DALLAS — Typically speaking, elementary students don’t find much to be thankful for on the school lunch tray.
“Sometimes there’s some food that I don’t like,” said Michael Clyde, a fourth grader at Dallas ISD’s Personalized Learning Academy at Highland Meadows.
“Sometimes I really don’t like it,” said fellow fourth grader Fernando Cruz.
“It’s mid and mid,” added fourth-grader Melissa Estrada.
Translation: meh.
But on this day, in lunchrooms across Dallas, students are rejoicing for the annual Thanksgiving meal.
“I feel way better about this,” Clyde said.
“Because it’s Thanksgiving food,” said Estrada.
Before Thanksgiving break, every student in Dallas ISD is blessed with turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, green beans and more.
However, perhaps the most satisfying part of this meal is who prepared it.
Central kitchen manager Dontae Taylor helps lead the team that serves thousands of meals every day. He didn’t exactly plan to work in a school kitchen, but at one point, while contemplating his future, a familiar voice rang out.
“My mother says, ‘You have so much talent, let’s not waste it,’” he said.
His mother and three great-aunts all worked in district cafeterias.
That’s why while considering where he could make a meaningful impact, Taylor, a product of Dallas ISD himself, knew just how important school lunch could be.
“There are many students who may not receive a Thanksgiving meal or may not even receive dinner tonight,” said Taylor.
For that reason, he takes his job very seriously, especially on Thanksgiving. He and his team put in extra work to feed every student and make them feel special. That’s also why, on holidays, the district invites parents to take part.
All of it is made possible by a kitchen filled with people who come in early and go above and beyond.
When asked how that made them feel, the kids had one simple word.
“Respect,” said Estrada.
“I respect them a lot because we don’t know how much time it took to get this good meal for us,” Clyde said.
“The little things matter,” Taylor said. “In order for us to lead, we must know how to serve.”
A lot more than food.