Huisman Named Food & Nutrition Director of the Year

Sandy Huisman, seen here announcing the Breakfast in the Classroom program, was named the 2016 Director of the Year by the School Nutrition Association.

Congratulations to DMPS Director of Food & Nutrition Management Sandy Huisman, who was named Director of the Year at the School Nutrition Association (SNA) of Iowa’s 59th Annual Conference earlier this month.

Huisman’s award is all the more noteworthy due to the fact that her nomination was submitted jointly by all of her lieutenants.

“Yes, the nomination was put forth by the 12 food service managers that work in the school buildings,” said departmental training specialist Amanda Miller. “We are all so pleased and excited that Sandy received this recognition.  She is a wonderful director that puts people first.  I can’t say enough good things about her.”

There’s more to the nomination process than you might imagine. Nominees are scored on the basis of the following five criteria: program enhancement; staff development; school involvement; SNA involvement and community outreach.

Huisman’s nomination listed multiple examples of her bona fides in all five. A sampling of them include her implementation of the Breakfast in the Classroom program, support of professional development for departmental employees, solicitation of feedback from school principals and students, past service as an officer of SNA and a community open house she organized at the district’s central nutrition center.

Everyone who works with Huisman or eats at one of the restaurants in her DMPS chain has been nourished by the experience. Accordingly, she will also be recognized at the National School Nutrition Association Conference in San Antonio, Texas next month. They should give her the Huisman Trophy.