ENGLEWOOD — It was all smiles and cheers during fifth-grade’s lunch period on Tuesday at Englewood Elementary as school officials honored one of their very own — both an Eagle alum and school employee.
During a surprise announcement, Kayla Lewis was revealed Tuesday as one of only five school nutrition professionals in the state to win the 2024 Florida School Lunch Hero Award.
The award is part of an annual weeklong event to recognize and celebrate school nutritional staff who dedicate their time to supporting and providing children with nutritious meals hundreds of days a year.
Lewis received a $2,000 check from No Kid Hungry Florida, a cow-themed prize pack from the Dairy Council of Florida, trophies, a hero cape and a plaque from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for her dedication to school nutrition.
To win, one must be nominated by children, parents or school officials, and then chosen by a board of composed of No Kid Hungry staff and school officials for their critical impact on student nutritional health.
Lewis received 19 nominations overall, each highlighting how she has made a substantial difference in kids’ lives in and out of the classroom.
“There are some people that you can tell it is so much more than a job, and Kayla is one of them,” one nomination said. “She’s one of those rare people that when you grow up, you still remember that sweet lunch lady who always made you feel special.”
Many nominated the nutrition professional for her compassion and dedication to her students, even through traumatic times, like when she lost her home to Hurricane Ian in 2022.
“While she wears many hats and plays many roles, Kayla’s selflessness is incomparable,” another nomination note said. “She wanted to make sure she could make a difference in children’s lives outside of a classroom and I’m so proud of her and her accomplishments. The students are lucky to have her, and we are lucky to know her.”
After accepting her award, Lewis was quick to thank her biggest supporters first — the students.
“I want to say thank you and I love you to all the kids because you guys make it super easy,” she said.
Lewis joined the EES nutritional staff last year, school nutrition services manager Lourdes Baez said, where she quickly immersed herself in learning the trade and interacting with students’ lives throughout the thousands of meals she’s helped serve.
Florida nutrition professionals serve nearly 3 million students each year, often starting their day in the early hours to prepare breakfast for early bus arrivals and stay late to package after school meals, too.
Joshua Proffitt, No Kid Hungry Florida’s program manager, said the School Lunch Hero Award brings awareness to the public about how important and challenging providing nutritious meals to kids every day can be.
“Not a lot of people look at it this way, but the largest restaurants in the country are usually school lunchrooms,” Proffitt said. “So, we want to honor those unsung heroes who show up to take on this job day in and day out.”
EES Principal Curt Schwartz mirrored that statement, sharing his excitement for one of his own to receive recognition for their impact on student health.
“When you look at everything they do, the amount of time and effort behind the scenes and not always getting the accolades and praise, it’s awesome to see people like Kayla get the attention they deserve,” Schwartz said.
Most Popular
Comments / 0