Anne Arundel County Public Schools, MD Board of Education Educator, Employee and Volunteer of the Month & Recognitions, 2 Dec 2021

Previous Meeting Next Meeting

⏯

youtube image

►

From YouTube: Board Recognitions, Jodi Risse Named Maryland School Nutrition Association Director of the Year.

Description

Jodi Risse, Supervisor of Food and Nutrition Services for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, today was named the Maryland School Nutrition Association’s Director of the Year.

In her 14 years overseeing AACPS’ Division of Food and Nutrition Services, Risse has become known as an innovator who cultivates creative year-round approaches to providing healthy meals for students at all levels with an intense focus on fresh options. Risse has implemented vibrant and abundant salad bars in every school in the school system has even developed curbside menus during the pandemic that feature fresh produce such as red peppers, kiwi, and squash.

“Jodi epitomizes what we mean when we say ‘AACPSAwesome,’ ” Superintendent George Arlotto said. “There is nothing she and the incredible team she leads won’t do to provide students with healthy options that fuel their minds and bodies. We are incredibly grateful that she is on our team because our students benefit from her expertise and devotion every day.”

Under Risse’s leadership, the Division of Food and Nutrition Services has provided more than 12.5 million meals to students across the county since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. FNS employees didn’t miss a day, serving meals on the very first day schools were closed.

Risse also co-chairs the school system’s Wellness Council, a multi-sector committee aimed at providing resources, strategies and monitoring tools to ensure that effective implementation of the AACPS Wellness Policy in order to increase the quality of life for all members of the educational community and to cultivate communities of wellness.

In addition, she hosts a monthly educational segment titled “Tasting of the Rainbow” that features a local product served in school meals. The video includes spotlights from students, teachers, principals, and a local farmer. It is featured in all 126 schools on the monthly “Tasting of the Rainbow” day.

Risse’s work isn’t all about serving meals, however. She also collaborates with the Department of Special Education to give students work experience within FNS. This program helps students develop job-related skills as they transition out of high school, while introducing them to the world of school food service.

“It is a such an honor to be recognized by the Maryland School Nutrition Association for the impact we have in serving the students and communities in Anne Arundel County,” said Risse, who also won a national award for her efforts to help curb childhood hunger in 2019. “It is my honor and privilege to work side by side with the best school nutrition team in the country. This could only be accomplished with the unwavering support from our Superintendent, Dr. George Arlotto, and from my family both at work and home. Together, we truly cultivate communities of wellness: one student at a time.”

In addition to her work with AAACPS, Risse has served on the Maryland School Nutrition Executive Board since 2002 and was the organization’s Education Committee Co-Chair from 2000 to 2007.

https://aacpsschools.org/pressr/?p=6961

A

Item 2.05 recognitions and I'm going to first turn this over to dr elatto.

B

Thank you, madam president, members of the board, those that are joining us here in person and those that are viewing. I am incredibly excited and incredibly honored, that we are going to take the time today to recognize miss jody risi, our director of food and nutrition services,.

B

Obviously it says a great deal jody when you get a standing ovation and nobody knows what it's for. I just mentioned your name, that's right! Well, now let me tell you what it's for.

A

B

Hours ago, ladies and gentlemen, we had no recognitions for today's board meeting for you, but in the last 24 hours we were notified that miss jodie reese. Our awesome director food nutrition services has been recognized as the maryland school nutrition association director of the year.

B

We were lucky enough to gather as a surprise at her office yesterday with with a number of her staff, mr sheikh novich and myself, and some cake just to celebrate. Members of the association came to speak about jody and her incredible work, and- and it truly is um you're a gifted leader- and it is well recognized in this community in this school system and around the state about how much you care about children. That is your drive each and every day to ensure that our children are fed.

B

You epitomize not only quality leadership, but everything that is good about anne arundel, county public schools.

B

We all in each of our departments, aspire to be more like you in your continued and relenting unrelenting focus on children, as all of you know as well, when her good work has been over the past 27 years. I think now, with anne arundel county public schools, when she planned to stay just five and she has made it her home and we have been the benefactors of that. I just cannot speak enough about your leadership, your dedication, your team, loves working for you, each and every day we love what you do for our children.

B

This is well recognized, well deserved, even before covet and when covet hit within hours, you had your teams standing at the ready, curbside and, as you like to tell the story when I had conversations with you leading into that weekend, that we were now closing schools and how we were going to serve meals.

B

You said, oh, don't worry, dr a I got this and in fact you did for each and one of our children and you have served you and your team has served millions and millions and millions of meals to our children uninterrupted during this pandemic, and so I thank you for everything that you do and I thank you for the brief time. Madam chair.

A

Of course, thank you, dr alato.

A

In her 14 years, overseeing aacps's division of food and nutrition services, miss rissi has become known as an innovator, who cultivates creative, year-round approaches to providing healthy meals for students at all levels, with an intense focus on fresh fruits and vegetable options.

A

Under mrs miss rissi's leadership, the division of food and nutrition services has provided more than 12 and a half million meals to students across the county. Since the onset of the covid19 pandemic in march of 2020.

A

food and nutrition services, employees didn't miss a day serving meals. On the very first day, schools were closed. In addition to her work with the aecps, ms rissy has served on the maryland school nutrition executive board since 2002, and was the organization's education committee co-chair from two thousand to two thousand seven.

A

On a personal note, mr rissy, I the first time I recall interacting with you was when I came in to attend and forgive me if I get the name wrong: the wellness committee or council council. Sorry it was such a fun afternoon, but um there are certain people that when you walk into a room, you simply feel their presence as soon as as soon as you're.

A

There there's this positive energy and light about them- and you are, you are certainly one of those people that just makes that impression on me and um secondly, it was a scary time for all of us. I recall you know we're all we're all humans, we're parents, we're wives, we're husbands, and um so, when all this talk was going on and we're glued to the tv and the phone trying to figure out what the heck is going on right now in the world um and our schools are suddenly closed.

A

I mean our minds were blown what you were able to pull off in in an instant getting our students fed in in the middle of all that so um heartfelt. Thank you and therefore the board of education would like to present you with this citation and it reads: the board of education of anne arundel county bestows this citation upon jody rissy in recognition of your invaluable leadership as supervisor of food and nutrition services, and for making a difference in the lives of the students and the families of anne arundel county.

A

We are grateful for your unwavering dedication and support of anne arundel county public schools. Mr rusty, please.

A

C

C

B

I you're okay, I can't see.

C

Okay, great all right guys that looks good. We're gonna go ahead and take a few of these.

C

Okay, a couple more.

C

Congratulations.

C

B

A

Is so home for.

C

Me thank you for the support and I truly have the best team in the whole wide world. So I couldn't do.

A

Any of it without.

C

Them and like I said, I think the other day I thought it'd be five years, I'm thrilled it's 27.. It truly is home. So thanks to my family at home and my family at work, I appreciate it.

C