Educators know that many of their students are not able to eat breakfast at home. Whether students come from a family struggling to put food on the table, have parents who work two jobs, or are rushed in the morning to get to school, too many children miss the morning meal.
Greg Harris, Executive Director of the Des Moines Education Association (DMEA), points out that students who do not have a healthy nutritious breakfast are at an “academic disadvantage;” they have more difficulty focusing in class and learning. Greg has been a champion for the NEA HIN sponsored Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC) program. He helped raise awareness to the issue of hunger in Des Moines Public Schools by organizing a BIC training that prepared educators to implement the program.
The BIC training—on August 9— involved all stakeholders in the school building. Teachers, custodians, principals and school staff sat down, worked together, and decided how BIC would be implemented in their schools.
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A group of educators discuss BIC at the training in August |
Since August, the education team went into action! Most importantly BIC has been implemented in 12 schools in the district—reaching more than 4,000 students.
On October 25, BIC supporters hosted a public event at Garton Elementary. DMEA Executive Director Greg Harris spoke along with Interim Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools Tom Ahart, and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey. To view a slide show of photos from the event click here.
We asked Greg Harris and DMEA President Andrew Rasmussen, leaders in the BIC effort, to give us the “skinny” on what we missed.
1. Tell us what you saw when you visited Garton Elementary. Did you talk to any of the students, and if so what did they say about BIC?
GH: [When I arrived at the school] the cafeteria staff was working to get everything set up for the classrooms. Garton [Elementary] uses the hot and cold food carts so the cafeteria staff was lining [the food carts] up in the hallway. The cafeteria staff was very energetic and friendly. I visited the 5th grade classroom of Mrs. Wells. She was standing by a table that was set up in the classroom with the BIC food items. When the students arrived to the classroom they were welcomed by their teacher as they picked up a bag that contained the food items. The students then went to their seats.
AR: The students I talked to said they liked the BIC program and some of the students said they enjoyed talking to their friends [over breakfast].
2. Tell us why DMEA wanted to be involved in bringing BIC to Des Moines Public Schools?
GH: After we heard from the Iowa State Education Association that NEA was sponsoring a BIC program, I thought it would be a good way for us to reach out to children and staff and help feed kids who come to school hungry. There was some resistance from some teachers at first, but that has changed. One teacher who had reservations about the program served as one of the representative for her school and was involved in the [BIC] training.
AR: Working in an urban school district we know how important it is to deal with the effects of childhood poverty which has been increasing. This [program] gives us a chance to be involved on the forefront.
3. Growing up what was your favorite breakfast food?
GH: I attended Harris Elementary in the Pulaski County School District located in North Little Rock, Arkansas. I can remember eating breakfast at school. We had the Hostess Suzy Q’s and milk. My favorite breakfast food is Oatmeal with brown sugar, raisins and cream.
AR: Blueberry Muffins
Two students at Garton Elementary School enjoy breakfast in the classroom!
Des Moines Public Schools in Des Moines, IA is one of 10 schools districts chosen to receive funding from the Walmart Foundation in a grant to increase the number of students participating in the school breakfast program. Breakfast has many benefits, and studies conclude that students who eat school breakfast increase their math and reading scores, as well as improve their speed and memory in cognitive tests.
DMEA and the Iowa State Education Association (ISEA) have been valued partners in the Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom program. To learn more about DMEA and ISEA visit http://www.isea.org/home/546.htm. To learn more about the Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom visit www.breakfastintheclassroom.org.