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Director Ready

Empowering school nutrition leaders with professional training and resources to excel in finance, operations, menus, leadership, and human resource management.

Learn, Lead, Serve

Four-Day In-Person Workshop

​January 11 - January 14, 2027
SCE Energy Education Center
Irwindale, CA

Director Ready: Where Learning Comes to Life​

An immersive, hands-on experience for school nutrition leaders

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Step away from the daily demands of the office to focus fully on leveling up as a school nutrition leader. Practice real-world skills, learn from experienced school nutrition leaders and peers, and leave with proven tools, tips, and strategies you can put to work immediately.

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Studies from the Institute for Work & Health show that face-to-face workshops yield higher knowledge gains, superior focus, and greater satisfaction. This environment encourages what experts call "rich communication" - real-time coaching, discussion, and collaboration with peers as you work through real school nutrition challenges.

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We invite you to join us at Director Ready to practice hands-on skills and experience the collaborative energy that happens when sharing the same room.

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~Enrollment is limited~

Reserve Your Spot

Take-Aways

Our intensive 4-day curriculum is designed to transform aspiring leaders into expert directors.
Each day builds core skills essential for school nutrition excellence. Below are some of the topics covered.

Specialized guest speakers will also be available to take you deeper into the content for successful application.

The biggest take-away is meeting colleagues who are doing the same work, seeing how different districts solve the same problems, and leaving knowing exactly who to call when you have a question.

Financials & Purchasing
  1. Analyze your essential metrics, including food expenses, labor hours, plate costs, and staff efficiency.
  2. Establish strategic pricing models for faculty meals, snack bars, and secondary food programs.
  3. Interpret financial statements to predict end-of-year outcomes and master budget storytelling.
  4. Detect operational variances early to implement proactive adjustments and corrective strategies.
  5. Convert complex data points into actionable plans that drive departmental growth.
  6. Present financial health reports to district administrators with absolute authority and clarity.
Leadership Foundations

  1.  Communicate with Confidence — Speak the language of your CBO.

  2.  FRISK Made Simple — Document, coach, and evaluate with consistency using  templates.

  3.  Prevent & Manage Risk — Strengthen training, documentation, and prevention.

  4.  Lead, Listen & Connect — Use “I” statements and listening techniques to reduce misunderstandings and build stronger working relationships.  Know when to apply various leadership models.

  5.  Confidently Make Decisions — Use practical tools to prioritize, focus, and act decisively. Apply the Eisenhower Matrix, Pomodoro Technique, 5 Whys, SWOT Analysis, and Decision Matrix to prioritize and solve problems.

Operations
  1. Master the 8-Step Procurement Process: Learn everything from forecasting and method selection to solicitation, evaluation, award, and management.
  2. Strengthen Your Forecasting Skills: Utilize historical data, menus, and budgets to accurately determine exactly what and how much to buy.
  3. Select the Ideal Procurement Method: Gain clarity on when to implement sealed bids versus RFPs to ensure maximum effectiveness for your needs.
  4. Write Effective Procurement Procedures: Create clear, standardized documents that promote operational consistency, transparency, and full compliance.
  5. Build Compliance and Confidence: Navigate competition requirements, ethical standards, and conflict of interest protocols with total professional ease.
  6. Apply What You Learn: Engage with real-world scenarios and practical tools designed for immediate implementation in your school district.
Menus

  1. Make Your Menus AR Ready: Learn directly from real Administrative Review findings and see what reviewers are actually looking for.

  2. Meal Pattern Facts vs. Myths: Clear up common meal pattern misconceptions and strengthen your confidence in menu compliance.

  3. Master Offer vs. Serve: Play the OVS game, then take home both the digital and printable versions to make staff training more engaging.

  4. Simplify Your Wellness Policy & Triennial Assessment: Practical, step-by-step toolkit for meeting the basic requirements the easy way.

  5. Get Ready for New Regulations: Understand what’s changing, and how to prepare.

  6. Fix Your Nutrient Analysis & Carb Counts: Learn how to spot common problems quickly and easily.

  7. Standardize Recipes the AR-Ready Way: Learn the details reviewers look for and how to build standardized recipes that work in the real world.

