Most Directors Have to Figure It Out on Their Own 

School nutrition programs are highly regulated, operationally complex organizations responsible for feeding America’s children.

But not all directors start their jobs with experience in foodservice, finance, HR, or procurement, and very few get practical training. The result is a lot of stress, a lot of guessing, and programs that struggle to reach their potential.

These challenges are why we created the SproutCNP Director Mentorship Program.

director mentorship work session

Do Any of These Sound Familiar?

No or Minimal Background in School Nutrition

Regulations, reimbursable meals, procurement. It’s a steep learning curve with little guidance.

Human Resource and Staffing Challenges

Staff shortages and high turnover hit hardest when you don’t yet have systems in place.

Financial Pressures Without the Tools

Getting accurate, timely reports, and knowing what to do with them is harder than it should be. 

If you’ve ever felt like you’re one bad audit or one resignation away from a crisis, you’re not alone. 

Read about the successes of one of our School Nutrition Director Mentorship participants below.

Three years in, I could read a budget, but I couldn't find the problem. Beverly helped me find it — nearly $2 million over budget tied to staffing. More than the numbers, she encouraged and uplifted me while also serving as a strong outside voice that helped staff better understand the challenges we were facing as a program. Since participating in the SproutCNP School Nutrition Director Mentorship Program, I'm a stronger director, a better advocate for my program, and I walk into every hard conversation prepared.
Anne Brock MS, RDN, LD
Director of School Nutrition-West Ada School District
Schedule a Call to Learn More

We’ve been where you are.

Here’s what we learned about running a school nutrition program.

We learned that confidence comes from having systems, not just knowledge. That financial problems rarely show up in the reports directors know how to pull and read.

And that the hardest part of this job isn’t the food. It’s leading people through constant change. 

Our Director Mentorship Program was built by a team of former school nutrition directors, menu planners, supervisors, school chefs, and state agency reviewers who lived it all and came out the other side with a program to share what worked. 

EXPERTS DEDICATED TO YOUR SUCCESS

Meet Your Director Mentorship Specialists

Beverly Girard Ph.D., MBA, MS, RD, SNS

School Nutrition Specialist

Dr. Beverly helps directors recognize their strengths and step confidently into leadership. She specializes in personnel management, conflict resolution, data-driven decision-making, and long-term financial solvency. 

Helen Smith BS, SNS 

School Nutrition Specialist

Helen helps directors break down complex challenges such as financial management, menu planning, staffing, into clear, achievable steps. She focuses on building confidence at every level of a program. 

A Structured Process, Not a One-Time Workshop

Most professional development leaves you inspired for a week, then nothing changes. 

Our program is designed to create real, lasting change through a sequence of assessment, onsite work, and sustained coaching.

Beverly Girard Mentorship Program

The Director Mentorship Covers What Actually Runs Your Program

Nutrition

  • Cycle menus
  • Production records
  • Reimbursable meals
  • Recipe standardization

Operations

  • Procurement
  • Daily workflows
  • Staffing processes
  • Foodservice systems

Administration

  • Documentation
  • Human resources
  • Financial management
  • Organizational structure

Communication

  • Program visibility
  • Staff engagement
  • Leadership confidence
  • District-level presentations
school nutrition director mentorship work session

What Changes When You Have the Right Support

  • Your operations run on documented systems
  • Staff challenges feel manageable, not overwhelming
  • You have a clear plan with goals you can actually measure
  • You know how to read your financial reports and what to do about them
  • You can walk into a meeting with your superintendent with confidence
  • You're not guessing. You're leading

Ready to Stop Guessing and Start Leading?

Cohort seats are limited.

Reach out to find out if the SproutCNP School Nutrition Mentorship Program is a good fit for you and when the next cohort starts. 

Set Up a Discovery Call