Presented annually by the American School Food Service Association, the Louise Sublette Award recognizes the importance of those closest to the food service program — cafeteria managers and food service assistants.
Each year one winner is named from each state. This year marks the second year in a row Warren County has brought home the state award as Hickory Creek Elementary cafeteria manager Melissa Livesay won the honor last year.
To land the award, named after a food service pioneer here in Tennessee, winners must have completed a project of their own choosing which enhances the food service in their school or improved nutrition and health for the students they serve.
Donelson’s award-winning project involved the promotion of calcium to the third-grade classrooms of Eastside teachers Ann Smith and Jozada Smith. In her promotion last school year, she introduced calcium breaks for the students in the morning and afternoon, spoke to the classes on the importance of calcium in one’s diet and the health benefits thereof.
She also sponsored a calcium poster contest in which there was 100 percent participation and a student-judged milk mustache contest, featuring such contestants as Eastside principal Michael Trevathan, system food service supervisor Jean Wix, the two Smiths, and the school’s entire cafeteria staff.
“The importance of calcium is really something that will stick with the students,” said Donelson. “After we completed the program, they all wanted to be sure they were getting calcium when they came through the cafeteria. It also really increased milk sales. Hopefully this will be something that stays with them as they get older.”
Now beginning her fourth year as Eastside’s cafeteria manager, Donelson has been with the county’s food service department since 1996. Prior to joining the system, she was employed at Oster for 34 years.
In winning the prestigious award she received a plaque and an all-expenses paid trip to the 2003 American School Food Service Association National Conference held last month at Reno, Nev.
“I was very surprised to win this award. It’s quite an honor,” she said. “It would not have been possible without the very supportive staff which allowed me to spend the time doing these extra projects.”