WE ARE POWER UP CAFÉ

OUR VISION

  • Quality – Service - Accountability

    The Nutrition Services Department is guided by three core values:

    1. We will provide a quality dining experience with a variety of nutritious options. Each menu item will be properly prepared and served in an appealing fashion. All menu items will be evaluated for nutritional content, taste, customer preference, regulatory compliance and financial affordability.

    2. Customer service will be a priority at all of our facilities. Everyone will be greeted with a smile and treated with respect.

    3. Accountability will be demonstrated by:
      1. Operating each facility efficiently.
      2. Complying with all regulations.
      3. Anticipating and responding to campus needs to support student education.

    Our stakeholders include students, parents, employees, school staff, and taxpayers. These stakeholders deserve a quality nutrition services experience with excellent service that maintains accountability. We will deliver that experience.

ABOUT US

  • Today, the Nutrition Services Department is one of the largest support services departments in the district. With over 1,200 employees, we prepare and serve over 124,000 meals daily and over 20 million meals yearly at all 95 campuses. Our purpose is to serve food and love with care, today and for generations to come. We are PowerUp Café!

    In addition to our campus cafes, our department operates a 50,000-square-foot central production facility where food is received, prepared, and packed for delivery to campuses for meal service each day. Our production center prepares scratch-made menu items like chili, spaghetti sauce, salsa, and taco meat. We have a bakery where we make fresh whole-grain breads, including our delicious cinnamon roll. 

    The Nutrition Services Department operates under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program. These programs are administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). All our food and beverages must meet strict federal program guidelines. To do this successfully, we employ several registered dietitians, food and nutrition professionals, and valuable staff who help ensure our meals meet these guidelines.

    We are self-funded and do not receive funds from local property taxes. We receive federal reimbursement and earn revenue for all our departmental expenses.

FOOD PRODUCTION CENTER CONTACTS

FIELD SUPERVISORS

  • Area 1 - Rachell Mitchell

  • Area 2 - Vacant

  • Area 3 - Michelle Voelkel, MS, RD, LD

  • Area 4 - Stephanie Rader

  • Area 7 - Crystal Floyd

  • Area 6 - Becca Qian, MS, RD, LD

  • Area 5 - David Hulsey


  • In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

    To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: Texas Department of Agriculture | Food and Nutrition Division Section 3, Civil Rights & Confidentiality | January 4, 2022 | Page 9 of 20

    U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

    This institution is an equal-opportunity provider.