August 1 – 12, 2022
Thank you for attending Child Nutrition Summer Institute 2022. We appreciate you sharing space with us virtually and in-person. Thanks for asking the right questions and making our trainings more complete. Most of all, thank you for your hard work and dedication to keep Vermont students fed.
We’re grateful to those who joined us in-person on Monday for our General Session & Appreciation Dinner.
If you weren’t able to join us, please check out the 2022 Child Nutrition Summer Institute highlight video we put together, which includes Governor Phil Scott’s remarks from the evening.
Session Type
Recordings of Virtual Sessions · In-person Sessions
Target Audience
Sessions Appropriate for All Programs
Recordings of Virtual Sessions for All Programs · In-person Sessions for All Programs
School Nutrition Sessions
Recordings of Virtual School Nutrition Sessions
· In-person School Nutrition Sessions
CACFP Sessions
Recordings of Virtual CACFP Sessions
Virtual Sessions
Certificates of Participation
To request a Certificate of Participation for a webinars you have completed viewing, please submit the Summer Institute 2022 Certificate Request Form.
Virtual Sessions Appropriate for All Programs
- Nutrition 101: A Taste of Food and Fitness
Monday August 1st, 2022
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
This virtual course qualifies for SNA core course certification level 1. This training provides a basic overview of nutrition with an emphasis on the importance of balance in daily food choices and the inclusion of physical activity as a key component to good health. The training incorporates a variety of learning activities including short physical activity boosters. This session will be taught by Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) Consultant Trainers.
This session was not recorded.
- Mid-level Excel
Monday August 1st, 2022
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
This virtual session is for people currently using Excel that would like to improve those basic skills. Learn the "Top 10 Aha Features" of Excel (i.e., formulas, sorting, and formatting). This session will be led by KnowledgeWave Software Productivity Consultant & Trainer, Dave Dec.
Watch the recorded webinar: Mid-level Excel
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Supervisory Training
Monday August 1st, 2022
11:00 AM - Noon
Supervisors learn how to use the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) as a confidential sounding board and partner in positive leadership, performance management and workplace wellness. This session will be hosted by Invest EAP Account Associate, Robyn Boardman.
This session was not recorded.
Tuesday August 2nd, 2022
11:00 AM - Noon
Please join us for a 60-minute virtual group debriefing that will be facilitated by a licensed Employee Assistance Program (EAP) counselor. Debriefings are focused on processing the continuous stress that has occurred during the ongoing uncertainty and anxiety over the past two years. Topics will include gaining an understanding and awareness of specific signs of stress, and discussing means of coping and regulating the stress response, and how supervisors can support themselves and their employees through it all. This session will be hosted by Taryn Austin, Director of Clinical Operations for Invest EAP.
This session was not recorded.
- 3SquaresVT Outreach - Connecting Families to 3SquaresVT
Tuesday August 2nd, 2022
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
3SquaresVT is here for all of us when we need it! Join us in this virtual session to learn more about this critical program that provides eligible families with money to buy the food the need to thrive. You will learn what makes families eligible, how to apply, how to talk with families about 3SquaresVT and proactive ways to connect families to the program. This session will be hosted by Ivy Enoch, Food Security Advocacy Manager at Hunger Free Vermont. Ivy leads all of Hunger Free Vermont's 3SquaresVT trainings and advocacy.
Watch the recorded webinar: 3SquaresVT Outreach - Connecting Families to 3SquaresVT
- Serving Up Snacks in Child Nutrition Programs
Wednesday August 3rd, 2022
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Join this virtual session to learn different strategies for planning snacks in child nutrition programs. Participants will leave this session with a four-week cycle menu, recipes, pre-populated production records and more! This session will be hosted by Becca Cochran, MS, RDN, CACFP Coordinator for the State of Vermont Child Nutrition Programs.
Watch the recorded webinar: Serving Up Snacks in Child Nutrition Programs
- Mid-level Google Sheets
Friday August 5th, 2022
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
This virtual session is for people currently using Google Sheets that would like to improve those basic skills. Learn the "Top 10 Aha Features" of Google Sheets (i.e., formulas, sorting, and formatting). This session will be led by KnowledgeWave Software Productivity Consultant & Trainer, Dave Dec.
