You can ask anyone, Lisa simply does not know how to do things by half measures. For instance, when she was given the goal of increasing breakfast sales, she overdelivered… by 400%. It’s an understatement when she says things like, “If you give me a challenge, I’ll ask a few questions, and then I'll achieve it.” There’s no wonder why she’s this month’s Trayblazer!
When nominating Lisa, Kate Wilson, the child nutrition supervisor of Boone County schools which oversees Randall K. Cooper High School, said, “It’s been a breath of fresh air to have a manager with such passion. We want her dedication, ideas and business mindset to rub off on other managers.”
Lisa has been serving the Boone County school district for over 15 years. She started as a parttime employee and has made her way up through the ranks. Her motivation to succeed has deep roots. She swam competitively throughout her life and even in college, becoming a lifelong passion. On top of ensuring students are well fed and ready to learn, she also has been the Cooper swim coach for 11 years!
When it comes to keeping everyone fed, Lisa channels experiences and insights from coaching to tap into her students’ mindset. She knows what they need, even if they won’t come out and say it. For example, she knew her high-school students had to be getting hungry between meals, but because of their packed schedules, they couldn’t make the trip to the cafeteria to grab something to eat. So she commandeered a wheeled cart and went around to the classrooms and dropped off free breakfasts right where they were.
Lisa also goes above and beyond in terms of communication. Part of her success in increasing breakfast sales was getting everyone on board with understanding how much better students perform when they have full stomachs. She worked directly with the school principal to get the word out, and the results speak for themselves.
As a leader, Lisa strives to lead by example — and her students always come first. She says, “If we care about our cafeteria, then the kids see we care about them. You’ve got to love your job because you have a huge impact on the students. I always try to bring positive energy and make the cafeteria a better place.”
When it comes to tools for success, Lisa relies on several items from General Mills to keep her students and swimmers prepared. She says, “The 2 oz. equivalent grain cereal cups have been a game changer. They’re the best idea, especially for the high schoolers because they don’t have to eat them right away.”
It was wonderful to hear Lisa’s story and learn from her experiences, dedication and drive for serving kids in the community. We know her staff and everyone in the Boone County School system are lucky to have her as an example of a true, faithful leader. We wish them all continued success!
Be sure to follow along on their journey! Facebook Twitter Instagram Boone County Schools Food Service Site