From Beaufort County Schools

Abbie Hopkins, the second longest serving employee of the Beaufort County Schools Child Nutrition Department, will freely admit the schedule was what drew her to this job. “Summers off with my children and giving me time to work seafood,” she said. “That was all I had to hear.”

It did not take long for Hopkins, now manager of the cafeteria at Northeast Elementary School in Pinetown, to begin making connections that give her an entirely different feeling towards the job.

“I started to get to know the students and their problems. As I got more attached, the job began to change for me,” Hopkins said.

Clarifying quickly it was a good change.

While at home, Hopkins spent summers feeding her entire neighborhood. It did not take long for her students to become an extension of her own neighborhood.

“These children are the reason we are here, me and my girls (referring to the Child Nutrition staff at Northeast Elementary School),” according to Hopkins. “It’s those students who don’t seem to attract attention that I am especially drawn to. I know I can help make a difference for that child.”

The entire team is invested in making those differences. At Northeast Elementary School, children receive a personalized “Happy Birthday” including a tiara or crown, and the team comes out to sing “Happy Birthday.” All the teacher has to do is let the ladies know which student has the birthday. The traveling celebration stays on the ready.

“I am very proud of my girls,” Hopkins said.

In this team of six, two are everyday school bus drivers and two others are bus monitors, in addition to cafeteria responsibilities.  A simple early dismissal will take away the majority of Hopkin’s crew earlier than normal, but they don’t get stressed.

“We make it work, whatever happens. We always find a way,” she said.

Hopkins acknowledges that teamwork is an important concept from top to bottom in the district’s Child Nutrition Department, and credits the director with many positive changes since her arrival.

“Since Gwyn Roberson-McBride came onboard, she has taken us so far,” Hopkins said. “For example, the software upgrades have made paperwork much easier so we can keep our true focus on these children.

“Some might think fruits and vegetables are a normal thing at every home, but that’s just not the case.”

She applauds the local fruits and vegetables being used in the cafeterias today.

“The children love it, even the broccoli,” she added.

The cafeteria may not look like a typical classroom, but Hopkins grabs the chance to work with the smaller children on nutrition education while they are in the line. It’s not unusual to see her greeting the children with a variety of vegetables and asking them to identify the product. There are just a few minutes to utilize but she makes the most of it.

It sounds like a simple concept, and it’s one that appears to be working well.

School Nutrition Employee Week is recognized nationally as May 2-6. Beaufort County Schools is proud to celebrate our most veteran employees of the district’s Child Nutrition Department this special week.