Watch the recorded webinar: Mid-level Google Sheets
- Navigating the Landscape of Food Resources in Vermont
Friday August 5th, 2022
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Do you want to be able to connect families with food resources? Do you find the landscape of food resources in Vermont to be overwhelming? Not sure where to go to find out what is happening statewide, regionally or locally? This is the session for you! Come and learn about the food resources in your area, how to stay connected to the anti-hunger community and up to date as programs develop, change and evolve. This session will be hosted by Keely Agan, Early Childhood Nutrition Manager at Hunger Free Vermont. Keely specializes in supporting feeding programs in early care and school settings.
Watch the recorded webinar: Navigating the Landscape of Food Resources in Vermont
- KnowledgeWave Website Navigation
Thursday August 11th, 2022
11:30 AM – Noon
Child Nutrition Programs operating in Vermont have free access to online training through KnowledgeWave. KnowledgeWave has thousands of recorded classes for you to use to learn about Microsoft Applications, Professional Development, and Desktop Security. Learn how to login to your KnowledgeWave account and explore all the learning content available to you. This session will be led by KnowledgeWave Software Productivity Consultant & Trainer, Dave Dec.
Watch the recorded webinar: KnowledgeWave Website Navigation
- Civil Rights Requirements in Child Nutrition Programs
Thursday August 11th, 2022
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
This virtual session will cover how to operate your Child Nutrition Programs in a compliant and accessible manner, including providing reasonable modifications to accommodate disabilities, handling complaints of discrimination, and training requirements. This is applicable to operators of School Meals, Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). This session will be hosted by Jamie Curley, Child Nutrition Coordinator for the State of Vermont Child Nutrition Programs.
Watch the recorded webinar: Civil Rights Requirements in Child Nutrition Programs
Friday August 12th, 2022
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Please join us for a virtual 60-minute group debriefing that will be facilitated by a licensed Employee Assistance Program (EAP) counselor. Debriefings are focused on processing the continuous stress that has occurred during the ongoing uncertainty and anxiety over the past two years. Topics will include gaining an understanding and awareness of specific signs of stress, and discussing means of coping and regulating the stress response. This session will be hosted by Lynn Bursell, licensed EAP Counselor.
This session was not recorded.
Back to top of page · Back to top of this section
Virtual School Nutrition Sessions
- Introduction to School Nutrition Leadership
Monday August 1st - Friday August 5th, 2022 (5 day training)
This virtual training is intended for new and aspiring school nutrition program directors. The training is 30.5 hours, and the course content is divided over five days. Lessons provide an overview of school nutrition programs, define the role and responsibilities of a director, and review the relationship between local policies and State/Federal regulations. This session will be taught by Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) Consultant Trainers. AOE strongly recommends this course as essential training for all new food service managers and directors.
This session was not recorded.
- Universal Meals in School Year 22-23
Monday August 1st, 2022
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
This virtual session will provide information on how the state universal meals supplement funding provided by Act 151 will work. We will cover the funding mechanisms, paperwork, and other considerations. Attendees should also plan to attend Operating Provision 2 in School Year 22-23 and/or Operating CEP in School Year 22-23 depending on which option they plan on using. This session is recommended for business officials, administrators, food service directors and managers, and determining officials. This session will be taught by Rosie Krueger, State Director of Child Nutrition Programs at the Vermont Agency of Education.
Watch the recorded webinar: Universal Meals in School Year 22-23
- NSLP Afterschool Snack Service Overview
Monday August 1st, 2022
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
This virtual session will be an overview of the requirements for operating the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Afterschool Snack Service. It will be taught by Jamie Curley, Child Nutrition Coordinator for the State of Vermont Child Nutrition Programs.
