School Breakfast Stakeholders
Before starting a breakfast program in your school, you will need to have buy-in from several important stakeholders within your school community. Once these groups are on board, your program has a much better chance of getting off the ground and achieving success.
Administrators and School Boards
Administrators such as principals and superintendents want to see their schools as successful environments where the students, staff and community members thrive. Since school breakfast improves student learning, test scores, concentration and attendance, all of which contribute to higher academic achievement, administrators and school board members should have a strong interest in school breakfast programs. Administrators and school board members are vital in the decision making and implementation of school programs. It is up to this group of people to set the tone for the program and the rest of the district. As leaders for the district, administrators and school board members should be included in decisions regarding school breakfast so they can help ensure the program is nicely integrated into the school system.
In regards to a school breakfast program, administrators and school board members often have questions and/or concerns regarding scheduling, costs, resources, and participation.
Educators and Other School Staff/Faculty
Teachers, coaches, and other school faculty work closely with students. Therefore, their support is critical. Educators and other staff/faculty are great role models for students and can strongly influence kids in their decision making. It is important for teachers, coaches, and other school faculty to understand that a school breakfast program can help the lives of the kids on many different levels. Ultimately, school breakfast can help educators and other school staff/faculty reach their goals with students.
When marketing and making decisions with this population some considerations include teacher workload, classroom order, time commitment, curriculum opportunities, and performance both physically and mentally.
Community Members
Community members and organizations may have questions and/or concerns in regards to a school breakfast program. Some examples of community members that may want to get involved include welfare groups, business owners, and any other organizations involved in feeding children or school nutrition. Since the program can benefit from the community’s support, knowledge, and resources, it is important to present the breakfast program and its benefits to the community.
Community members may have questions surrounding cost, impact on the children as well as the rest of the community, and business opportunities or partnerships. For these reasons, it is important to keep the community involved when deciding to implement a school breakfast program.
Families and Students
Parents play one of the biggest roles in a student’s life and therefore are a very powerful asset to the school breakfast program. It is important that parents understand the school breakfast program and get themselves and their child(ren) involved. The school breakfast program is an easy, effective, and time-efficient way for parents to ensure their kids are starting their day in an optimal way that will allow them to learn and grow. It is also important to remind families that there are not only benefits to their children but that there are benefits for them too.
In terms of communication and implementation regarding families and students, it is important to consider if the child already eats breakfast at home, cost, time, when the child is hungry, breakfast alternatives, the social experience of school breakfast, and finally that families are role models for their children.