Stars of Excellence, Killeen ISD School Nutrition is serving up success!

Killeen ISD School Nutrition honored some of its superstars this week, bringing the party to cafeterias earning top marks.
From the cafeteria at Chaparral High School on Tuesday, the party rolled on Wednesday to Oveta Culp Hobby, Maxdale, Maude Moore Wood and Ira Cross elementary schools and Friday at Nolan Middle School.
Each of the stops represented a cafeteria that received four-star status.
School Nutrition Director Steve Smith explained that those honored cafeteria staff members have aced their monthly performance audits at least four times since September.
Simply put, said Smith, the cafeteria managers and workers at the honored campuses are making sure students get the best service and the highest-quality meals day after day.
Five-star and even six-star campuses will receive additional honors near the end of the school year.
At each of the honored elementary schools Wednesday, the school nutrition staff, along with principals and other leaders burst into cafeterias to deliver the good news, along with a certificate, balloons and a big cookie cake.
School Nutrition Coordinator Olivia Rodriguez said the Stars of Excellence program, now in its second year, has built morale and excitement and that the number of cafeterias earning top marks is growing.
“We come with a big cake and balloons and pompoms and cheer for them and recognize them for their hard work,” said Rodriguez.
“The bottom line is they are serving our students every day in a way that is so important. Everyone plays a role in education in (student) learning. They are ensuring their students are receiving quality meals, so they are learning in the classroom,” she said.
“It’s a huge morale builder,” said Rodriguez. “We appreciate their work.”
Running a cafeteria, of course, means preparing and serving meals, but also receiving large orders, keeping accurate records, keeping the large work area clean and safe and lots of customer service.
Both Superintendent Jo Ann Fey and Deputy Superintendent Megan Bradley made visits to cafeterias and shared their personal experiences with mothers who worked in school cafeterias.
“It means a lot,” said Rodriguez. “A lot of time it’s the unsung heroes who make the difference. We see them get emotional and teary-eyed. For administration to come out, it shows every single person in our district is important.”
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