Tullahoma City Schools is thrilled to share that TCS Nutrition Bookkeeper Hannah-Marie Bond was named the School Nutrition Association’s (SNA) Southeast Region Employee of the Year.

“I am truly honored to be recognized by the School Nutrition Association,” Bond said. “School nutrition plays an important role in student success, and I’m proud to be part of it. I’m grateful to work alongside a team committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of the students we serve.”

The School Nutrition Association is a national, nonprofit professional organization representing 50,000 school nutrition professionals nationwide. The Employee of the Year Award was created to recognize outstanding school nutrition employees who influence the quality of school meals through customer service, an interest in young people, cooperation, work attendance, creativity, participation in professional development and their willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty.

In her role as bookkeeper, Bond demonstrates exceptional care and compassion for students and handles finances related to economically disadvantaged students with confidentiality. For the last two years, she has spent one lunch break per week with a student who needed emotional support, reflecting Bond’s deep commitment to serving students with dignity, empathy and genuine concern. Bond also developed an initiative to track employee birthdays and recognize staff with thoughtful, personalized gestures.

Bond’s approach to her job helps alleviate coworkers’ stress, increases employee engagement and strengthens staff readiness for daily operations. She designed a new inventory- tracking system to improve accuracy, reduce waste and streamline ordering, and configured workflows to align with cashier needs and student data systems. She also contributes innovative approaches to teach staff operational and compliance information, creating hands-on training tools such as games, mazes, riddles, puzzles and teambased challenges.

“There are very few people in a career who truly change the way you lead, the way you grow, and the way your team functions – and Hannah-Marie Bond is one of those rare individuals,” said Angela White, TCS Director of Nutrition. “Over the past three years, she has not only been an exceptional employee but an indispensable partner. We operate in a rhythm built on trust, mutual respect, a servant’s heart and a shared commitment to excellence. That kind of partnership is rare – it is truly special.

“Hannah-Marie brings a level of dedication, compassion, and innovation that cannot be taught,” White continued. “She anticipates needs, supports others without hesitation, and consistently goes beyond expectations – not for recognition, but because it is simply who she is at her center. She makes our department stronger, more efficient, and more connected, and she does it all with humility and heart.”

Bond is committed to continuous learning and knowledge-sharing and actively participates in SNA, attending state trainings and conferences. She regularly shares conference insights with colleagues to foster a culture of continuous improvement and stays current on USDA regulations and emerging trends in school nutrition. The knowledge gained from SNA state and regional sessions was put into practice during a major software transition, during which she led staff training while emphasizing regulatory compliance.

“A valuable asset to the team, Hannah-Marie provides a great example with her willingness to take on additional responsibilities to support her colleagues and the needs of the program,” said Stephanie Dillard, MS, SNS, SNA President. “She is dedicated to elevating student and staff morale with care and compassion.”

Bond was announced as the Southeast Region Employee of the Year in advance of School Lunch Hero Day, celebrated on May 1, to honor all of America’s dedicated school nutrition professionals.

“I am incredibly grateful to work alongside Hannah- Marie, and I cannot imagine a better counterpart in leading our department forward,” White stated. “Seeing her receive this well-deserved recognition is both exciting and deeply meaningful. She has earned every bit of this acknowledgment, and I am so proud to see her talents, hard work, and impact celebrated on such a significant level.”

“Our nutrition department is amongst the best in the nation, and I am incredibly proud of Hannah- Marie Bond for her continuous dedication to serving our students, staff and her coworkers,” said TCS Director of Schools Dr. Stephens. “Hannah- Marie has been an invaluable team member and has been exceptional in her role as bookkeeper for our nutrition department. I am thankful to have her on our staff, and I congratulate her and the rest of the TCS nutrition team on this outstanding recognition.”