Janis Campbell-Aikens, director of child nutrition at Auburn Public Schools, was recently named Employee of the Year by the Puget Sound Educational Service District. This means that Campbell-Aikens is eligible for Washington Educator of the Year award.
“I am very humble to receive this recognition, but I would also like to say that the original award was given to the entire child nutrition department in recognition of the work they have done during the pandemic,” said Campbell-Aikens. “Really in honor of all the staff.”
After the award had passed to the regional level, it had to be narrowed down to a single employee. Campbell-Aikens was chosen because she is the director, she said.
Campbell-Aikens has been the school district’s child nutrition director for about two and a half years. When the pandemic led to school closings, she was the principal for about a year.
As early as 2020, schools were closed on a Friday due to the pandemic, and the following Monday child nutrition workers had lunch and breakfast ready to go, Campbell-Aikens said. Child nutrition workers have not stopped making take-out meals since schools closed, Campbell-Aikens said.
“We were able to turn the program around very quickly, also because the staff in the summer food service program are very good, so we had this foundation to build on,” said Campbell-Aikens.
The staff serves meals all year round with few days off. They served meals during the winter and spring break and will continue throughout the summer, Campbell-Aikens said.
In addition to serving meals in schools, child nutrition workers have also served meals in vans that travel along routes and stop at specific locations across town, Campbell-Aikens said.
“You did a great job. They have served over 2 million take-out meals at this point since we started, ”said Campbell-Aikens. “I think I am most proud of my employees’ commitment to this community and to the children.”
When the children return to private school in the fall, the situation will return to normal. The USDA has issued a waiver so that all school-provided meals at Auburn Public Schools will be free for the next school year, Campbell-Aikens said.
Campbell-Aikens and her staff look forward to personally serving meals to the students this fall.
“We work hard to offer really healthy meals and we work hard to offer meals that are culturally appropriate for our children,” said Campbell-Aikens. “We just want to keep working on it and get better and better and bring the Auburn kids the healthiest, freshest, tastiest food we can.”