Andalusia City Schools Child Nutrition Program Director Stephanie Dillard recently won the Alabama Child Nutrition Director of the Year award.

Dillard has served as director for ACS since 1997, and was a nutrition instructor at LBWCC from 2003-2006.

“I am very humbled and honored to receive Alabama’s Child Nutrition Director of the Year Award,” Dillard said.

In order to be eligible for the award, a director must meet the following criteria:

• Be a director of school nutrition for at least 10 years;

• Be a member of SNA and their state association for the past five years;

• Have served in at least one position on the state or national executive board or on an SNA national committee or state committee;

• Be involved in their community by sharing their food service and nutrition knowledge and expertise; and

• Be SNA certified.

The award is designed to recognize the outstanding contributions of school nutrition directors who manage effective programs that provide healthful, appetizing and nutritious meals to students.

Under Dillard’s leadership, ACS has made great strides in child nutrition.

Most recently, Andalusia Elementary implemented a no-charge breakfast in the classroom to help ensure every child eats breakfast.

During the summer, there’s also a summertime food program, which serves both breakfast and lunch. Both meals are free.

Dillard has also procured USDA fruit and vegetable grants for the schools and has worked to implement new standards for healthy eating in the school lunch program.

“It was a tribute to her to be recognized for the child nutrition program. She does a great job of making sure our meals are in compliance with the state and federal guidelines,” ACS Superintendent Ted Watson said. “She also has done a masterful job of securing grant money to provide different fruits and vegetables for our students to try. We’ve received more than a million dollars worth of food through that program. She is most deserving.”