Chef Heather Recognized as 2024 FISD Chef of the Year
Winsor’s very own Chef Heather is a 2024 FISD Chef of the Year! Students, faculty, and staff learned of Chef Heather’s new accolade during Chef Appreciation Week in September. A beloved member of the Winsor community, Chef Heather holds the title of culinary director with Flik Independent School Dining (FISD).
FISD recognized Chef Heather for soliciting and incorporating wisdom from students to authentically represent the many cultures and heritages that make up the Winsor School community. Her menus explore the globe through flavor, often visiting upwards of 30 to 40 different countries in a school year. “Making students feel heard and seen through food is why I love what I do,” she told FISD.
Outside of the kitchen, she enjoys working with students and is committed to partnering with Winsor student organizations like Conserve Our World, gardening club, and others to realize their goals. For example, when students wanted to remove trays from the lunch line to cut down on water usage, Chef Heather helped make it happen. In conjunction with students she has brought numerous environmental initiatives to Winsor including Meatless Mondays, a composting program, and a more sustainable menu featuring vegan options. Recently, the school had a “cold kitchen” lunch in support of eating green. The hot line was cold, the kitchen lights were turned off, and faculty, staff, and students made their own chicken caesar salad bowls.
Faculty enjoy working with Chef Heather, too. She’s been known to visit classrooms or host workshops in the dining room. In one such collaboration, Chef Heather helped students explore mindful eating techniques during a Wellness class. In another, she counseled seniors on how to creatively make the most of the options they might find in their colleges’ cafeterias.
Each year, the school yearbook is dedicated to a faculty or staff member selected by the graduating class. At an all-school assembly in 2023, Chef Heather and the dining staff team received the surprise dedication as well as a standing ovation from the whole school. In the full-page dedication, students thanked Chef Heather and the dining staff for “making us feel welcomed and seen through your global cuisines, for leaving us encouraging and inspiring notes on your whiteboard…for listening and incorporating our feedback into your food…[and] for instilling love and support in each meal.” They added, “Your efforts in the kitchen are deeply appreciated. Always placing environmentally friendly practices at the forefront of your work, you inspire us to positively impact the world. The love and care you have for each of us individually is unmistakable.”
Congratulations, Chef Heather, and thank you for all you do!
