Tag Archives: Betti Wiggins

HISD ranked as a top five food delivery district in Texas

A child research and advocacy organization has recognized Nutrition Services as a top five food delivery district in the state of Texas.

Children at Risk ranked HISD fourth among large school districts in the state based on its record of providing daily meals to children in need, especially its school breakfast program, which allows schools to serve students breakfast in their classroom before starting the school day.

The organization measured the participation rate of school nutrition programs across districts based on data provided by the Texas Department of Agriculture and the Texas Education Agency.

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Wiggins named one of Time’s 50 Most Influential People in Health Care

Betti Wiggins, HISD’s officer of Nutrition Services, is no stranger to accolades. She was previously featured in a PBS special and her work was also recognized by General Mills, who gave her a Wheaties box emblazoned with her photograph.

Most recently, she was named one of TIME Magazine’s 50 Most Influential People in Health Care for 2018.

This year was the first time the magazine compiled the Health Care 50 list, asking “a team of health editors and reporters to nominate people who significantly changed the state of U.S. health care” and evaluating their work “on key factors, including originality, impact, and quality,” according to TIME Magazine’s website. Continue reading →

Nutrition Services LEAD program graduates inaugural class

After eight weeks of rigorous classroom and on-site training, four former food service attendants are now prepared to lead and manage their own school cafeterias.

Stephanie Aguilar, Alma Dominguez, Neco Manning, and Tameco Williams are the first graduates of Nutrition Services’ LEAD — Leadership, Education And Development — Program.

The comprehensive training initiative is designed to provide school cafeteria workers with the in-depth knowledge and skills needed to advance to the next level in their career and become a team lead responsible for managing cafeteria operations. Continue reading →

HISD names new officer of Nutrition Services

Betti Wiggins

The Houston Independent School District has selected Betti J. Wiggins as the district’s new officer of Nutrition Services.

Wiggins currently serves as the executive director of the office of school nutrition with the Detroit Public Schools Community District, where she is responsible for school-based meal operations in 141 schools for all USDA child nutrition programs. Under her leadership, she helped establish the Detroit School Garden Collaborative, which currently supports more than 80 school-based gardens and a two-acre school farm.

“We are excited to welcome Ms. Wiggins to Houston ISD to lead our school nutrition program,” said HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza. “She has tremendous experience in school nutrition and will help us improve our program for both students and staff as we invest in new equipment, training and menus.”  Continue reading →