Our members are more likely to have the tools and the skills to deliver a quality program. If we truly want top quality meal programs for all children, we need everyone who works in these programs to have access to the training and networking this association provides. No child in this country should be fed at school by someone who does not know how to keep food safe. It can happen, folks. Every cook should have the opportunity to increase his or her pay with more training.
Experience is great.
We are living in a world that is changing at a break-neck speed. Computers are outdated in 6 months. Yet, we have school cooks and food service directors who have not upgraded their skills in years. We must unite our forces and take this message to superintendents and school boards, and school business officials. I believe that if the decision makers in schools could see how employee training leads to improved efficiencies, better customer service, and an improved bottom line, they would offer up the membership and certification and incentives for skill development in an instant.