More powerful than a locomotive, able to whip up 100 pounds of sliced apples in a single batch, while preparing 17,600 servings of homemade mac & cheese, all while adhering to strict government guidelines — it’s all in a day’s work for the food and nutrition department at Mesa Public Schools.
Sabrina Kvavle, director of food and nutrition for the largest school district in Arizona, shares that there are many moving parts to providing daily nutritious meals to their customers. The ultimate goal is to ensure that students have a good experience when they are in the cafeteria. Love for the students is the number one reason this powerhouse department has many long-term employees. Food and nutrition staff members wear their hearts on their sleeves for the students and staff members they serve daily.
“Our team members enjoy engaging with the students,” Sabrina shares. “We have students who will wait in a longer line to get their lunch just so that they can go to a particular person running the register.”
Sabrina shares that the department has a strong commitment to teamwork and continues to navigate through challenges, such as the school meal waiver program not being extended by lawmakers. The waiver allowed schools more flexibility to feed food-insecure students during the quarantine and provided more leeway regarding nutritional guidelines due to supply chain and staffing issues. Sabrina says they are still managing supply issues and are working even harder to reach families in need to fill out the paperwork to ensure they are getting their meals.
Monica Bloodworth is the cafeteria manager at Salk Elementary School and shares that she started her career in food and nutrition in 1995. Monica was looking for an opportunity that would support her schedule as a busy mom. She started at Madison Elementary School, serving food, and then became a cashier before entering the management program. Monica says that every day is different, and she loves feeding students, ensuring that their bodies and brains are nourished.
“I feel grateful for all of the mentors and the leaders who have helped guide me along the way,” Monica says. “I have worked with three directors who are all amazing people and have given us the opportunity to achieve and go forward.”
For more information regarding careers at Mesa Public Schools, please visit mpsaz.org/careers.