Watch the recorded webinar: NSLP Afterschool Snack Service Overview
- Operating the At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program in Your School
Monday August 1st, 2022
2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Join this virtual session to learn about the At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program available to schools and other organizations that operate afterschool programming. Area eligible programs serving low income populations could benefit immensely by offering meals to students in the programming. Challenges and best practices associated with operating the Program will be highlighted. This session will be hosted by Becca Cochran, MS, RDN, CACFP Coordinator for the State of Vermont Child Nutrition Programs.
Watch the recorded webinar: Operating the At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program in Your School
- Determining Eligibility for Free and Reduced Price School Meals (4.5 hours over 3 days)
These virtual sessions will be taught by Rosie Krueger, State Director of Child Nutrition Programs at the Vermont Agency of Education.
Module 1: The Role of the Determining Official
Tuesday, August 2nd, 2022
9:00 AM – 10:15 AM
This is the first of a virtual 3 part series of sessions on determining eligibility for free and reduced price school meals. This series is designed for new determining officials and those who have not attended training in several years. In this module, we will cover the responsibilities of the determining official, the timeline for the process, confidentiality and disclosure requirements, and where to find answers when faced with a unique scenario.
Watch the recorded webinar for Module 1: The Role of the Determining Official
Module 2: Direct Certification
Wednesday, August 3rd, 2022
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
This is the second in a virtual 3 part series of sessions on determining eligibility for free and reduced price school meals. In this session, we will discuss what direct certification means and the different ways a child may be directly certified for free school meals. We will cover how to obtain information on directly certified students from the Agency of Education and other direct certification sources, how to extend benefits to other children in the household when allowable, and how to issue benefits and maintain the direct certification list and other required documentation.
Watch the recorded webinar for Module 2: Direct Certification
Module 3: Processing Free and Reduced Meal Applications
Thursday, August 4th, 2022
9:00 AM – 10:45 AM
This is the third in a virtual 3 part series on determining eligibility for free and reduced price school meals. In this session, we will discuss how to process free and reduced meal applications, common errors, how to issue benefits to households, and how to maintain required documentation. This module will include a hands-on section where participants will practice processing several applications. Please have a calculator, pencil, and paper available for this module. A packet of sample applications will be emailed to participants ahead of time for those who wish to print them out and practice on a hard copy application.
Watch the recorded webinar for Module 3: Processing Free and Reduced Meal Applications
- Contracting with a Food Service Management Company
Tuesday August 2nd, 2022
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
This virtual class will provide an overview of the roles and responsibilities of School Food Authorities (SFA) and Food Service Management Companies (FSMCs), how an SFA may go out to bid for food service management and a rough timeline of the process, and how an SFA can manage a FSMC contract once it has been awarded. This session will be hosted by Conor Floyd, Grant Programs Manager for the State of Vermont Child Nutrition Programs.
Watch the recorded webinar: Contracting with a Food Service Management Company
- Food Allergies for School Nutrition Managers and Staff
Tuesday August 2nd, 2022
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Food Allergies for School Nutrition Managers and Staff is an in-depth virtual training on managing food allergies in school nutrition programs. Food allergy management personnel who take this course will create an outline of a food allergy management plan or have an opportunity to strengthen their existing plan. This course includes information about food allergies, food intolerance, reading food labels, avoiding cross contact, accommodating students with food allergies, laws regarding food allergies, and educating the school community about food allergies. This session will be taught by Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) Consultant Trainers.
This session was not recorded.
Wednesday August 3rd, 2022
10:45 AM – Noon
This virtual class will take a deep dive into the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP). We will be covering the requirements for elementary schools that are eligible for participation. Participants will learn all about the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, best practices, how funds are allocated, application and claim tips, rules & regulations of the program, and more. This class is designed for first time operators to set you up to run an effective and successful FFVP program. This session will be hosted by Denise Blankenship, Child Nutrition Consultant for the State of Vermont Child Nutrition Programs.
There was also a shorter Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program - Refresher for more experienced operators.
Watch the recorded webinar: Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
Thursday August 4th, 2022
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
This virtual class is for experienced Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) operators that just need a refresher on program operations. This streamlined session touches on the FFVP requirements, best practices, funding allocations, application and claim tips, rules & regulations of the program, making a budget, and more. This class is designed to set you up to fine tune your FFVP program. This session will be hosted by Denise Blankenship, Child Nutrition Consultant for the State of Vermont Child Nutrition Programs.
