FuelCast

Listeners will be blown away by the energy and wisdom of Halle and Walker Barrett, Hall County students, and winners of the 2022 Southeast Regional Junior Chef Competition.  Find out how the sibling duo got involved in the student chef competition, the benefits they have seen from participating and the advice they have for other students looking to do the same. 

After a more than 30 year stretch in the classroom, Penny Reynolds was simply not done connecting students with their passion for the Culinary Arts.  Her 2016 retirement from the Carson City School District in Nevada made way for a new chapter on her journey, as she transitioned to Georgia to serve as Culinary Arts Instructor at Putnam County High School.  

Five years later, Reynolds is credited with transforming the Putnam High School program into an award-winning enterprise that graduates students who are career-ready and focused on their next steps to succeed in the vast culinary arts field. Putnam County High School has gone on to become a four-time first place winner of the Georgia Department of Education School Nutrition Program Student Chef Competition.

You won't want to miss this exciting, high energy episode where Penny explains how culinary arts connects to school nutrition, the opportunities culinary arts has provided her students and how the student chef competition impacts her student's lives. 

October is National Farm to School Month! 

What is farm to school and how does it impact Georgia students? In this FuelCast episode, we are joined by Holly Thaw, Georgia Department of Education Farm to School Specialist, to explain just how important farm to school programs are in Georgia schools. Nicole Trunk, school nutrition director in Barrow County Schools, follows Holly with a real world example of how a robust farm to school program operates in local school districts. 

You won't want to miss these two passionate professionals sharing how farm to school has impacted their lives and how it influences them to #LoveWhatYouDo.

FuelCast season 2 is all about partnership and collaboration! 

One of the most critical partnerships in school nutrition is that of school nutrition professionals and local parents. In this episode, Laurie Luckie, Carrollton City Schools parent and member of the Georgia Parent's Advisory Council and Carrollton City Schools Governance Council, discusses why she is a strong advocate of school nutrition and how she has developed a relationship with her local school staff. Laurie's daughter Anna Claire joins in the conversation to talk about her favorite school meals and how food based learning has strengthened her educational experience. 

You won't want to miss this refreshing and energetic FuelCast episode that will inspire you to #LoveWhatYouDo! 

What do a school nutrition director and a head football coach have in common? It might be more than you think. 

In this FuelCast episode, Christina Nichols, School Nutrition Director of Cartersville City Schools, and Coach Conor Foster, Head Coach of the Cartersville High School Football Team, discuss the ways collaboration is at the center of each of their respective programs. Through fun anecdotes and impactful dialogue, Christina shares some of the innovative strategies her program uses to reach every student, and the partnerships she has developed to make that goal a reality. One critical partnership is the one she shares with administration, teachers, and coaches. Coach Foster echoes her sentiment as he explains the tremendous benefits he sees in promoting school nutrition to his players and shares ways in which other coaches and teachers can do the same. 

You won't want to miss these two absolutely delightful guests who will inspire you to #LoveWhatYouDo. 

Partnership is at the heart of a school nutrition program. That's why Danielle Freeman, Executive Director of School Nutrition in Douglas County Schools, is so grateful for the positive relationship she has build with her district's administration, lead by Superintendent Trent North. In this FuelCast episode, Danielle and Superintendent North discuss where their passion for school nutrition stems from, how they have developed their valuable partnership, and some of the creative ways they work together to promote quality school meals, professional development, and student and community engagement.

In this FuelCast Special Edition Episode, Dr. Linette Dodson, State Director of the Georgia Department of Education School Nutrition Program, and Dr. Ken Banter, Georgia Department of Education Senior Title I Program Manager, speak to the tremendous benefits students, families, and school districts can receive from filling out the Free & Reduced Meal Application. 

In this FuelCast Special Edition Episode, Dr. Linette Dodson, State Director of the Georgia Department of Education School Nutrition Program, and Dr. Ken Banter, Georgia Department of Education Senior Title I Program Manager, speak to the tremendous benefits students, families, and school districts can receive from filling out the Free & Reduced Meal Application. This content focused version is designed to include the critical information in a short, sharable format. 

"Training is important. Not just for the skill level, but to make sure the mind, the spirit, and the morals are...ready to thrive, ready to be mobile, ready to move forward." This is the philosophy Chef James Jabbarr, Culinary Trainer for Clayton County Schools, lives by every day. He has made it his mission to inspire others and show them that if he can do it, they can too. 

In this episode, Chef James shares how growing up in a food insecure environment lead him to school nutrition, why he sees himself in each of the students he serves, and what it means to him to nourish students in the same village that nourished him. Chef James' passion for school nutrition shines through as he embodies what it means to #LoveWhatYouDo.

Emily Hanlin, Director of School Nutrition in Cobb County Schools, has become known to her staff as the CJO: Chief Joy Officer. Each day she leads her team to create a positive culture while they execute Cobb County School Nutrition's mission of Fueling Student Success. In this episode, Emily shares how she found her way from healthcare to school nutrition, how the pandemic has changed public perception of the importance of school meals, and why she says school nutrition professionals have the best job in the school district. We can't wait for you to meet Emily and see why she exemplifies what it means to #LoveWhatYouDo!