  8. Turn Your Staff into Production Record Pros: Use a practical checklist and engaging training activity to teach staff what reviewers expect on production records.

Powerful Resources You'll Take Home

AR Audit Findings Library

Real findings so you can learn directly from what auditors are saying.

Offer vs Serve Game

Debuted at ANC2026, this digital game also has a printable version with instructions on training staff.

Triennial Assessment Toolkit

Stress-free, step-by-step guide to satisfying the Wellness Policy requirements.

Production Record Pro Training

A practical checklist and engaging staff training to make everyone a pro!

Half-Cup Food Buying Guide

Hot off the press, this book is your cheat-sheet for purchasing and portioning.

And more...
  • FRISK Templates
  • Benchmark Templates
  • Financial Report Templates
  • Organizational Techniques
  • Communication Techniques
  • Decision-making Techniques
     

Learning with Bloom's Taxonomy

We integrate Bloom's Taxonomy into every training session to ensure that school nutrition leaders move beyond passive learning. Our methodology focuses on applying, analyzing, and evaluating information, preparing you to lead with confidence and operational excellence.

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We design every Director Ready workshop to move participants up Bloom’s Taxonomy—from remembering rules to leading change within their districts.

Our Distinction

Guest Speakers

  • Our core trainers, listed below, possess over 80 years of collective direct experience, offering expertise that covers school nutrition operations, management, procurement, finance, staffing, leadership, and administration.
     

  • Guest speakers share firsthand experiences that clarify the purpose behind our practices.
     

  • Collaborate with a Chief Business Official (CBO) to discover how to cultivate a productive partnership.
     

  • Gain knowledge from a seasoned purchasing expert with a vast background in USDA and DoD programs.​
     

  • We integrate every facet of school nutrition management into one cohesive framework.
     

  • The result is a four-day immersive experience in a small, interactive setting designed for deep discussion, application, and mastery.

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Harold Sullin
Tustin USD CBO
Guest Speaker
Marjorie Fletcher
USDA Foods Consultant
Guest Speaker
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Jennifer Chin, Administrator Maintenance, Operations and Nutrition Services, Glendale Unified School District
Guest Speaker

Why In-Person Learning Excels

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  • Being in the room offers the opportunity to truly practice, connect, and grow.
     
  • Disconnect to Engage: Step away from the constant flood of emails and daily operational fires to fully immerse yourself in professional development.
     
  • Interact directly with seasoned trainers and industry guest speakers.
     
  • If you cannot attend all four days personally, consider sending a key team member who manages diverse departmental roles. ​
     
  • Bringing this high-level training back to your staff is an investment in your program's future success.

Yousef Buzayan (he/him) 

Procurement Specialist
Chef Ann Foundation

Guest Speaker

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Stella Ndahura,
Director, Nutrition Services Azusa USD
Guest Speaker
Michelle Curry
Chef/Consultant
Guest Speaker
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Anna Apoian
 
An experienced Registered Dietitian with a Master’s in Public Administration and a Harvard Business School DEIA certificate, Anna Apoian brings over a decade of expertise as a public speaker and professional trainer. As a retired nutrition director and current Adjunct Professor at CSULB, she provides top-tier industry insights.
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Anna will focus on leadership dynamics, change and conflict management, team synergy, FRISK, and customer relations. 

Your Trainers

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Melissa Manning

Melissa Manning, RD, is the founder of My School RD and a seasoned school nutrition consultant with more than 25 years of experience in NSLP audits, menu planning, special diets, menu analysis software, wellness policies, and staff training. A former California Department of Education School Meals Initiative Audit Specialist, she helps school nutrition leaders build the practical knowledge and confidence needed to become “Director Ready.”  
 
Melissa will focus on Nutrition and Menu Planning for healthy student meals, wellness policies, and compliance with state and federal regulations.

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Debra Amos 
 
Debra Amos has more than 35 years of experience in school nutrition, including 28 years as a Child Nutrition Director and over 20 years as a consultant and trainer. Her experience includes leading large-scale school meal programs, managing budgets, overseeing procurement, strengthening operations, supporting compliance, and training child nutrition professionals at all levels.
 
Debra will focus on financial management, procurement, and operations. She brings a practical, real-world perspective on building systems that support compliant and financially sound child nutrition programs.

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