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The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) released the Professional Standards for State and Local School Nutrition Programs Personnel final rule on March 2, 2015. This final rule establishes minimum professional standards for school nutrition personnel who manage and operate the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. The final rule institutes hiring standards for the selection of State and local school nutrition program directors, and requires all personnel in the school nutrition programs to complete annual continuing education/training. These regulations were intended to result in consistent, national professional standards that strengthen the ability of school nutrition professionals and staff to perform their duties effectively and efficiently. Questions and answers to the final rule followed in 2016 (SP 38-2016, Questions & Answers (Q&As) on the Final Rule 'Professional Standards for State and Local School Nutrition Programs Personnel as Required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.'").

Guidance & Resources
Tracking Tools and Resources
Training Resources

Welcome to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction School Nutrition Administrator Leadership Academy! Our goal is to grow self-confident and high achieving School Nutrition Administrators in a nurturing teaching environment which encourages collaboration and continuous professional development.

The SN Leadership Academy is designed to provide on-going continuing education in areas critical to the administration and operation of high-quality School Nutrition Programs to include, but not limited to, Food Production and Operations Management, Food Safety, Leadership Development, Marketing, New Administrator Orientation, Nutrition, Procurement, Program Accountability and Resource/Financial Management.

Courses are planned for a variety of topics each year and will be offered on a rotating schedule with many subject areas being explored in greater depth in subsequent workshops.

Course Schedule – TBD

Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN)

SNA Certificate & Credentialing

School Nutrition Association (SNA) Learning Center)

About Canvas

The Canvas LMS application was adopted by the NC Department of Public Instruction to provide online educational opportunities for North Carolina’s Teachers and Administrators across the state.  Canvas is an easy-to-navigate and powerful tool for developing and delivering online learning and professional development opportunities for learners at all levels.

School Nutrition is working to expand the selection of online professional development opportunities for School Nutrition program administrators across the state.  That includes full courses, microlearning modules (5-10 min) on specific subjects or processes, and resource repositories. The goal is for Canvas to be the primary platform by which the state agency will provide and manage all continuing education and professional development for school nutrition administrators and staff.
 

Already have a School Nutrition Canvas account?

 

User Interface/Navigation Resource Guides 

Review the following Canvas User Interface resources for valuable information on the structure of the system and courses.  Click on the each resource to download it or bookmark it for future reference.

Dashboard ViewHomepage ViewModules View
Canvas User Interface-Dashboard view
Canvas User Interface - Homepage View
Canvas User Interface - Modules View

Technology Requirements

Chrome is the recommended browser for the best experience while using Canvas LMS.

North Carolina CE & PD Opportunities

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2024 conference for sn administrators. hands touching blue and green gears

 

The N.C. Department of Public Instruction, Office of School Nutrition is thrilled to announce the return of the Conference for School Nutrition Administrators! The conference will be held October 16-18, 2024, at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Conference Center, located at 4700 Emperor Blvd., Durham, NC 27703.

Registration

Registration has now closed. Please contact Katrina Perry  with any questions regarding registration.
 

School Nutrition Specialist (SNS) Certification Exam

We will be hosting an SNS Certification Exam opportunity prior to conference kickoff on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, from 8:00 am - 12:00 pm at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel.

Register and review the information on eligibility and how to apply on the School Nutrition Association (SNA) website

The deadline to register for the exam through SNA is September 25, 2024.

Direct any questions about applying and registering for the exam to SNA. You may email them at certsns@schoolnutrition.org


Agenda and Program

Conference check in will begin at 9:45 a.m. Wednesday, October 16 with the first continuing education event beginning with a luncheon at 11:30 a.m.  The conference will conclude on Friday, October 18 at 12:00 noon.

We are thrilled to offer dynamic and innovative speakers for our general sessions and an array of relevant timely topics during the breakout sessions scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.  We will also devote time to address current challenges and the many successes in School Nutrition during each day of the conference.


Hotel Information

Lodging may be available at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel Raleigh-Durham Airport at Research Triangle Park (conference hotel) and next door at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Raleigh-Durham Airport/Research Triangle Park. Both hotel blocks for this conference have now closed and the discounted rate is no longer available at either hotel, but rooms may still be available at current room rates.
 
To book your reservation at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel Raleigh-Durham Airport at Research Triangle Park (conference hotel), you can visit their website or call the hotel directly at (919) 941-5050. Should you need to modify or cancel a reservation already booked through the room block, please call the hotel directly.
 
Rooms may also be available next door at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Raleigh-Durham Airport/Research Triangle Park. To make your reservation at this hotel, you can visit their website or call the hotel directly at (919) 998-9500. Should you need to modify or cancel a reservation already booked through the room block, please call the hotel directly.
 
In deciding your plans, it may be helpful to note the hotel cancellation policies.
 

Cancellation Policy

Sheraton Imperial
Should an individual reservation need to be cancelled for any reason, there will be no charge for that individual reservation cancelled by 48 hours prior to the scheduled day of arrival. If the individual reservation is not cancelled, prior to the 48 hours’ time frame, a fee of one night’s room and tax will be charged either to the individual credit card. Guaranteed reservations are held for arrival until midnight on the day of arrival. In the case of “no shows”, guaranteed reservations will be charged to the individuals credit card and the reservation is not automatically reinstated for the next day.
 
