Watertown school nutrition director honored by state; district credits increases in meal participation
Summary
School nutrition director Brandon Rabbit was named Massachusetts School Nutrition Association Director of the Year; district leaders said breakfast participation in Watertown rose nearly 40% and lunch nearly 30% under his leadership.
At the May 5 School Committee meeting, the superintendent recognized Brandon Rabbit, Watertown Public Schools’ school nutrition director, after the School Nutrition Association of Massachusetts named him Massachusetts Director of the Year.
The superintendent praised Rabbit for leadership in program innovation, student wellness and sustainability, and said the district’s breakfast participation has increased “nearly 40%” and lunch participation “nearly 30%” since Rabbit’s arrival in February 2017. The superintendent added that the district has expanded menus, composting and farm-to-table initiatives and that Rabbit will be honored at the association’s fall conference.
Rabbit responded briefly, noting his time in Watertown and praising his staff: “my 7 and a half years in Watertown has been crazy... having a great team of people behind me is important because our staff are incredible.” Committee members and other speakers offered congratulatory remarks and described family-level impacts, with one committee member saying their child “eats school breakfast and lunch every single day and loves it,” and another praising the district’s community-fridge and sustainability work connected to the nutrition program.
No formal actions or funding decisions were announced at the meeting in connection with the award.
