Carson City School District honors its 2015/2016 Educator and Classified Employees of the Year

The Carson City School District presented its 2015/2016 Educator and Classified Employees of the Year at the School Board meeting Tuesday night.

One of the winners was Christina Cooper, coordinator for Nutrition Services for the district, who won the Employee of the Year for Operation Services for her work to bring good nutrition to Carson City students.

“She is a super hard worker, dedicated, passionate and is a leader in her field,” said Operation Services Supervisor Mark Korinek.

Cooper has been with the school district for 17 years, the last six as the Coordinator for Nutrition Services. She’s in charge of working with the district’s food distributor to create the menus and coordinate the company’s partnership as well as administrative duties and work with the cooks and manager staff at the school sites.

“This isn’t about me, it is the cooks and the managers who are the superheroes,” Cooper said.

“They do such a good job that they make me look good.”

Cooper came upon her job with the school district by accident; she had been working as a cook and waitress at the Eagle Valley Golf Course when she decided to answer a help wanted ad with the school district for a cook at one of the school sites as a way to make money during the winter while the golf course was closed. She said she has always loved cooking, so starting a job as a cook was a natural fit. From there, she worked her way up through the ranks to her current position.

In addition to working with the school district, Cooper is also heavily involved with the School Nutrition Association of Nevada, the Carson City Wellness Committee, a Carson City School District recycling committee, a farm to school committee and Community with School Gardens program.

She said she loves working with the district because of the kids.

“This job is great because the kids are happy to be there and to have you there because you are feeding them,” Cooper said.

“And we are making sure there are fresh fruits and veggies every day because we want the kids to be healthy.”

Though she is active in the community with nutrition services, Cooper is reluctant to take the credit for the Employee of the Year award.

“I feel like it is a reflection of the people around you who make you look good,” Cooper said. “The support I have in the office and the school district is great and it is all about the team work in this office. It makes it easy on me (to do a good job) because I have great support.”

Korinek said it’s Cooper’s experience in the kitchen and in food service that makes her a great asset to the department.

“Anyone can come in with restaurant experience and know how to run a kitchen, but not everyone will know how to feed kids and how to supervise kids (like Chris does),” Korinek said. “She is one of the best people I have ever met; she is kind and hardworking and that is why she fits in so great with our team.”