There was also a more in-depth Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program session for less-experienced FFVP operators.
Watch the recorded webinar: Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program - Refresher
- Child Nutrition Basics for Business Officials and Administrators
Thursday August 4th, 2022
2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
This virtual session is designed for business managers and other administrators who oversee or interact with the Child Nutrition Programs. New Food Service Directors may also find this session helpful to gain a high level understanding of administering the programs. The session will provide an overview of the child nutrition programs, information on staffing and training requirements, a discussion of how child nutrition funding works, a timeline of important dates and required reporting, and information on where to go for additional help. This session will be led by Rosie Krueger, State Director of Child Nutrition Programs at the Vermont Agency of Education.
Watch the recorded webinar: Child Nutrition Basics for Business Officials and Administrators
Friday August 5th, 2022
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Verification is the piece of the Free and Reduced Application process that confirms eligibility status for a small portion of students based on back-up documentation submitted by households. In this virtual class will cover the process, timeline, and completing the Verification Report. This session will be taught by Denise Blankenship, Child Nutrition Consultant, for the State of Vermont Child Nutrition Programs.
Watch the recorded webinar: Verification Process for School Meals
Friday August 5th, 2022
11:00 AM – Noon
This virtual session will cover the basics of offering free meals to all students using Provision 2. We will cover how to complete the necessary paperwork, managing the application process, meal counting and claiming, and the state universal meals supplement. We will also discuss how future years of Provision 2 will work. This session is recommended for business officials, administrators, food service directors and managers, and determining officials. This session will be taught by Rosie Krueger, State Director of Child Nutrition Programs at the Vermont Agency of Education.
Watch the recorded webinar: Operating Provision 2 in School Year 22-23
Friday August 5th, 2022
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
This virtual class will set you up for success and will cover all you need to know for your upcoming Administrative Review. Perfect for Food Service Directors, Kitchen Managers, Administrative Staff, and Business Managers who are looking for a clear understanding of the complete Administrative Review process. This class, or the in-person alternative class, is required for all School Food Authorities (SFAs) scheduled for a Child Nutrition Administrative Review 2022-2023 school year. This session will be led by Jen Hutchinson, Child Nutrition Consultant for Vermont Child Nutrition Programs.
Watch the recorded webinar: Acing your School Meals Program Admin Review
- Local Foods Incentive Grant
Wednesday August 10th, 2022
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
This virtual training will provide participants with a broad overview of the Local Foods Incentive Grant, including how to apply for Baseline Year and Subsequent Year grants, how to calculate your Locally Produced Foods Percentage, what counts as local and what is needed for product documentation, and what to expect during an audit of your application. Included in this training is a Roundtable Discussion featuring three Vermont Food Service Directors who will discuss their purchasing strategies to achieve 15% local food and answer questions from the audience. The intended audience for this training is Business Managers, Food Service Directors, and Food Coordinators. This training is applicable to Supervisory Unions and Schools Districts (SU/SDs) that have already applied for a Local Foods Incentive grant and those considering applying. It is highly recommended that any SU/SD planning to apply for a Subsequent Year grant this School Year have at least one staff in attendance.
This session will be hosted by Conor Floyd, Grant Programs Manager for the State of Vermont Child Nutrition Programs; Helen Rortevdt, Farm to School Program Director for VT FEED; and Julia Scheier, Emerging Issues Specialist for the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets.
The Roundtable Discussion will feature Erika Dolan, School Food & Nutrition Co-Director for the Harwood Unified Union School District; Bob Hildebrand, Food Service Director for Central Vermont Supervisory Union; and Harley Sterling, Food Service Director for Windham Northeast Supervisory Union.
