“Dedicated” is the word Nyahiri Dozier, a Food and Nutrition Services manager, used to describe John Bernozzi, Andover Elementary School’s Food Service Manager. Bernozzi’s dedication and commitment to his staff and the students are what contributed to Tyson K-12 choosing him as one of their four national School Lunch Heroes.
“He is always very professional, courteous, superbly organized, and consistently thinks about ways to improve his performance. He is dedicated to providing stellar customer service to his school community and is a model member of the OCPS family,” Dozier wrote in her nomination letter.
Bernozzi is known for exceeding expectations. He and his team decorate the kitchen and cafeteria and dress in costumes to celebrate specific school events and holidays. Throughout the pandemic, he has assisted families with curbside meals and ensuring students have access to the food they need. Prior to COVID-19, Bernozzi sought the students’ input on their dining experiences. He engaged them in focus groups, taste tests and fun activities, plus he made commercials of new menu items to create excitement.
“He goes above and beyond to engage students so that he not only understands their needs and obtains his customer's voice but also ensures that he provides a warm, welcoming and stimulating experience when they enter his cafeteria,” Dozier said.