Managers & directors
Communicate changing priorities, address concerns directly, and balance accountability with empathy.
Leadership for the people behind the meals
Help your school nutrition leaders communicate clearly, handle difficult moments, and lead with greater consistency.
Develop the people who serve students every day—with leadership learning grounded in the realities of their work.
Book a Leadership Consultation(opens booking calendar in a new tab)I understand why this work matters.
I received school nutrition support as a child and later served as South Carolina’s state child nutrition director. My connection to this work runs from receiving its care to carrying responsibility at the state level.
Approximately 30 years of public service taught me to keep the people behind the work in view. I retired in January 2025; today, I bring that perspective to developing leaders who face competing demands and still need to show up for their teams.
Recognize the pressure. Work on the response.
Frontline teams
Work through team tension, clarify expectations, and speak respectfully when the day gets demanding.
District & association planners
Build a relevant leadership keynote or facilitated development experience for the people responsible for nourishing students.
Leadership moments worth working on.
- A staffing change creates frustration and shortens communication.
- A manager needs to address a concern while preserving a working relationship.
- A director communicates priorities across teams facing different pressures.
- Frontline colleagues need to address tension before it shapes the rest of the day.
What your team can work on.
Participants will have opportunities to connect leadership tools to familiar situations.
- State expectations clearly and check for shared understanding.
- Recognize stress signals before responding to a concern.
- Use questions and acknowledgment alongside accountability.
- Choose a response to carry into their next team conversation.
The Power of Your Presence™, in your context.
A keynote offers a shared starting point. Workshops and leadership labs make room for discussion and trying different responses. Available nationwide and virtually; timing, takeaways, and any materials are confirmed in the agreed scope.
Feedback from the field
Barnwell County School District
Following a school nutrition presentation, a follow-up described a manager applying PEACE in her cafeteria and more reserved staff participating. This is qualitative feedback about application and participation.
“The influence you had on us is being used to help us become better leaders.”
Questions from school nutrition planners
Can this be customized for our team?
Yes. Donna discusses your roles, workplace pressures, and learning priorities, then selects activities that fit your audience.
What is the focus of this training?
Leadership development: clearer communication, emotional awareness, and consistent expectations. Technical and compliance needs remain with your specialist training providers.
Can different leadership levels participate?
Managers, directors, frontline team members, and mixed groups bring different needs. Your audience helps shape the format and activities.
Continue exploring
Let’s talk about the leaders you are developing.
Start with a conversation about your audience, goals, and event.