Watch the recorded webinar: Local Foods Incentive Grant
Wednesday August 10th, 2022
11:00 AM - Noon
This virtual session will cover the basics of offering free meals to all students using the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). We will cover how schools become eligible for CEP, how to complete the necessary paperwork, meal counting and claiming, and the state universal meals supplement. We will also discuss how future years of CEP will work. This session is recommended for business officials, administrators, food service directors and managers, and determining officials in School Food Authorities (SFAs) where at least one school has 40% or more of their students directly certified for free meals (as reported on the CEP Data Collection). This session will be taught by Rosie Krueger, State Director of Child Nutrition Programs at the Vermont Agency of Education.
Watch the recorded webinar: Operating the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) in School Year 22-23
- Making Inventory Management Work for You
Wednesday August 10th, 2022
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Inventory can be a dreaded task or a way to review, organize, plan, and move into your next month confident and ready. In this virtual session participants will learn basic principles of inventory management, some dos and don'ts, and tricks to make inventory go smoothly and quickly. Participants will also learn how to take and store inventory in TRACS. This session will be led by Kathy Alexander, Director of the MAUSD and ANWSD School Nutrition Cooperative.
Watch the recorded webinar: Making Inventory Management Work for You
- Refresher Training for Determining Officials
Thursday August 11th, 2022
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
If you are an experienced Determining Official and have already attended our 3-part training on Determining Eligibility for Free and Reduced Price School Meals in 2020 or in 2021, then this session is for you! This streamlined session will cover updates to the direct certification process and the special changes and challenges this year. If you've been doing this for a while, you probably still have the occasional question about unique situations that you encounter when determining eligibility - this session will be structured to allow plenty of time to answer those questions. We'll also learn from each other about best practices for setting up your system - if you have a tip or trick that works well for you, bring that idea to share with the group. This session will be hosted by Rosie Krueger, State Director of Child Nutrition Programs at the Vermont Agency of Education.
Watch the recorded webinar: Refresher Training for Determining Officials
- Fun and Easy Ways to Improve Your Cafeteria Atmosphere
Thursday August 11th, 2022
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
In this short class we will talk about fun and easy ways to improve your cafeteria atmosphere. We will talk about how a positive cafeteria atmosphere can influence behavior, increase participation, and help students develop a life-long love of food. This session will be led by Jen Hutchinson, Child Nutrition Consultant for Vermont Child Nutrition Programs and Harley Sterling, Food Service Director for Windham Northeast Supervisory Union.
Watch the recorded webinar: Fun and Easy Ways to Improve Your Cafeteria Atmosphere
- Financial Management: A Course for School Nutrition Managers
Friday August 12th, 2022
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
This virtual training was developed for site-based school nutrition managers and supervisors. Participants receive instruction on the relationship of program cost and revenue, standard security practices to protect the financial integrity, budget management, increasing productivity and decreasing waste, and staff responsibility for sound financial management practices. Lesson topics include financial management, production records, forecasting, menu item costs, product screening, inventory controls, meal equivalents and labor costs. This session will be taught by Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) Consultant Trainers.
This session was not recorded.
Back to top of page · Back to top of this section
Virtual CACFP Sessions
- Operating the At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program in Your School
Monday August 1st, 2022
2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Join this virtual session to learn about the At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program available to schools and other organizations that operate afterschool programming. Area eligible programs serving low income populations could benefit immensely by offering meals to students in the programming. Challenges and best practices associated with operating the Program will be highlighted. This session will be hosted by Becca Cochran, MS, RDN, CACFP Coordinator for the State of Vermont Child Nutrition Programs.
Watch the recorded webinar: Operating the At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program in Your School
- Menu Planning Suppers in the At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program
Thursday August 4th, 2022
11:30 AM - Noon
Join this virtual session to learn different strategies for planning hot or cold supper meals in the CACFP At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program. Participants will leave with hot and cold two-week supper menus, recipes, pre-populated production records and more! This session will be hosted by Becca Cochran, MS, RDN, CACFP Coordinator.
Watch the recorded webinar: Menu Planning Suppers in the At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program
- Food Safety in Child Care
Due to low registration, Food Safety in Child Care that was scheduled for Child Nutrition Summer Institute on August 4, 2022 has been cancelled.
Alternatively, ICN is offering virtual sessions of Food Safety in Child Care on August 17. Two sessions are available on that day.
