Congratulations to the following awardees for their contribution to community health through nutrition.
The Let’s Eat Healthy Educator Recognition Program celebrates California educators who enable, inspire and motivate students to make healthier food choices and develop lifelong healthy eating habits. Dairy Council of California proudly recognizes the efforts of all educators who have made a positive difference in the health of their students within their school communities and beyond. We share their stories to highlight their efforts and inspire others.
CalFresh
Healthy Living, University of CaliforniaCalFresh Healthy Living, University of California advances nutrition education in schools and communities. Working with families and individuals who are eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education, this statewide organization teaches good nutrition, how to make food dollars stretch further and how to be physically active at any age. Through the California Local School Wellness Policy Collaborative, it helps strengthen the implementation of wellness policies in schools across the state. Sustained leadership in the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement of California empowers school nutrition professionals to activate Smarter Lunchrooms and improve access to healthful foods in school meals. The organization’s collaborative approach to policy, systems and environmental change strategies embodies the Let’s Eat Healthy initiative, improving healthy food access and nutrition education in schools and creating long-lasting community change. MaryAnn Mills, Program Manager at CalFresh Healthy Living believes:
Every student regardless of income, ethnicity or background should understand where their food comes from and how a well-balanced diet can contribute to their overall health. I also recognize that nutrition education is most impactful when students have access to healthy, safe and affordable food.
ImagineU Children's Museum
ImagineU Children’s Museum is a nonprofit hands-on learning center in Visalia, California, that serves the children of the community, seeing approximately 70,000 guests a year. A dairy exhibit at the museum, created in collaboration with California Dairies Inc., California Milk Advisory Board and Dairy Council of California, highlights dairy's important role in healthy eating patterns and sustainable agriculture. It shows how milk and dairy foods are produced, emphasizes safe animal welfare practices and spotlights dairy's recommended consumption for children per the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The standing exhibit, which launched in fall 2021, will be on display for five years. This multi-organization collaboration aims to show the next generation of Californians the importance of dairy foods for health and sustainability, and as part of California's robust agricultural industry. Reflecting on the dairy exhibit, Katy Young, Executive Director at ImagineU shared:
It's important for me that children know where their food is coming from. A lot of times we just go to the grocery store, show up and think it's just there and that's not the case. And living in the Central Valley we are surrounded by so many diverse products…so it's important that as a museum, we're focusing on that.
Linda
Allen
Linda Allen’s 29-year education career began with teaching 5th grade, and nutrition education has always been a vital component. She is currently a Reading Specialist and Health and Wellness Coordinator at Sundale Elementary School, where seven years ago administrators asked her to lead the district’s Nutrition and Wellness Program. Linda established the Sundale School Wellness Committee, which works in partnership with students, staff and the community. She helped the school become the first to pilot the Let’s Eat Healthy nutrition curriculum online pre-and post-assessments. Using nutrition resources, Linda supports teachers, parent groups and afterschool and physical education programs, as well as a school garden and agricultural science program. She facilitates nutrition presentations to parents in the English Learners Migrant Program and collaborated with cafeteria staff and student leaders to make a healthy snack list for parents. Her efforts empower students and parents to adopt healthy eating patterns. She believes:
Good nutrition is important to students' overall well-being. If students have well balanced healthy snacks and meals, their performance is better all day, they feel good, and are more engaged in their learning.
Heather
Cruz
Heather Cruz has worked in Chula Vista Elementary School District as the Physical Education, Health and Wellness Coordinator for the past six years. In this role, she leads the district’s wellness committee. With the support of this committee, she has implemented programs that improve access, resources and support for the well-being of students, staff and the community. She developed a Site Wellness Leads program where each school site is represented and meets quarterly to set site-specific wellness goals and receive training and resources. Heather also initiated community partnerships to develop a resource list for wellness leads to implement activities and programs at their schools. She recently received the San Diego County Office of Education’s comprehensive health education grant to write lessons for teachers, featuring some Let’s Eat Healthy resources. Her passion for impacting well-being on a larger scale has led her to focus efforts on both students and employees. The Employee Well-Being Program empowers employees with health awareness and lifestyle skills that enhance quality of life for all district personnel. She believes:
By teaching students how to make healthy food choices, I believe we are not only impacting their health but also their academic success. We know that students who make healthy food choices come to school more alert and prepared to learn. This impact is extremely empowering for students to know that they have control over that.
Niaomi
Hrepich, RDNiaomi Hrepich, WIC and CalFresh Healthy Living Program Director in Monterey County, encourages her community to be healthy by improving diet quality and being active daily. Her strength is convening and promoting consistent evidence-based nutrition and wellness messaging across the county. She works collaboratively to provide consistent nutrition and physical activity messages and identify gaps in services. Through her efforts, the Let’s Eat Healthy nutrition curriculum reaches students in over 15 elementary schools in the county. She also provides nutrition education in eligible farmer’s markets, promoting CalFresh and Market Match programs. Niaomi hosts the Nutrition and Fitness Collaborative of the Central Coast, a coalition with over 40 member agencies, working collectively to promote and advocate for policies and environmental changes that foster healthy lifestyle behaviors with an emphasis on nutrition and physical activity to prevent obesity and related chronic diseases, especially for low-income families. She shared:
I believe in working together to provide consistent nutrition messages to all residents in Monterey County, helping to create healthier lifestyles and communities.
