(FRANKFORT, Ky.) – Paul McElwain, director of the Kentucky Department of Education's Division of Nutrition
and Health Services, has been appointed to the Certification and Credentialing Governing Council of the
School Nutrition Association (SNA).
McElwain, a resident of Georgetown, will serve a three-year term on the council, which makes and reviews
policy regarding the certification and credentialing programs maintained by the SNA. He is the only state agency
employee on the council and is one of only a few state school nutrition directors to hold the School Foodservice and
Nutrition Specialist (SFNS) credential issued by the SNA.
SNA established certification standards for academic education, specialized training and work experience as conditions of being awarded certification. SNA also has established standards for continuing education as a condition of maintaining certification.
The SNA's Credentialing Program was created to enhance the professional image of school food service and nutrition professionals. The program includes standards for academic and specialized training, knowledge and skills.
Kentucky Revised Statute 158.852 requires that school district food service directors be certified or
credentialed by the SNA.
The School Nutrition Association (formerly the American School Food Service Association) is a national, nonprofit professional organization representing more than 55,000 members who provide high-quality, low-cost meals to students across the country. Since 1946, SNA has provided education, training, certification, credentialing and resources to school food services professionals across the country.
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