Director’s Choice Award
Criteria & Evaluation
Director’s Choice Awards celebrate employees who make a meaningful difference in our schools and departments. Nominees do not need to meet every criterion below; they should demonstrate excellence in one or more areas.
Nominees must:
- Be a current employee in good standing
- Have completed at least one full school year of employment
In addition, nominees exemplify one or more of the following:
- Meaningful Impact: Makes a positive and lasting difference for students, staff, families, or the school community.
- Above & Beyond Spirit: Goes beyond job expectations to support others, solve problems, or improve experiences.
- Living Our Values: Models our shared values through everyday actions, professionalism, and care for others.
- Positive Influence: Lifts others through collaboration, mentorship, leadership, or a consistently supportive presence.
- Initiative & Innovation: Sees opportunities for improvement and takes thoughtful action to make things better.
Director’s Choice Awards recognize both outstanding moments and sustained excellence over time, across all roles and school sites.
Five award categories are given:
Heart of the School: Builds meaningful connections with students and staff
Culture Builder Award: Strengthens morale and positive workplace culture
Innovator’s Award: Introduces creative ideas that improve systems or outcomes
Excellence in Service Award: Delivers consistent, high-quality service
Rising Star Award: Emerging leader showing strong potential
Evaluation Timeline (at a glance):
- Nominations Open: Monday after spring break
- Nominations Close: Last business day in April
- Review Period: Nominations are thoughtfully reviewed by the Director of Nutrition Services.
- Selections Finalized: May of each year
Recognition: Award recipients will be celebrated during the Nutrition Services annual end of the school year celebration.
Perfect Attendance Awards Program
The Perfect Attendance Awards recognize individuals and teams who demonstrate exceptional reliability and commitment to their work. Consistent attendance supports smooth kitchen operations, strong teamwork, and reliable service to students and staff.
These awards celebrate individuals and teams who consistently show up for their coworkers and the students we serve.
Two awards are given:
Show Up Superstar – Individual perfect attendance award
No Call Out Crew – Team perfect attendance award
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for perfect attendance recognition, employees must:
- Be actively employed during the applicable award period
- Be in attendance for all scheduled calendar workdays
- Have no call-outs or unexcused absences
- Be in good standing with the department
The following absences will not count against perfect attendance:
- Civic Duty (jury duty, court subpoena, etc.)
- Bereavement leave
- Approved medical leave
Note: Employees must follow all normal call-in and leave approval procedures for these exceptions.
First Year Excellence Award
Recognizes a new team member who has demonstrated outstanding attendance and performance and who has had a positive impact on their team and the department during their first year in their role.
Eligibility Requirements (Must Meet All):
- Hired during the current school year
- In position at least 90 days prior to nomination
- In good standing
- No unexcused absences; bereavement, medical leave, and civic duty are not counted toward absences
Operational Excellence Award
The Operational Excellence Award recognizes school teams that demonstrate creativity, efficiency, and a strong commitment to serving students. This award highlights programs that increase meal participation, expand access so all students can enjoy meals, and create welcoming, engaging cafeteria environments.
Schools are evaluated across several key areas, including meal participation and access, menu and a la carte innovation, and serving line efficiency. Judges also consider how teams promote their programs through marketing and student engagement, the overall kitchen environment, and the quality of staff–student interactions that help create a positive dining experience.
In addition, the award celebrates teams that elevate the presentation and appeal of food, using creative displays, promotions, and student-centered ideas to generate excitement around school meals.
Together, these elements recognize programs that go beyond simply serving food—they build vibrant school dining experiences that encourage participation, foster community, and ensure every student has access to nutritious, appealing meals.
The Storm Star Award
The Storm Star Award celebrates school kitchens that demonstrate excellence in food safety, operational consistency, and high-quality meal service. This recognition highlights teams that consistently uphold the highest standards while creating appealing and engaging meals for students.
Half of the award score is based on food safety and operational compliance, including health department performance, SFSPac reporting, and adherence to standardized recipes. Kitchens also earn recognition for presentation and plating, with monthly featured meals that showcase thoughtful preparation and visual appeal. Staff across the district participate in peer voting through Webex, and student feedback can earn additional bonus points.
The remaining score reflects overall KPI performance, evaluated by the Nutrition Services leadership team. These metrics recognize kitchens that demonstrate strong operational results while maintaining high-quality service for students.
Each year, the top three scoring kitchens are recognized as Storm Elite and receive the St. Vrain Storm Award. Winning schools are honored with a framed certificate recognizing their achievement and year of distinction, celebrating the teams who set the standard for excellence across the district.