If you would like to register for one of these August 17th sessions, please visit ICN's Virtual Training Summer Registration Page. On the registration page you will see a dropdown list of all available virtual training sessions. Scroll down until you find the session you wish to attend.
- Offer vs. Serve in the CACFP
Friday August 12th, 2022
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Join this virtual session if you are an adult day or at-risk afterschool program operator to learn more about how to implement offer versus serve (OVS) in your setting. OVS respects participant likes and dislikes while decreasing food waste and can be a beneficial meal service style to use with older populations. This session will be hosted by Becca Cochran, MS, RDN, CACFP Coordinator for the State of Vermont Child Nutrition Programs.
Watch the recorded webinar: Offer vs. Serve in the CACFP
Back to top of page · Back to top of this section
Monday August 8th, 2022
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
National Life Group Café, 1 National Life Drive, Montpelier, VT
Please join us to celebrate, remember, and catch up with each other. It’s been a long couple of years and child nutrition staff around the state have done amazing work to keep Vermonters fed during this difficult time. This session will provide some updates on the year ahead, and a look back at the work we’ve done together. Following the speaking portion of the event, we’ll have a chance to share a meal together, provided by National Life Group Foundation, New England Dairy, and Hunger Free Vermont. All who have worked on the child nutrition programs since March 2020 are welcome, as well as the new faces joining us for the upcoming year.
If you weren’t able to join us, please check out the 2022 Child Nutrition Summer Institute highlight video we put together, which includes Governor Phil Scott’s remarks from the evening.
- Menus of Flavor - East and Southeast Asian Fusion
Monday August 8th
8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Montpelier High School, Montpelier, VT
During this four-hour, hands-on session, lessons will focus on developing culinary skills that will better enable participants to prepare scratch and speed scratch recipes. This training will cover a variety of culinary techniques while exploring the flavor profiles of East and Southeast Asian cuisine. This session will be taught by Executive Chef Joseph D. Randall II.
- ServSafe Food Protection Manager Training and Certification Exam (4 hours)
Monday August 8th or Tuesday August 9th (these are repeat sessions, only register for one)
9:00 AM – 2:15 PM
National Life Group Campus, Montpelier, VT
This free class is only open to those working in one of the federal Child Nutrition Programs.
The ServSafe program helps prepare you for the ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification exam. Training covers these concepts: the importance of food safety, good personal hygiene, time and temperature control, preventing cross-contamination, cleaning and sanitizing, safe food preparation, receiving and storing food, methods of thawing, cooking, cooling and reheating food, HACCP (hazard analysis and critical control points), food safety regulations, and more. The certification exam will be offered following the training, and participants will be mailed the 7th Edition ServSafe Manager Course Book ahead of time. Each registrant will also receive access to the online training portal.
- Procurement 101
Monday August 8th
10:30 AM – Noon
National Life Group Campus, Montpelier, VT
This class will cover everything you need to know about procurement! We will go over the different methods of procurement, as well as required documentation. This session will be hosted by Shawna Coutu, VT AOE Child Nutrition Procurement Consultant.
- Empathy in the Workplace
Monday August 8th
11:00 AM - Noon
National Life Group Campus, Montpelier, VT
Walking in another person’s shoes is great way to connect with those we serve. This class will help you tap into this skill to make healthy connections. This session will be led by KnowledgeWave Software Productivity Consultant & Trainer, Dave Dec.
- Setting Boundaries with Co-Workers Bosses, and Those We Serve
Monday August 8th
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
National Life Group Campus, Montpelier, VT
Setting boundaries is important in establishing who you are to others and can help your work and your mental health. This course will help you build the protection to take care of yourself, do your best work ever, and serve those around you better than before. This session will be led by KnowledgeWave Software Productivity Consultant & Trainer, Dave Dec.
- 7 Skills for Top-Notch Customer Service
Monday August 8th
2:15 PM – 3:45 PM
National Life Group Campus, Montpelier, VT
We look at all types of customers and consider how we can serve them better and improve ourselves in the process. This session will be led by KnowledgeWave Software Productivity Consultant & Trainer, Dave Dec.
