Entries open for Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship (US)

Deadline: 08-Sep-2026

The Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship is a 13-month professional development program for experienced K-12 school food professionals working in self-operated National School Lunch Program programs across the United States. Fellows receive more than 360 hours of structured learning, leadership development, coaching, professional certifications, fully funded travel and training, and a $5,000 grant to implement a self-led capstone project that advances scratch cooking and equitable school food reform in their districts. What Is the Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship? The Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship is designed to equip experienced school food professionals with the knowledge, leadership skills, and resources needed to transform school meal programs. The Fellowship focuses on building a national network of school food leaders who can advance: - Scratch cooking in schools. - Equitable access to healthy meals. - Sustainable school food practices. - Stronger school nutrition programs. - Leadership within school food systems. - Policy advocacy and systems-level reform. The program is intended for professionals who already have experience in school food operations and want to take a stronger leadership role in improving school meal programs. What Does the Fellowship Aim to Achieve? The Fellowship aims to help school food professionals become leaders in school food reform. Participants gain practical knowledge and leadership capabilities to improve how school meals are planned, prepared, delivered, and managed.

Key areas of focus include:

- Scratch cooking. - Healthy school meals. - School food equity. - Sustainable food practices. - Operational improvement. - Leadership development. - Professional development. - Policy advocacy. - Community-level school food reform. Fellowship Duration The Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship lasts 13 months. During this period, Fellows participate in an intensive combination of structured learning, practical work, professional development, coaching, and leadership activities. The program includes more than 360 hours of structured learning. What Does the Fellowship Include? The Fellowship combines online education with practical experience and professional networking. Weekly Live Virtual Learning Fellows participate in weekly live virtual sessions featuring industry experts. These sessions provide opportunities to learn from experienced professionals and explore practical challenges facing school food programs. Arizona State University Coursework Participants complete coursework through the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems at Arizona State University. The coursework contributes to the Fellowship’s focus on sustainable and equitable school food systems. School Food Institute Courses Fellows also complete five online courses through the Chef Ann Foundation’s School Food Institute. These courses provide additional professional knowledge relevant to school food operations and reform. Asynchronous Learning In addition to live sessions, Fellows participate in asynchronous learning activities. This allows participants to complete coursework and learning activities alongside their professional responsibilities. Applied On-Site Work The Fellowship includes applied on-site work, allowing participants to connect learning with real-world school food operations. This practical component is designed to help Fellows translate new knowledge into improvements within their own districts. Individualized Coaching Fellows receive individualized coaching throughout the program. Coaching can help participants strengthen their leadership capabilities and develop strategies for implementing meaningful change. Professional Development Trips The program includes five in-person professional development trips. These experiences provide opportunities for Fellows to observe practices, learn from peers, build professional relationships, and gain exposure to innovative approaches to school food. All travel associated with the Fellowship is fully funded. National Policy Advocacy The Fellowship also provides opportunities for participants to engage in policy advocacy at the national level. This helps Fellows understand how school food professionals can contribute to broader policy discussions and systems change. What Funding Does Each Fellow Receive? Each Fellow receives a $5,000 grant to implement a self-led capstone project. The capstone project should advance scratch cooking in the Fellow’s school district. The grant gives participants an opportunity to translate their Fellowship learning into a practical project that addresses a specific need within their district. What Is a Capstone Project? The capstone is a self-led project designed and implemented by the Fellow. It should contribute to improving scratch cooking and school food practices within the Fellow’s district. A strong capstone project could potentially address areas such as: - Improving scratch cooking capacity. - Strengthening kitchen operations. - Developing staff skills. - Improving healthy meal preparation. - Increasing access to fresh foods. - Addressing barriers to scratch cooking. - Improving food preparation systems. - Advancing equitable school meal practices. The project should be connected to the Fellow’s professional responsibilities and have meaningful potential for district-level impact. Are Travel and Training Costs Covered? Yes.

The Fellowship fully funds:

- Travel. - Training. - In-person professional development gatherings. This support is designed to reduce financial barriers and make participation more accessible to eligible school food professionals. What Professional Credentials Do Fellows Earn? Upon successful completion, Fellows earn a suite of professional certifications and credentials.

These include:

- U.S. Department of Labor Apprenticeship Certificate for School Food Directors - School Food Institute Silver Certificate - Additional credentials from Ari