Director of Child Nutrition Academy

The United States Department of Agriculture has become more stringent on academic requirements for Child Nutrition Directors and requires specialized training and ongoing instruction. The directors of this academy will be prepared for the demands of managing one of the biggest departments in any school district through this comprehensive curriculum, which is designed to fulfill state training requirements.

Class Schedule for 2025

• January 24th & 25th
• February 7th & 8th
• March 7th & 8th
• April 4th & 5th
• May 2nd & 3rd
• September 19th & 20th
• October 17th & 18th
• November 14th & 15th

Comprehensive Curriculum

The TSS Director of Child Nutrition Certificate Academy is a comprehensive curriculum developed to build new capabilities for seasoned Child Nutrition directors or to enhance their current ones. The course includes both classroom instruction and hands-on training, covering a wide range of knowledge and skills. The Academy places the Child Nutrition directors in their position within the organization, explains how school districts are organized, and highlights the vital role that the nutrition services division plays in a district and how it affects the educational program. Instruction will revolve around several major themes including Child Nutrition funding, Special Provision options, preparing for the administrative review, meal access and reimbursement, menu planning, resource management, food safety, procurement, human resources/personnel, collective bargaining, and other federal programs and reviews.

The course will provide an opportunity for participants to expand their skill set in a challenging yet encouraging environment. Specialized assignments and class projects are done individually and as part of small teams, and learning is evaluated with monthly assessments and a final exam. Participants who successfully complete the course will be issued an TSS Director of Child Nutrition Certificate.

Presenters

The instructor for the program Jose’ Alvarado has worked for 34 years in education, most recently as the Food Services Director for Fresno Unified School District. Jose Alvarado has obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree and Master’s in Business Administration from California State University Fresno along with a Chief Business Official Certification from an SB352 State Board of Education certified training provider. He has also presented for the California Department of Education and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on various school nutrition topics at local, state, and national workshops and training venues.

Other presenters for the program include directors from organizations like the California Department of Education Child Nutrition Division as well as active and former school administrators, who are among the best in the state. TSS Executive Vice President Dr. Joseph Pandolfo manages the program and moderates several sessions to guarantee the consistency of the curriculum. He has over 30 years of expertise in the education sector.