The cafeteria at Henry Defer Intermediate School (HDI) is buzzing with more activity than ever this year, and the team behind the counter is rising to the challenge with enthusiasm and dedication that is feeding both the students' stomachs and their spirits.
With an entire grade level added to HDI this year, the kitchen staff has adapted to serve more meals while maintaining the quality and positivity that makes lunchtime special for students. Their hard work recently paid off in a milestone achievement: serving a record-breaking 204 lunches in a single day, with two extra mains.
The success didn’t happen by accident. According to Streetsboro City Schools Director of Food and Nutrition Andrew Jackson, the foundation was already in place because of the people behind the scenes. "It's the people. It always starts with the people and a positive attitude," said Jackson. To handle the increased demand, the district added one additional four-hour employee to the team, and the addition has helped manage the higher volume.
The impact of their work extends far beyond the lunch line. "I'm happy that I can be a part of something bigger than just serving breakfast and lunch to students,” said Jackson. “We help feed their minds and bodies. What we do is impactful."
At the heart of the HDI Kitchen is Kitchen Director Lisa Welch and her team of Amy Shick, Tara Pyles, and Alissa Phillips. Welch said their success comes down to one thing, “a team effort and positive attitudes. No matter what, everyone remains positive and works together."
Their collaborative spirit shines through in everything they do. The team has developed inside jokes and shared favorites, like the yogurt parfait that both Pyles and Shick mark as their favorite meal to make.
"My favorite part of my job is spreading positivity throughout the school and seeing all of the smiles and laughter as a result," said Shick, who describes the team as "very hard working, compassionate, and dedicated to making and serving delicious food to our students."
Pyles brings that positivity to life through playful interactions with students, whether telling jokes, talking about French fries on "Fry-days," or writing motivational sayings and drawing pictures on bananas. The role has become far more meaningful than she anticipated.
"I admit I initially just thought I was applying for 'just a lunch lady position,' but it's turned out to be so much more than that. Sometimes at school is the only place these kids are getting a hot meal with a smile," said Pyles. "And I didn't realize that I would quickly get to know and love Lisa, Alissa and Amy. We work so well together and are just crushing things and are happy while doing it."
Alissa Phillips, one of the newest team members, has quickly embraced both the mission and the camaraderie. "Considering I have only been a part of the HDI staff for a few months now, my favorite part of my job is getting to serve students a delicious and nutritious meal. Plus working with some of the most wonderful people makes it fun," said Phillips. While Phillips loves cooking in general, her favorite thing to make is simple: "making people smile."
The team has found creative ways to streamline operations with the increased volume, including reworking breakfast service to move students through more efficiently. "We plan the work, and work the plan. If something changes, and it always does when working in a kitchen, we keep moving forward and get it done," said Jackson.
Behind the scenes, the work requires skills that often go unnoticed. "Teamwork and a great attitude are really important,” said Welch. “Hard work, time management, flexibility, efficiency and positive support from our bosses also make a big impact. We just keep going."
That commitment to students drives not just the HDI team, but shapes the entire district's approach to food service. "Streetsboro is a large district, and as the Food Service Director, I have to wear many hats. Helping where I can and showing support to all 17 cafe workers across 4 buildings is no small feat. The reason we are constantly getting praise for our meals and why students and employees keep coming back to dine with us is the culture. We care," said Jackson.
With a record broken and a culture of care firmly in place, the HDI kitchen team continues to prove that great food and even greater teamwork make all the difference for students.