Tewksbury Public School Employee Receives Regional Award

The national, non-profit School Nutrition Association (SNA) has named Roberta Waldrip from Heath Brook Elementary in Tewksbury, MA, the Northeast regional Employee of the Year. The award recognizes the valuable contribution of school nutrition employees who exhibit a remarkable commitment to the school meal program and the students they serve.

There is no shortage of praise for Roberta Waldrip - from students, their parents or from faculty. She is known for her empathy and compassion, qualities that make her an exemplary food service professional in an elementary school setting. To help alleviate young students’ anxiety, she often takes the time to walk them through the lunch line with patience and helps them feel comfortable.

Roberta is always looking to create new recipes for her students using ingredients already in her school’s kitchen. Recently, she found a “Green Eggs & Ham Frittata” recipe, which was featured on the menu for Dr. Seuss Day. She worked closely with administrators and teachers to help offer 10-minute informational sessions in classrooms, talking about nutrition and the unique happenings in the cafeteria.

She takes pride in her fruit and vegetables presentations, even convincing her fellow food service employees to dress as a fruit or vegetable to surprise students. She volunteers many hours to make signs, posters, shirts or décor to help promote a theme, program or event. Roberta has sewn many projects for the school building and staff, including prizes for the bi-weekly school assembly. Her fellow staff members not only appreciate Waldrip for her vast food service knowledge, but also for her infamous special treats.

“Through her hard work and enthusiasm, it’s clear that Roberta Waldrip is truly dedicated to child nutrition,” said SNA President Lynn Harvey, EdD, RDN, SNS. “She continues to go above and beyond her school nutrition duties, helping to promote healthy habits and create a sense of community in her school.”

The Employee of the Year Award was created to recognize outstanding school nutrition employees who influence the quality of school meals through customer service, an interest in young people, cooperation, work attendance, creativity, participation in professional development and their willingness to go above and beyond.

In July, Roberta will be honored during the Red Carpet Awards Ceremony at the School Nutrition Association’s Annual National Conference held in Las Vegas, Nevada.

About School Nutrition Association:

The School Nutrition Association (SNA) is a national, non-profit professional organization representing 57,000 school nutrition professionals across the country. Founded in 1946, SNA and its members are dedicated to making healthy school meals and nutrition education available to all students. For more information on school meals, visit www.SchoolNutrition.org/SchoolMeals.