캘리포니아주 학교 급식 담당자들을 위한 세 가지 질문
May 29, 2026
Across the state, School Food Professionals are transforming the lives of California kids. In cafeterias and school kitchens, they are building lifelong healthy eating habits, supporting success in and beyond the classroom and creating more sustainable futures for their communities. To celebrate their impact, we talked to three California School Food Professionals about their school food superpowers, the skills they depend on in their jobs and what they love most about their work.
The Adapter: Ana Bush
Production Coordinator, San Ysidro Unified School District
What is your school food super power?
School Food Professionals are magic makers. We produce nutritious, delicious food on a limited budget, for every child. We help educate students about nutrition and healthy eating, and we only have 20 minutes to spend with them every day. When a natural disaster happens, we come together and feed our community.
What are the most important skills for a School Food Professional?
If you want to work in school food, you need to be ready to change things up and adapt at a moment’s notice. Didn’t get the chicken drumsticks in when you’re supposed to? You have to figure something else out. You also need to take the initiative to learn new things. If you want to improve your knife skills, then ask about training.
What is the best part of your job?
The best part of this job is the kids. That’s who I do it for. I’ve seen generations come through the cafeteria from my own kids, to my nephews and nieces to my grandkids. There was one student I remember meeting when she was in the sixth grade. Today, she works for me — she’s a manager at one of my schools. I take great pride in that.
The Amplifier: Luis Mazariegos
Communications & Technology Specialist, West Contra Costa Unified School District
What is your school food super power?
I spread the word in our community about the amazing work that our team is doing here in West Contra Costa USD. There’s so much happening right now. We’re doing farm-to-school. We’re scratch cooking. We want people to know about it! Every day, I’m trying to educate parents, students and staff about the work that we’re a part of.
What are the most important skills for a School Food Professional?
If you want to work as a School Food Professional, you have to be excited to collaborate and learn new things. Not long ago, we had a training day where our team made marinated, organic oven-fried chicken. Our team loved working together to make the recipe, and now it’s on our menu.
What’s the best part of your job?
If you love what you do, you don’t feel like you’re working. The time at work goes by so fast for me because I love what I do. This work isn’t just about preparing food. It’s also about engaging with students. Our team cares about all our students. The fact that we’re cooking meals from scratch in the cafeteria just makes it feel more personal. Students see that we’re working hard and that we’re making meals with love.
The Energizer: Nanci Miramontes
Food Service Director, Oroville Union High School District
What’s your school food superpower?
My biggest superpower is that I love what I do. Making delicious meals and training people are two things that fill me with happiness, and I try to share that energy with everyone. I want to help the members of my team find love and joy in the meals that we cook for our students, to open their minds to new possibilities and join us in improving school food.
What are the most important skills for a School Food Professional?
You have to bring a strong work ethic and realize that change starts with you. Better, healthier school meals are possible. We’ve got the resources to do it, and there are people working hard in schools and kitchens to make that change happen. Be open to improving school food, because it’s possible. It’s more work, but we’re there for the students.
What’s the best part of your job?
People who work in school food make a huge difference to students, families and the community in so many different ways. We offer healthy meals to all our students at no cost. And we do it with a customer service mindset. Any time we greet a student with a smile in the cafeteria, we can see the difference it makes. No matter who they are, no matter what their background is, they know that they’re welcome.
Ana, Luis and Nanci are just a few of the thousands of committed leaders who are transforming school food in communities across California. To hear the voices of other School Food Professionals, check out our latest blogs and spotlights and follow us on social media.