Jessica Emmett; Culinary Specialist; Cherokee County School District; Canton, Georgia
Nestled approximately 30 miles away from the bustling city of Atlanta lies the Cherokee Country School District, home to a remarkable culinary specialist, Jessica Emmett. Her career within the district is a testament to dedication, passion, and a profound love for both food and education. Starting as a lunchroom monitor in 2015, Jessica steadily navigated her way up the ladder, becoming an integral part of the school nutrition team. Her position, created in 2020, fuses her culinary education and psychology degree, a unique blend that fuels her diverse role in the district.
Spanning across 40 schools and centers, serving over 42,000 students, Jessica has a multitude of day-to-day responsibilities. Acting as a division facilitator, she supports eight schools, delves into recipe testing, and operates as the farm-to-school liaison, partnering with educators to create enlightening opportunities centered around food.
Grounded in a small-town Mississippi upbringing with limited exposure to various foods, her roots have deeply influenced her approach. Jessica celebrates heritage through food and embraces all the diverse cultures in the lunchroom. She strives to offer culinary experiences that broaden horizons and transcend boundaries. She shares how some of her proudest moments revolve around introducing global flavors, witnessing the evolution from limited menus to an expansive array of culinary experiences.
One area where she takes exceptional pride is introducing students to ethnic meals, cultivating an appreciation for diverse cuisines and where food truly comes from. Her dedication to this undertaking stems from her innate passion for children, the unique makeup of the student population, and her own culinary journey. She says, “We’re making connections through food, and that’s what’s really important.”
Another aspect central to her mission of educating students through food is the farm-to-school initiative that has been supporting local farmers for over a decade. Additionally, some schools grow their own produce, and kids who participate get first dibs on the harvest through specially prepared meals. Their purple potato crop was a particular hit!
Navigating challenges, such as shortages in certain products, she embraces a "speed scratch" mentality, ensuring menus cater to different tastes while using available resources efficiently. Garnering feedback through innovative methods like Google forms, she adapts and refines offerings based on student preferences.
Her menu is also supported by various products from General Mills. She’s thankful for the gluten-free cereal options and expresses how much the kids love the Pillsbury™ cinnamon rolls and biscuits.
Collaborating with diverse colleagues, each with their unique personality types, she describes herself as the team’s cheerleader, rallying the group to conquer tasks collectively. Their combined efforts yield a menu that includes successes like the chicken shawarma they rolled out during Middle Eastern Heritage month.
From navigating the nuanced preferences of high schoolers to capturing the enthusiasm of elementary students, she recognizes the importance of persistence and positivity in encouraging healthy eating habits. When asked about advice for others in K-12 foodservice, she says, “It often takes 13 tries — or more — for a child to like a food. Keep trying and offering new things!"
In essence, Jessica is not just nourishing bodies but fostering a culture of culinary exploration, expanding young minds one flavorful meal at a time. Her dedication to merging education and delicious meals underscores the transformative power of food beyond mere sustenance.