Phenix City’s Brindlea Griffin wins state award
Brindlea Griffin, the director of child nutrition, community education and health services for Phenix City Schools, is the Alabama Child Nutrition Program Director of the Year.
The Alabama School Nutrition Association announced her as the winner March 12 during its 52nd annual conference in Montgomery. Also at the conference, Griffin was installed as the association’s president.
“I was completely, totally shocked,” Griffin said about the award in an email to the Ledger-Enquirer. “I did not know I had been nominated, much less win state. This award is a very big honor as I was nominated by co-workers in Phenix City Schools Child Nutrition, which is the awesome team I work with daily to serve the children and families of Phenix City, my hometown.
“It is an honor to work in child nutrition and have such an integral part of a child’s day. I work with some of the hardest-working employees in our school system, and they oftentimes are the first face a child sees entering school each day.”
The award’s selection criteria includes certification as a director, more than five years of service to the profession, leadership positions on the state or national level, program enhancement, staff development, school involvement and community outreach.
During the 10 years Griffin has been nutrition director for Phenix City Schools, the program has been a USDA Best Practice Department for six years, featured in a national school nutrition journal for efforts in health and wellness, honored at the White House for HealthierUS School Challenge, active in District VII School Nutrition meetings and training, received more than $1 million in grants for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable program, equipment grants and Universal Free Breakfast throughout the school system.
June Barrett, the child nutrition programs coordinator at the Alabama State Department of Education, called Griffin “a very, very competent child nutrition director, very effective. She’s an innovator.”
For example, Barrett told the L-E in a phone interview, Griffin has been “very proactive” in implementing higher standards for healthier school meals, promoting physical activity, bringing “cutting-edge” speakers to association events and making school cafeterias friendlier environments.
“She takes ideas and creates extravaganzas out of them,” Barrett said.
Phenix City Schools Superintendent Randy Wilkes echoed that description of Griffin.
“She goes above and beyond the call of duty,” Wilkes said in a phone interview. “She is very active. She is enthusiastic about her work, and she is a meticulous person.”
Wilkes summed up her impact on the school system this way: “If you want something done, ask Dr. Griffin, and she’ll get it done.”
Mark Rice: 706-576-6272, @markricele
This story was originally published March 18, 2016 at 6:10 PM with the headline "Phenix City’s Brindlea Griffin wins state award."