Celebrating Healthy School Food Pathway’s First Apprentice

In 2022, Gaby Flores embarked on her journey in the Healthy School Food Pathway (HSFP) program as a member of its inaugural cohort. Ready to build on her knowledge and experiences as a member of the Santa Clara Unified School District’s (SCUSD) nutrition services team, Flores was among nine individuals selected across California to participate in the newly launched program. The HSFP program was created by the Chef Ann Foundation (CAF) in partnership with California Community Colleges to support individuals interested in exploring a career in healthy, cook-from-scratch school food programs. Participants in the work-based learning experience range from those with minimal school food experience to incumbent workers ready to expand their culinary skills, such as Flores.

The Journey to Apprenticeship

Over the course of seven weeks, Flores participated in on-the-job training at SCUSD and 48 hours of online instruction. As a Pre-Apprentice, Flores sharpened her kitchen skills and learned how to safely manage kitchen equipment, check produce to ensure peak freshness and cleanliness, and more. One of her most notable responsibilities was overseeing the school kitchen at Scott Lane Elementary, home to over 350 students.

After completing the Pre-Apprenticeship, Flores decided to move forward in the Healthy School Food Pathway program by participating in the Fall 2022 Apprenticeship. The HSFP Apprenticeship is open to individuals who have completed the Pre-Apprenticeship and takes place over the course of one school year. As an Apprentice, Flores completed 35 hours of School Food Institute courses, 64 hours of courses from the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN), 45 hours of virtual learning sessions, and weekly on-the-job training on top of her weekly work schedule at SCUSD.

This June, Flores became the first individual to complete the HSFP’s Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship. The CAF HSFP team celebrated Flores’ amazing accomplishments and dedication to serving healthy school food during an online celebration. We also connected with Flores to learn more about her experience in the HSFP program over the past year.

Program Reflections

1. What inspired you to join the Healthy School Food Pathway Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship program?
One of the main things that inspired me to join the program was to contribute to changing the food menu offered by the schools. The possibility to help students enjoy better quality and healthier meals is fundamental to reaching their potential.

2. Can you tell us more about your experience as a Pre-Apprentice and Apprentice?
I am very grateful for the opportunity of being part of these great programs. These programs have allowed me to grow professionally and personally. They have also allowed me to better know my coworkers, to share our ideas and learn from the great speakers throughout the courses.

3. How do you hope to continue being a champion for healthy school food after you complete the program?
I plan to apply the things I learned in the program and continue contributing to the path to provide a better and healthier diet for our students. I will definitely recommend this program to my peers.

4. What is the most impactful takeaway you’ve learned from this experience?
The most impactful takeaway I have learned was how a central kitchen works. It is amazing to see all they do and how they work to be able to deliver the food to so many schools.

5. What would you tell someone interested in joining the Healthy School Food Pathway Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship program?
I would tell them that this is a great opportunity to learn and that this program will help them to better do their job and improve their skills.