SpringHill Suites
The SpringHill Suites has a similar cancellation policy requiring 48 hours notice. Please contact the hotel directly for more details regarding their cancellation policy.


Food and Menu

A tentative menu is provided below. Please be sure to indicate any special dietary requests in the online conference registration form.

View/Download Conference Meals and Menu (rev 10.03.2024)

Please note, the menus are subject to change. We will do our best to communicate any menu changes as quickly as possible.
 

Questions and Contact

For questions, please contact Katrina Perry, Professional Development Consultant, katrina.perry@dpi.nc.gov.  


We look forward to seeing you in October in Durham!
 

The N.C. Department of Public Instruction, (NCDPI), Office of School Nutrition will be offering three in-person pre-conference workshops at the School Nutrition Association of North Carolina (SNA-NC) Conference in Greensboro. The workshops will be held at the Koury Convention Center. See below for more information and links to register. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Katrina Perry, Professional Development Consultant, katrina.perry@dpi.nc.gov.
 

New School Nutrition Manager

Dates:  June 16-17, 2025
Day 1: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm (Check-in begins at 12:30 pm)
Day 2: 9:00 am- 4:00 pm

Overview:
This two-day workshop is designed for new and aspiring School Nutrition Managers. It will include introductory information and overviews for meal patterns, offer vs. serve, meal counting and claiming, cash management and accountability, Food Safety and the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan, inventory management, production records, and customer service.

Workshop Registration

Please register in advance; we cannot guarantee seating and materials for on-site registrations.

Image of registration button for 2025 SNA-NC Pre-Conf New Manager Workshop
Safe Plates for Food Managers

Dates: June 16-17, 2025
Day 1: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm (Check-in begins at 9:30 am)
Day 2: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (Exam - 2:45 - 5:00 pm on Day 2)

Overview:
Safe Plates for Food Managers is an evidence-based, interactive food safety training course developed and offered by NC State University (NCSU)/Cooperative Extension. This two-day workshop is designed to help School Nutrition Administrators/Directors, School Nutrition Managers, and other Persons in Charge (PICs) obtain a Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) certification. This certification is required for School Nutrition Administrators/Directors as part of Professional Standards hiring requirements and is also required for PICs of food establishments per the North Carolina Food Code. The course will prepare participants to successfully direct food safety practices in the school nutrition program and complete an American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited CFPM examination which will be administered as part of the workshop. A preparation course begins on the first day and ends on the second day. After the conclusion of the preparation course on the afternoon of the second day, participants will be given an opportunity to take the exam. 

Workshop Registration
  1. There is a $70 registration cost for the workshop that includes participation in the course, training materials, and the ANSI-certified exam fee. The SNA-NC Safe Plates registration fee is a discounted rate compared to taking this course through your local N.C. Cooperative Extension agent.
  2. Advance registration is REQUIRED; on-site registrations and payments cannot be processed.
Image of registration button for 2025 SNA-NC Pre-Conf New Manager Workshop
The Administrative Review: An Approach to Collaborative Compliance

Dates: June 16-17, 2025
Day 1: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm (Check-in begins at 12:30 p.m.)
Day 2: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Overview:
This two-day workshop is designed to provide important information about the United States Department of Agriculture’s Administrative Review. Participants will have a better understanding of the areas of review and process of the Administrative Review. This workshop is intended for School Nutrition Administrators and their central office staff who have an Administrative Review scheduled for school year 2025-2026 and for those who wish to learn more about the Administrative Review (AR) conducted in the School Food Authority (SFA). 

Registration coming soon! 
[NOTE: Registration will open first for SFAs scheduled for an Administrative Review in SY 2025-2026. Please register in advance.]

The Financial Management 101 course provides instruction on all aspects of School Nutrition finances under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, including revenues, expenses, the connection to the general ledger, and calculations for Key Performance Indicators (KPI).

Please check back for updates and information about upcoming opportunities for this course.

Fuel Up to Win Instructional Videos

 
Menu Planning and Daily Meal Production Records
Meal Patterns
Offer vs Serve
Food Preparation Skills and Tips
  • We Want Lunch
  • Using the Food Buying Guide
  • Developing Standardized Recipes
  • Measuring and Weighing Accurately
  • Using Knives Efficiently
  • Fruits and Veggie Cuts
  • Enhancing Flavors in Menus
  • New Salad Twists
  • Innovative Menu Ideas
  • Accommodating Special Dietary Needs
Positive Dining Experiences
  • It's All in the Presentation
  • Ways to Use Garnishes
  • Focus on the Customer
Nutrition in the Classroom & Beyond
  • Unique Classroom Activities
  • Promoting Nutritional Messages and Team-Building
Additional Resources
  • North Carolina School Nutrition Programs
  • North Carolina School Nutrition Breakfast is Brain Fuel Tool-kit
  • USDA Food and Nutrition Service School Nutrition Programs
  • USDA Food and Nutrition Service Nutrition Standards for School Meals
  • School Nutrition Association
  • USDA Food and Nutrition Service Resources A-Z
  • National Food Service Management Institute
  • Food Buying Guide Calculator for Child Nutrition Progams
  • USFA Food Buying Guide
  • Food Safey for School and Community Gardens
  •  

nck12_inst_logo

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Office of School Nutrition Services, in cooperation with Chef Cyndie Story and K-12 Team, has developed the NC K-12 Culinary Institute, which features face-to-face and online instruction for School Nutrition personnel to enhance the following healthy dining objectives:

