Taking the Time to Listen

Earlier this month as I listened to educators from across the country discuss teaching and learning with White House and Department of Education officials, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride for what the discussion represented.

First, it was affirming that the views of those in the field are being honored, spotlighted, and listened to by the administration. This can only help deepen understanding of what it means to teach and learn, thereby hopefully helping to better match policy with the needs, challenges, and opportunities of those who are affected by those policies.

Additionally, the discussion represented the countless amazing individuals in this country who, like the thirteen educators present in the discussion, overcome tremendous obstacles every day in order to increase opportunities for children to learn. Teachers, students, parents, mentors, community members, counselors, administrators and other individuals who work to support students often times are in situations where the conditions required for success are insufficient. This is increasingly the case as amazing teachers across the country are faced with the prospect with losing their jobs at the end of this school year due to budget cuts.  Yet, those who can, fight on; they persist, and they carve space and hope for change to occur so that people can have a chance to fulfill their American dreams.

The Health and Well-being of Our Children

Kudos to President Obama and First Lady Michelle for their efforts aimed at improving the health of Americans.  I was honored earlier this month, as a 22 year child nutrition veteran, to be selected as part of Champions of Change for the healthy schools initiative. 

White House Executive Chef Sam Kass and USDA Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Kevin Concannon led a “how do we empower the children to make healthy choices” discussion.  Chef’s and registered dietitians around the table collaborated on ideas to enhance the outreach of the Chef’s Move to School Program, increase culinary training for school nutrition professionals, and educate students in and outside of the classroom through hands on cooking classes, school gardens, and cafeteria promotions.

Champions of Change: Moving Chefs to School in New Haven, Connecticut

Last week I had the wonderful opportunity to join 5 chefs from across the country, all of us being recognized as a Champion of Change. Working together as a team the six of us joined in a discussion with Under Secretary Kevin Concannon and Chef Sam Kass to discuss opportunities and challenges of the Chefs Move to Schools, a program of the Let's Move Initiative.

The true spirit of Chefs Move to Schools (CMTS) is to engage children in their classroom through food. The program has morphed into a fun and educational program benefitting both school children and school nutrition professionals. One practice that is becoming popular is to have the program benefit both these groups; first by getting kids excited by a chef demo then having the chef step into the school kitchen, not to comment about the food, rather to work hands on with the kitchen staff to help re-educate them on basic kitchen skills. This quick educational lesson is often welcomed by the staff who see it as an opportunity to network with a local chef. Engaging organizations is important to seeing through with the success of CMTS. The American Culinary Federation, School Nutrition Association and Share Our Strength are the top three organizations involved to see through with the success of CMTS.

Feeding children healthy school meals is important for several reasons but most importantly 32 million children participate in the National School Lunch Program and two thirds, yes two thirds of them qualify for free and reduced meals.

At a time when one in four kids lacks access to nutritious foods every day, now is the time for everyone to step up to the plate, take baby steps and see to it that every meal that a child receives in school is a good one. Green and orange veggies, whole grains, minimally processed foods along with salad bars are a great start.

The Healthier US School Challenge and Let's Move Salad Bars to Schools coupled with Fuel up to Play 60 and CMTS are a good way to increase both excitement and healthy choices in schools, not to mention opening us funding opportunities.

Thank you to President and Mrs. Obama and the Administration to putting Healthy Kids First on top of the agenda.

Timothy Cipriano is the Executive Director of Food Services for New Haven Public Schools. Follow him on Twitter @LocalFoodDude.