Watanabe DOE Employee Of 2007
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Fixing a breakfast of green eggs and ham is one of many ways Valerie Watanabe has warmed the tummies of Mililani Ike Elementary School students - and won the hearts of the state Department of Education.
The DOE recently named Mililani Ike’s food services manager its Employee of the Year.
“I’m blessed with a great staff,” Watanabe said humbly about the award she received on Sept. 6.“They support us so much. Our principal Steve Nakasato is wonderful.We want to create happy memories with the kids.” One such memory was March 2, the birthday of Dr. Seuss, when librarians encourage school-children to read the all-time classic, Green Eggs and Ham.
When the school offered the tasty repast, more than 700 customers ate it up, which is more than usual.And teachers dished out the food. Another fun menu that’s come out of Watanabe’s kitchen is Family Beach Night - a bring-your-own grill cookout of burgers and hot dogs.
Watanabe, however, has a more serious challenge with school enrollment, since Ike was built for 600 but now has more than 1,000 mouths to feed.
“Our refrigerators are packed,” said the Mililani resident. “I need to make sure I have enough for the 300 or 400 breakfasts.”
The school encourages parents to eat breakfast in the cafeteria with their children to start the morning off right. Menus are sent out monthly for breakfast and lunch, and Watanabe says parents have been very supportive.
“It allows parents the chance to meet their child’s classmates and the other parents,“she explained.“I really love it here,” she added.“There’s a good staff, teachers are supportive, the parents are great, and the kids are so cute.” And husband George and their children, Megan and Reid, are glad mom works close to home. She worked at Waialua High and Intermediate before joining Mililani Ike when it opened in 2004.
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