Missouri School Nutrition Association

2026 Employee of the Year and Manager of the Year SNA Award Recipients

In celebration of School Lunch Hero Day (Friday, May 1, 2026), the national, non-profit School Nutrition Association (SNA) recognizes the tireless efforts of school nutrition professionals who ensure students across the country can benefit from healthy meals each school day.

School Lunch Hero Day (SLHD) celebrates school nutrition professionals for the many positive impacts they make in their communities through the year. From creating welcoming environments and serving culturally relevant meals to ensuring meal access for students in need and providing engaging nutrition education, their efforts are felt by students nationwide. Established in 2013, SLHD is a collaborative effort between SNA and Jarrett J. Krosoczka, author of the popular Lunch Lady graphic novel series.

“School nutrition professionals show a steadfast commitment to their students, finding ways to make their school meal programs thrive with tenacity and grace, despite the challenges they encounter,” said Stephanie Dillard, SNS, School Nutrition Association President. “Often working with limited resources, these unsung heroes use their creativity and compassion to plan, prepare and serve healthy meals to nourish students’ school days.”

School nutrition employees, managers and directors were nominated for awards at the state level, and those winners were considered for awards within seven regions across the country. Of those regional winners, the following were selected as SNA’s 2026 national award recipients:

Jennifer Holbert, Nutrition Administrative Assistant for Lee’s Summit R7 School District, MO, has earned the national Employee of the Year award.

A compassionate and dedicated member of her district’s nutrition team, Jennifer Holbert’s efforts have boosted employee support and morale and strengthened parent and community relations. As leader of the district’s monthly cooking club, Holbert also supports students by teaching essential kitchen and safety skills with hands-on lessons. She encourages teamwork, problem-solving and vocabulary development while exploring new foods and recipes to boost confidence, collaboration skills and pride in their shared accomplishments.

Holbert utilizes her business degree and extensive experience conducting focus groups to identify opportunities for team improvement. Through the department’s page, Holbert also improved community support and generated positive feedback about the nutrition program, posting photos to highlight menu items and special events and increasing parent involvement through her Question of the Day prompts.

Jennifer was also selected as the Missouri SNA 2026 State Employee of the Year and SNA Mountain Plains Regional 2026 Employee of the Year!

Barbie Doyle, Nutrition Manager at Pleasant Lea Elementary in Lee’s Summit R7 District, MO, has earned the national Manager of the Year award.

Through Barbie Doyle’s innovation and commitment to healthy eating, Pleasant Lea menus feature many fresh, local foods in recipes, including spaghetti squash, purple sweet potatoes, green beans and zucchini. Doyle goes above and beyond to make the cafeteria welcoming and enjoyable, creating catchy signage and displays for the garden bar and spotlighting local farmers for students to learn more about the foods they’re eating.

Understanding the importance of connecting with families, Doyle implements several special events to welcome the community, including a Thanksgiving candlelight luncheon. She also voluntarily launched the Tiger Cafe Club as an option for students interested in cooking to learn fun nutrition facts, create simple recipes and participate in events.

Doyle is a hands-on manager and works side-by-side with staff to train them, instilling a sense of caring and pride. When faced with challenges, she remains calm, focused and positive. Her resilience and problem-solving skills keep staff motivated and on track.

Barbie was also selected as the Missouri SNA 2026 State Manager of the Year and SNA Mountain Plains Regional 2026 Manager of the Year!

Our Nutrition Services team is celebrating National School Breakfast Week in royal style! 👑

Missouri SNA Annual Conference Call for Proposals

The Missouri School Nutrition Association (MSNA) is accepting proposals for educational sessions at the 2026 Annual Conference,
November 6 – 8, 2026, The Chateau on the Lake, Branson, MO.

Session Information
MSNA is seeking proposals that address one of the School Nutrition Association’s four Key Areas of Excellence in School Nutrition Programs, including Operations, Nutrition, Administration and Communications, and Marketing.

To ensure attendees’ educational needs are met, the conference planning committee will review each proposal to determine
if the content aligns with members educational needs.

Education sessions may be planned for 45-minute time slots on a specific topic and will take place on Saturday during the conference.
Speakers may be asked to repeat the educational session if enough time slots are available.
MSNA adopts the national School Nutrition Association policy on marketing of industry products or services:
“Commercials/proprietary information for products, services, vendors, promotion of an exhibit booth, and food samples/food tastings ARE NOT PERMITTED in the Call for Proposal, the PowerPoint presentation and during the pre-conference and educational sessions.
For PowerPoint presentations, company logos are only allowed on the opening and final slides.
Any use of proprietary information should have an educational value and be provided free of charge.”
Submission of Proposals
The form for proposals must be submitted by email to [email protected] with the subject heading
2026 CONFERENCE PROPOSAL by Friday, May 1, 2026, to be considered.