Dawn
Soto
Dawn Soto is a Senior Food Service Training Specialist with the Los Angeles Unified School District Food Services Division. She develops and oversees training curriculum for over 3,500 district employees, students and parents on all subjects pertaining to school food programs, operations, nutrition education and professional development that align with professional standards requirements. Her services extend to technical assistance on education materials for 685 cafeterias, Smarter Lunchrooms Movement grants and “Choose What You Want, Eat What You Choose” nutritional student assemblies. These no-cost services are a welcome resource for schools with limited funds allotted for educational student assemblies. Dawn has collaborated with Let's Eat Healthy in numerous ways, including the creation of a unit on nutrition for staff development and themed nutrition messaging and activities for a monthly wellness newsletter to foodservice staff. She believes:
Healthy eating is really important. I encourage you to think outside the box and step outside the classroom. Reach out to your school foodservice professionals and partner with them. We have an immense opportunity to reach every single child that steps through the cafeteria doors.
A kindergarten teacher at Coeur d'Alene Avenue School in Venice, Calif., Michelle has incorporated nutrition education into her classroom curriculum since she began teaching three years ago. Learn more about Michelle why she teaches nutrition in her classroom and why she hopes to inspire others to do the same. She believes:
She believes that teaching nutrition to her students creates a foundation for healthy eating habits.
Learn moreA kindergarten teacher at Blanche Reynolds Elementary School in Ventura, Calif., Sheryll has taught for over 24 years. She teaches nutrition education in her classroom because she believes it is vital for the success of her students. Learn more about Sheryl why she teaches nutrition in her classroom and why she hopes to inspire others to do the same. She shared:
Sheryl teaches nutrition education because she believes it is vital for the success of her students.
Learn moreA first grade teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School in Stockton, Calif., Michaela has taught nutrition education to her students since she began teaching two years ago. Learn more about Michaela why she teaches nutrition in her classroom and why she hopes to inspire others to do the same. An educator at a Title I, culturally diverse school, she believes:
Michaela teaches nutrition because she is passionate about the health + well-being of her students.
Learn moreA physical education teacher at Peter J Shields Elementary School in Rancho Cordova, Calif., Chris has taught for five years and incorporated nutrition education as part of the physical education curriculum for the past two years. Learn more about Chris why he teaches nutrition in his classroom and why he hopes to inspire others to do the same. A strong advocate for healthy students, he believes:
Chris believes that nutrition education is critical to student health.
Learn more
Jaime
Brown
Jaime Brown is a teacher on special assignment in Madera, California. As a teacher in the Central Valley for almost 15 years, Jaime has led nutrition and physical education efforts integrated with professional development to support districtwide health interventions with demonstrated success in her district, including a notable decrease in overweight/obesity rates and an increase in healthy behaviors among students. Jaime teaches nutrition education as part of the physical education curriculum because she believes it is an essential life skill all students should have. She is proud to support school gardens like the one at Maddison Elementary because teaching students ag literacy helps them make the connection between how food is grown and the food they see in the school cafeteria. She shared:
Jamie believes nutrition and physical education are critical to supporting overall health.
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Scott
Brown
Scott Brown is a physical education teacher in Fresno, California. Scott transformed traditional lessons into a digital education platform to ensure nutrition remained part of the physical education curriculum. Leaning on technology and the trust he builds with his students, he improves their lives. Using nutrition education as a tool, he not only teaches healthy eating habits but also identifies and connects students to resources to ensure they have access to the healthful foods he teaches about in his classroom. He uses Nearpod, an educational platform, to creatively integrate nutrition curriculum as part of physical education to provide his students with a hands-on, interactive experience. Through this process, he was able to identify which of his students lacked the proper access to food. This inspired him to partner with the school district’s food services department and a local church to create a food assistance program. Scott believes all educators should expand classroom instruction to include health and nutrition. He believes it is absolutely vital to preparing students to live healthier, better lives. Not only should educators teach nutrition education, they should make sure students are able to grasp it, learn it and apply it in their lives. He shared:
Scott believes all educators should expand classroom instruction to include health and nutrition.
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Christian
Manalo
Christian Manalo is a physical education teacher in Tustin, California. Christian incorporates nutrition education into his curriculum because he believes it is a vital component of overall health. To support healthier students, he collaborated with his physical education team to develop a student-led nutrition podcast to inspire healthier eating habits peer-to-peer and beyond to families and the entire school community. He believes that physical education and nutrition are the building blocks to overall health and wellness. By utilizing technology to inspire student learning and instill passion for a healthy lifestyle, Christian was able to inspire students to create a platform to empower healthier eating habits for fellow students, families and the entire school community. Teaching nutrition as a component of physical education, Christian is able to build strong relationships with his students. He believes:
Christian teaches nutrition education because he believes it is a vital component of overall health.
Learn more
Pamela
Stephenson Pamela Stephenson is a second grade teacher in Highland, California. For the last 25 years, Pamela has taught nutrition as part of her classroom curriculum, incorporating hands-on activities like soup making and food tasting into her lessons to bring to life the importance and applicability of nutrition. This allows her students to experience and describe foods using their senses, build self-awareness and social-emotional intelligence, and create positive community experiences. She loves teaching nutrition because she believes it is an essential life skill that empowers students. She is a strong advocate for Dairy Council of California’s nutrition resources because they are free, science-based and integrate common core standards, social-emotional learning. This makes it easy to teach while also meeting the needs of her students. She believes:
Pamela loves teaching nutrition because she believes it is an essential life skill.
Learn moreThese four outstanding educators are recognized for their passion and their efforts in elevating the health of their students and school community by incorporating nutrition education in their curriculum. We appreciate their great work and ongoing commitment to student health!
Tune into the complete Let's Eat Healthy Leadership Award playlist on our YouTube channel.
Nutrition education resources for any grade designed by teachers and registered dietitians.