Back to top of page · Back to top of this section
In-person School Nutrition Sessions
- Meal Pattern Mania
Monday August 8th
9:00 AM – Noon
National Life Group Campus, Montpelier, VT
This is a fun, fast paced, interactive class designed to review or learn the NSLP and NSBP meal patterns. In the class we also learn how to credit foods and participants are given valuable resources for eliminating any guesswork and making sure everyone knows how to count and serve foods in school meals to ensure quality nutrition and compliance. The class concludes with a Meal or No Meal game, so participants get to practice identifying reimbursable meals as they whiz by on the serving line. This class will be taught by Kathy Alexander, Director of the MAUSD and ANWSD School Nutrition Cooperative.
- Menu Planning for Success
Monday August 8th
12:45 PM – 3:45 PM
National Life Group Campus, Montpelier, VT
Menu planning is the foundation of every School Nutrition program. This class will review basic menu planning principles, explore the VT Seasonal Cycle Menu Toolkit and discuss ways to adapt and customize the templates for use in new or established programs. Participants can leave this class well on the way to setting menus for the entire year. This class is designed for managers and or Directors responsible for designing menus for their programs. This session will be led by Kathy Alexander, Director of the MAUSD and ANWSD School Nutrition Cooperative.
- Embracing Vermont Veggies: Putting the “V” into FFVP!
Monday August 8th
2:15 PM – 3:45 PM
National Life Group Campus, Montpelier, VT
The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) is a great opportunity to introduce students to fruits AND vegetables! Also, incorporating Vermont veggies into FFVP is a great way to increase your local foods percentage for the Vermont Local Foods Incentive Grant. In this hands-on workshop, we will explore creative ways to incorporate Vermont-grown vegetables into your FFVP snack. We’ll also share activities and classroom connections to help you embed healthy eating into every day for your students, paving the way for a lifetime of healthy, informed choices. This session will be hosted by Helen Rortvedt, NOFA-VT Farm to School and Food Access Programs Director and Kayla Strom, NOFA-VT Farm to School Coordinator. NOFA-VT, together with Shelburne Farms, coordinates Vermont FEED, a statewide Farm to School project.
- Learning to Love Production Records
Tuesday August 9th
9:00 AM - Noon
National Life Group Campus, Montpelier, VT
Participants in this class will use interactive hands-on activities that highlight ways to use production records as a tool to support program efficiency, accuracy, and compliance all while reducing stress and increasing production capacity. Each part of the production records will be explained and analyzed, a variety of formats will be introduced and explored, and sample production records will be critiqued. In the end participants will leave with a renewed appreciation of this required paperwork and a plan to implement regular and consistent completion of this tool. This session will be led by Kathy Alexander, Director of the MAUSD and ANWSD School Nutrition Cooperative.
- School Kitchen Efficiency: Working Smarter Not Harder
Tuesday August 9th
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
National Life Group Campus, Montpelier, VT
In this class participants will discuss the importance of having an efficient kitchen and explore what that means and looks like. We will review how efficiencies impact productivity, finances, enjoyment of work, and creativity. Tips will be provided and also shared amongst participants so everyone will leave with new ideas and strategies to make their work in the kitchen optimal. This session will be led by Kathy Alexander, Director of the MAUSD and ANWSD School Nutrition Cooperative.
Back to top of page · Back to top of this section
Child Nutrition Summer Institute 2022 Presenter Bios
Kathy Alexander
Kathy is the Director of the MAUSD and ANWSD School Nutrition Cooperative, a group of nine school nutrition programs. Over the past 23 years Kathy has built a strong foundation in program management, finances, and administration. She has been a member of SNA and SNA-VT throughout her career. Most recently Kathy developed a Seasonal 6-week Cycle Menu for VT AOE Child Nutrition Programs to offer as a tool to School Nutrition programs in VT. Kathy loves recipe development and menu planning as a creative process that guides the entire program. She loves teaching and any opportunity to support other School Nutrition programs to thrive. She lives with her husband and their pug in Monkton, VT. When there is a quiet moment, Kathy loves to knit and, believe it or not, cook!
