Jacquelyn Flowers

Jacquelyn Flowers didn't plan on a career in school foodservice. It was her sister, already working in the district, who opened that door. Sixteen years later, she has become one of the most beloved figures in Anniston City Schools – not just for what she puts on the tray, but for how she shows up, day after day, for the youngest students in the district.

After twelve years as an assistant, Flowers stepped into the manager role at the district's pre-K and kindergarten preparatory academy, where she and her team of three serve approximately 225 students every day. At an age when most kids are still learning the world, the cafeteria is often the first place they discover what it means to be cared for outside of home. Flowers takes that seriously.

She and her team scratch-cook three to five days a week, building menus around what young palates actually enjoy. Chicken nuggets and hot dogs are reliable crowd-pleasers, but Flowers has a quiet gift for making new foods approachable. She'll present dishes in creative ways without revealing what's inside until after the kids have already decided they love it. "See, you do like carrots," she'll say. General Mills waffles are a consistent breakfast hit, and cereal is a daily fixture. "I don't see a day without General Mills, really," says CNP Director Anita Suttle. "At some point, there's always going to be a General Mills item."

Her leadership inside the kitchen follows the same philosophy. "If I'm not going to do it, then I'm not going to ask you to do it," Flowers says. That example extended far beyond her own school when the district was audited, and Flowers took it upon herself to help mentor new managers, supporting them through the paperwork and additional requirements. "I know if I can do it, you can do it," she told them.