Strength in Team Staff Spotlight: Dianna Vernon, kitchen manager at UAHS

This year, we will be highlighting the people who contribute to the strength of our team by making our schools and our district such a special place for students. 

 

Dianna Vernon, Kitchen Manager at Upper Arlington High School

How do you contribute to your school/department and the school district as a whole?  I have worked hard throughout my years at UA to build a successful lunch program — where our students can get a good and healthy lunch, a lunch that is better than what they would get if they went out to lunch.  For lunch, our students want to come back time and time again. I have also served on several committees throughout the years supporting classified staff and the community.

What inspires you / motivates you in your role? I have always liked to cook — I took my first cooking class when I was 10 years old.  I like pleasing people through food. I want folks to have an enjoyable experience when I have cooked for them.

What is a memorable moment, or your proudest moment at UA Schools in the "long time" you have been with Upper Arlington Schools?  My favorite memory is when I was recognized by a student with her family outside of school. She had shared with her dad how happy I made her when she visited the cafe. Meeting her family and the joy they expressed made me feel all my hard work didn’t go unrecognized.

What brings you joy outside of work? Spending time with and taking care of family.

What Nutritional Services Director Irene Hunt has to say about Dianna: Dianna is an invaluable asset to our team.  Dianna has a true passion for serving students and an unwavering dedication and exceptional work ethic, which shows in what she does each day.  I often say she is one of the hardest-working people I know.  She constantly seeks out and embraces new ideas to improve our service to students and never shies away from the hard things.

Dianna has served the students of Upper Arlington for almost 40 years, and she has the same passion and dedication today as she did when she first started. Her whole focus is all about the students and how to make food service a great experience for them.

She is a team player and leader and would do anything to help support her peers and team. Her dedication and commitment to excellence contribute significantly to the success of the department.