District 196 Foodservice Manager Wins Regional Award

The national non-profit School Nutrition Association (SNA) has named Michelle Durenberger, foodservice manager at Shannon Park Elementary, MN, the Midwest regional Manager of the Year. This award is considered the highest honor a school nutrition manager can receive and recognizes cafeteria managers who have demonstrated dedication and ingenuity to improve her or his school meal program. While the nomination process began before widespread COVID-19 school closures, SNA also recognizes the expansive efforts of school nutrition managers on the frontlines of current emergency feeding programs, ensuring needy students continue to access healthy meals.

With credit to Durenberger’s work ethic, character and management style, her school is one of the most sought-after places for nutrition professionals to work. She brings organizational skills to the position and tackles every task with a smile, from coordinating students’ specialty diet needs to preparing daily task lists and food and supply needs.

Durenberger expects high quality standards for food served in her kitchen and encourages staff to get creative with color and serving styles. Knowing that most elementary school students eat with their eyes, she follows several blogs to help brainstorm new ways to catch her students' attention. To promote new menu items and get students excited, she often displays samples, offers taste tests and puts up flyers. She has also visited first-grade classes to talk about her job at the school, child nutrition, and how to build a healthy school lunch tray; which helps students better understand the importance of food group balance.

Durenberger has maintained successful breakfast and lunch programs by promoting school meals to students and parents. During open house, she organizes a mock serving line with meal samples presented as they are for students to show parents the kinds of meals offered and better prepare students to navigate through cafeteria lines.

Durenberger enthusiastically shares new ideas and valuable information with her staff and has become an inspiration and mentor to them. Three of her food service employees have become managers in the district, in part through her guidance and assurance. Durenberger promotes upcoming events, classes and trainings to her staff, encouraging them to take part in as many continuing education opportunities as possible. Her kitchen has become the first stop for many new hires as she fosters an ideal environment for training.

Durenberger has been an SNA member since 1996 and volunteers her time in numerous capacities. She has held the position of her local Minnesota SNA (MSNA) chapter secretary for 15 years. She is patient and supportive toward those wanting to become members of MSNA and encourages their involvement.

“Michelle Durenberger’s passion and commitment toward her students, local chapter and staff make her a great example of an SNA Manager of the Year,” said SNA President Gay Anderson, SNS. “She has provided invaluable guidance and support to her staff and those she has trained over the years.”

The Manager of the Year Award is given in honor of Louise Sublette, a leader in school nutrition in her state and in the national School Nutrition Association. During her 43 years in the profession, Sublette worked in many areas of foodservice—public schools, colleges, hospitals and elderly feeding programs. Sublette dedicated her career to honoring school nutrition professionals and ensuring those who work in school cafeterias have access to professional development opportunities, empowering them to help their school meal programs flourish.

About School Nutrition Association:

The School Nutrition Association (SNA) is a national, non-profit professional organization representing more than 55,000 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.