School Nutrition Association Announces Regional Award Winners

The national, non-profit School Nutrition Association (SNA) has named Debra Root, Nutrition Service Assistant at Falcon Heights Elementary School in Roseville Area Schools, the Midwest regional Employee of the Year. The award recognizes the valuable contribution of school nutrition employees who exhibit a remarkable commitment to the school meal program and the students they serve.

For 27 years, Root has been taking care of students’ needs, particularly those with special dietary needs or those students who are just having a bad day. Her smiling face, before mask wearing days, was a comforting welcome to students as they entered the cafeteria each day.

She has been instrumental in creating attractive, pre-plated meals for staff while also increasing grab-n-go meals at the school. Root has become a historian of sorts, capturing school programs, conferences and now during the pandemic with her camera. Her pictures have been used on the district’s Facebook and Instagram pages to help advertise available food boxes and highlight the staff’s hard work.

A leader among her Nutrition Service Assistants, Root encourages staff to grow professionally, helping to train new staff and take continued training courses. She is flexible and willing to lend a helping hand, stepping in where needed and floating to different schools to help ensure proper staffing coverage. Supervisors describe her as reliable, steadfast and caring.

"Debra’s dedication to her students and colleagues makes her an exemplary candidate for this special award,” said SNA President Reginald Ross, SNS. “Her longevity in the field shows her passion for school nutrition and for ensuring that no child in her community goes hungry.”

Root serves as the district's unofficial SNA liaison, helping staff register for the SNA certificate process and get educated on what holding a certificate can do in addition to providing the most up-to-date information to help staff reach their full potential. In her coordination of the state conference, Root is a cheerleader for professional development, actively engaging in learning and growth opportunities. She was first named Minnesota School Nutrition Association (MSNA) Employee of the Year and went on to win the Regional Midwest title from there.

The Employee of the Year Award was created to recognize outstanding school nutrition employees who influence the quality of school meals through customer service, an interest in young people, cooperation, work attendance, creativity, participation in professional development and their willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty.

On May 5, 2021, Root was honored during the first-ever “Our Heroes: Celebrating the 2021 SNA Award Winners” virtual event. Nominees, nominators, state leaders, Board of Directors, Leadership Development Committee and Back to School Summit attendees celebrated the accomplishments of this year’s SNA award winners.

About School Nutrition Association:

The School Nutrition Association (SNA) is a national, non-profit professional organization representing 50,000 school nutrition professionals across the country. Founded in 1946, SNA and its members are dedicated to making healthy school meals and nutrition education available to all students. For more information on school meals, visit www.SchoolNutrition.org/SchoolMeals.

About the Minnesota School Nutrition Association:

The Minnesota School Nutrition Association (MSNA), founded in 1956 as a state-wide association with local chapters, is a non-profit association of 3,000 members who work to ensure that all children have access to healthy meals and nutrition education in Minnesota. For more information about MSNA and upcoming events, please visit www.mnsna.org.