The Kansas State Department of Education’s Child Nutrition and Wellness (CNW) team is hosting a kickoff event for the Jump Start program from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 17 at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library in Topeka. 

The Jump Start Your Success in School Nutrition Program offers a blend of in-person, live virtual, on-demand and personalized training opportunities for new and aspiring school food service directors and managers. The training is for those with less than three years of experience. Those with three years of experience or more may participate as a mentor. 

The free, multi-week Jump Start program will offer real-time and immediately applicable opportunities facilitated by CNW staff members and mentors. The program has been developed to incorporate personalized training and leadership development through mentoring opportunities and to encourage open-group discussion so participants can be actively involved in learning best practices from the field. 

Participants who complete the entire program will develop the skills necessary for the successful operation of school nutrition programs. 

For more information about participating or being a mentor, contact KSDE’s Kelly Chanay via email at kchanay@ksde.org.  

Although registration is closed for the kickoff event, there is a waiting list. Priority will be given to new directors and managers. To be added to the waiting list, contact KSDE’s Katy Hatch at khatch@ksde.org.