Taryn Austin
Taryn is the Director of Clinical Operations for Invest EAP. Taryn's experience includes having been a Supervisor and the Clinical Director of the Mobile Crisis Team for the Howard Center for Human Services in Chittenden County, Vermont. Most recently, she worked with the acutely mentally ill as Director for the Middlesex Therapeutic Community Residence for the State of Vermont’s Department of Mental Health. Taryn holds a Social Work degree and a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health. She is dually-licensed in mental health and substance abuse treatment. She has served individuals and groups of different ages with various psychiatric, emotional, behavioral and life changes, specializing in risk assessment, loss, and life transitions. Taryn has been a management consultant to numerous agencies and community leaders over the years within Vermont, New Hampshire and New York and she has extensive experience conducting trainings, workshops and holding speaking engagements both in Vermont and Africa. Taryn also has a private therapeutic practice, dealing with anxiety, depression and other life and work stressors.
Robyn Boardman
Robyn Boardman is an Account Associate who came to Invest EAP after 35 years in Marketing. Having gone to school for film production she found her home as a producer in the Ad Business where she traveled the world working for high profile clients like Coca-Cola, Nike and Porsche and with celebrities and athletes like Madonna, Lebron James and Kobe Bryant to name a few. She now brings the same passion for working with and helping people to Invest EAP.
Lynn Bursell
Lynn is a licensed EAP counselor with over 27 years of experience. She has expertise in Cognitive-Behavioral therapy, Dialectical Behavior therapy, mindfulness, deafness and hearing loss, communicative disorders, disability, rehabilitation counseling, brief therapy, anxiety, OCD, ADHD, Asperger’s, supervision, assessment, and American Sign Language (ASL). Her experience includes work with individuals, couples, children, and families.
Dave Dec
With 30+ years of experience in training and professional development, Dave Dec, Software Productivity Consultant & Trainer for KnowledgeWave Training in Burlington, Vermont, brings his unique passion for helping others in the classroom, online, and on the job. Dave has led the implementations of new software and written courseware for multiple applications across industries to include telecommunications, ecommerce, public utilities, and local and federal government. He has in-depth experience in professional development skills training that include excellence in customer service, public speaking, communications, and many soft skills courses. He continues to specialize in classroom experiential instruction, delivering corporate and open enrollment training as well as creating custom learning content. His years training throughout many industries managing consultative learning projects have ranged from classroom to online, on-demand classes, and one-on-one coaching. His career has taken him to 44 states of the union, 4 provinces of Canada, Europe, and New Zealand.
Jen Hutchinson
Jen has been a member of the Child Nutrition Team since September 2017. Her focus is School Lunch, School Breakfast, and Administrative Reviews for the Child Nutrition School Meals Programs. Before Jen joined the Child Nutrition Team, she was the Manager of Youth and Family initiatives for the Vermont Foodbank. Jen has a Culinary Degree from The New England Culinary Institute.
Joseph D. Randall II-USMC Veteran, Executive Chef
Joseph has focused his entire professional career in the culinary arts and customer service. He has received continuous awards of recognition starting as early as his time spent serving in the US Marines as a Food Service Specialist. Joseph fed upwards to 25,000 Marines twice a day during Desert Storm, on a team of 100 cooks. Upon returning to St. Louis after being Honorably Discharged, he completed his Double Associate Degrees in Culinary Arts and Hotel and Restaurant Management.
Chef Joseph has undertaken numerous entrepreneurial ventures including catering services, co-creating the award winning World Café, and co-creating the successful "Cooking with Beer" mobile marketing Chef program (Anheuser-Busch). Awards received by Chef Joseph during this time include the "People's Choice" award for Memphis in May Circuit St. Louis BBQ Contest, and multi-year involvement with St. Louis Friends of James Beard "BBQ for Beard". The list of his experiences and accolades goes on.
Joseph has also spent time as an Adjunct Instructor for the Collin Community College Culinary Program, as well as Golf Academy of America.
Back to top of page · Back to top of this section