  • Improve student health, well-being, and academic success through nutritious, appealing meals at school
  • Increase participation in high quality, enticing School Nutrition programs
  • Expand capacity of local school nutrition programs to purchase, prepare and serve fresh, locally grown produce
  • Increase consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain rich foods
  • Provide continuing education opportunities for School Nutrition personnel
Resources

 

In North Carolina, it is required per Professional Standards Hiring Requirements that the School Nutrition Administrator overseeing the National School Lunch Program receive or hold a current a Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) certification by passing an American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited exam.  This certification is also required per the North Carolina Food Code for the person in charge (PIC) at a foodservice establishment, such as a school or catering kitchen.

To learn more about this certification, opportunities to take a course and exam, and Professional Standards requirements, please review the resources below:

For questions, please contact Katrina Perry, Professional Development Consultant, at katrina.perry@dpi.nc.gov.

The HACCP in Your School course has been updated and re-branded to the Safe Plates for School Nutrition Staff course. This online food safety course hosted by our North Carolina State Extension partners and offers several options for meeting annual food safety training needs for school nutrition staff. It is an alternative to the face-to-face workshop when it is not feasible to bring employees together for a in-person instruction.

The Safe Plates for School Nutrition Staff course is divided into two parts. Part 1 provides 4 hours of continuing education, divided into 6 essential modules. All 6 modules must be completed to earn Professional Standards credit for this course. For additional hours and to expand food safety knowledge and understanding, four 1-hour bonus modules are offered in Part 2. These can be taken individually, providing up to 4 more hours of continuing education in food safety. Part 1 and Part 2 combined provides a total of 8 hours of professional development approved by SNA as a food safety core course which can be used towards SNA certification requirements (https://schoolnutrition.org/certificate/).

What is Smart Options?

Smart Options: School Meals Make a Difference in NC, developed by the North Carolina Division of Public Health and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, is a continuing education course tailored for school nutrition professionals in North Carolina that covers the key components of:

  • nutrition and physical activity
  • school nutrition regulation requirements
  • methods for serving quality school meals
  • strategies for linking the cafeteria to the classroom with nutrition education
  • ways to promote school meals
  • and the components of school wellness. 

Smart Options also features local success stories from across the state.


Course Credit
Smart Options: School Meals Make a Difference in NC is an approved course for any School Nutrition professional seeking certification through the national School Nutrition Association. Smart Options is divided into ten interactive modules. Completion of the full course provides 12 hours of continuing education credit. 

 

Smart Options: Teach the Leader

Completion of the Teach the Leader workshop is required to be able to teach the Smart Options course.  Teach the Leader provides four hours of continuing education credit. Participants receive the Leader Guide, Study Guide and additional necessary materials needed to teach the Smart Options course.  Click the next workshop date below for details.

For additional information please contact Tracey Bates at  tracey.bates@dpi.nc.gov.

Course Dates: TBD

Verification: Guidance for Conducting the Annual Verification Process for SY 2023-24

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Please view ALL THREE videos their entirety.  
  2. Complete the evaluation. Once the evaluation is complete a certificate of completion will be sent to your email.  Please be sure your email is entered the Google form correctly.  If you do not receive your certificate please contact Donna Knight at donna.knight@dpi.nc.gov.
  3. Download the resources referenced in the presentations at the links below, as needed.  Please contact us if you need additional resources.
  4. If you have questions about the Verification process please contact your zone consultant or Jacquelyn McGowan at jacquelyn.mcgowan@dpi.nc.gov . 

*IMPORTANT NOTE*  A webinar is mentioned in the presentations however this was not a live webinar.  The information was pre-recorded.  

 
Download Resources for Verification sy2023-24

 

  1. INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO - Part One  (12:19)

Topics covered:

  • Introduction, Objectives, Key Terms
  • What is Verification?  
     
  1. INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO - Part Two (20:05)

Topics covered:

  • Initial Verification Process
  • Application Selection Procedures
  • Post Selection Procedures
  • Foreign Language Applications  
     
  1. INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO - Part Three (29:49)

Topics covered: 

  • Sources for Verification 
  • Direct Verification 
  • Continuing the Verification Process 
  • Common Misunderstandings 
  • Conclusion
*NOTICE* We have found that the link in the video for the evaluation is not working properly. You may access the evaluation at the link below.  Upon completion of the evaluation your certificate will immediately be sent to your email.  Please contact Donna Knight at donna.knight@dpi.nc.gov for issues with the evaluation or the certificate.
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