Have you wondered who is behind managing the cafeteria, preparing the food and serving students with food? The GH Falcon staff sat with the cafeteria manager, Ms. Lakisha Howard, to learn about her daily routine. She walked us through the preparation of breakfasts, lunches, food, safety and many more.
She has been working in Green Hope’s cafeteria for 3 years and is well versed in what keeps the cafeteria successful. When asked about her daily routine, she said, “I arrive at 5:30 and start immediately getting things prepped like turning the ovens and steamers on, moving the trash cans out, starting the lineup with my assistant manager, Jew.”
According to the day, the food that Ms. Howard prepares differs. There is a weekly menu that she and the kitchen staff follow. She said, “We prepare the food according to our menu. For instance, for breakfast we prepare chicken biscuits and muffins with some fruit. For lunch we do chicken sandwiches on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays,” she said. , “On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, we do pizza and another entree.”
Health and safety is also an integral part of customer service. The cafeteria staff deals with handling food allergies or special dietary restrictions. Students that require specific food must contact Ms. Howard and get a note from the doctor’s office before she is able to accommodate them. “[Daily], we offer meat, grain, fruits, vegetables, and dairy. So that’s all the requirements for a healthy meal that meets school dietary guidelines,” she noted
Interaction helps to connect with the customer and helps to build a connection between them. Ms. Howard, talking about her interaction with students, said, “I do like to interact with the students, but with so many students coming through the lunch line, it’s important to move the line as quickly as possible, so sometimes we just don’t have time to interact.”
When people respect one’s profession, it helps them to be more productive and encourages them to do their work. Likewise, Ms. Howard talking about her experience said, “I love it when kids talk to us and don’t just treat us like robots, treat us like we’re human, we’re here for them and we love doing what we do, so it’s great to interact with the kids, and know their name and get to know their faces.”
Since Ms. Howard is able to collaborate with her colleagues, she completes work sooner and more efficiently. “They are awesome and especially this team I have this year, they care about what they’re doing, so that makes a difference,” she said, in reference to her coworkers. Their dedication to their work provides quality food to students.
Throughout the day, Ms. Howard faces obstacles that make her stronger and ready to overcome future challenges. Reflecting on previous problems that she’s faced, Ms. Howard said, “Last week I ordered things that did not come in, so I had to put meals together. And the most challenging part is if the system goes down with no student’s name or when equipment doesn’t work and we have to fix it and serve food to the students.” While Ms. Howard has some difficulties in her job, she enjoys the satisfaction she gets when students are happy with their meals.
Ms. Howard’s dedication to her role ensures that every student receives a nutritious, safe meal every day. Whether it’s through planning the menu, prepping food or making connections with students, Ms. Howard is an essential part of our Green Hope community.