For more information

www.mosna.org

Join MSNA Board of Directors, Members, and Industry Members on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at the Missouri State Capital in Jefferson City for the 2026 MSNA Legislative Day!!
Participants will assemble at the Best Western Plus Capital Inn, 1937 Christy Dr., Jefferson City, MO 65101 at 10:30 am. See the rest of the schedule here: Legislative Day Information Flyer

For more schedule information, follow the link to the Event Page on the MSNA website

MSNA 2026 Legislative Day Join MSNA Board of Directors, Members, and Industry Members on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at the Missouri State Capital in Jefferson City for the 2026 MSNA Legislative Day!! Participants will assemble at the Best Western Plus Capital Inn, 1937 Christy Dr., Jefferson City, MO 65101 at 10:30 am. See...

Director of Nutrition Services, Grennan, and District Dietitian, Emma, had the opportunity to visit Dr. Reno’s Bridges classroom at Line Creek Elementary! 🤩

We discussed the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs, sustainability, hydroponics, and food waste. Students asked thoughtful questions and explored how their choices can make a positive impact at school and beyond. 🌎🌱

Dedicated to the “weird” lunch ladies and food dudes out there… you know who you are… copied from another page.

"My kid came home from school talking about the weird lunch lady.
"Mom, she's so strange. She memorizes everyone's name by the third day. Like, all 600 kids."
I figured she was exaggerating. Teenagers do that.
Then parent-teacher night happened. I was running late, hadn't eaten, saw the cafeteria was open. Grabbed a sandwich. The lunch lady, older woman with gray hair in a hairnet, was cleaning tables.
"You're Zoe's mom," she said without looking up.
I stopped. "How'd you know?"
"Same eyes. She sits table seven, always picks the apples nobody wants because they're bruised. Drinks chocolate milk even though she's lactose intolerant. Hurts herself rather than waste food."
I stood there, stunned. "You know this about my daughter?"
"I know it about all of them."
She kept wiping tables. Started talking, not to me exactly, just... talking.
"Marcus, table three, his dad left last year. Always takes double servings on Fridays because there's less food at home on weekends. Jennifer counts calories out loud to punish herself. Brett throws away lunches his mom packs because kids make fun of the ethnic food, but he's starving by sixth period. Ashley's parents are divorcing, she stress-eats in the bathroom."
"Why are you telling me this?"
She finally looked at me. "Because you're all at parent-teacher conferences talking about grades. Nobody's talking about this. About who's eating, who's not, who's hurting."
"What do you do about it?"
"What can I do? I'm the lunch lady. I make sure Marcus gets those extra servings without asking. I tell Jennifer the calorie counts are wrong, lower than they are. I pack Brett containers of his mom's food labeled as 'cafeteria leftovers' so he can eat it without shame. I bought Zoe lactose-free chocolate milk with my own money, tell her we're trying a new brand."
I felt like I'd been punched.
"Does anyone know you do this?"
"The kids who need to know, know. That's enough."
I went home and couldn't stop thinking about it. Started asking Zoe questions. She confirmed everything.
"Yeah, Mrs. Chen just... sees people. She stopped my friend from... she helped when nobody else noticed."
Turns out, Mrs. Chen had worked at that school for 22 years. Made $14 an hour. Knew the story of every struggling kid who came through her lunch line. Never reported it, never made it official, just adjusted portions, swapped items, paid for things quietly.
Teachers didn't know the extent. Administrators had no idea. She just showed up, served food, and saved kids in ways nobody measured.
Last year, Mrs. Chen had a stroke. Had to retire.
The school hired someone new. Efficient. Fast. Didn't learn names.
Within three months, the guidance counselor's office was flooded. Kids breaking down. Nobody could figure out why.
Until one kid finally said it: "Mrs. Chen knew when we were drowning. She threw life preservers disguised as extra tater tots. Now nobody's watching."
The school brought Mrs. Chen back. Part-time. Not to serve food. Just to be there. They called her position "Student Wellness Observer."
She's 68 now, walks with a cane, can't lift heavy trays anymore.
But she still memorizes all 600 names by the third day.
Still knows who needs what.
Still saves kids during lunch periods when everyone else is just serving food.
My daughter graduated last month. In her speech, she thanked Mrs. Chen.
"Some people teach math. Some teach history. Mrs. Chen taught us that being seen is sometimes the only thing standing between surviving and giving up."
The whole cafeteria stood up.
Turns out, weird lunch ladies who memorize names?
They're the most important people in the building."
Credit goes to respective owner

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Missouri lawmakers are taking a closer look at a bipartisan plan that would give every public-school student free breakfast and lunch starting in the 2026-27 school year.