TASN 2026 PARTNERSHIP COLLABORATION SUMMIT (PCS)

K–12 Child Nutrition leaders and their industry partners do far more than manage meals and operations — they shape team culture and influence how every campus feels. Behind staffing, procurement, and daily decisions are relationships that determine how well teams communicate, collaborate, and serve. In this energizing, laughter-filled keynote, Aric Bostick — former teacher, coach, and nationally recognized speaker — helps participants reconnect to their fuel (purpose), and become more intentional about building strong, secure professional relationships. Grounded in attachment-informed leadership, Aric shows how supportive adult relationships reduce stress, improve morale, and strengthen collaboration across departments and partnerships. When people feel valued and connected, everything runs better.

The Da Vinci Approach — Creativity in Motion Every great breakthrough—whether in art, science, school nutrition, or industries— starts with a creative spark. But in today’s fast-paced, high-demand world, that spark can easily fade. The Da Vinci Approach is about relighting that fire In this energizing musical keynote, Shaun Barrowes shows school professionals how creativity isn’t just for artists—it’s a mindset that drives problem-solving, teamwork, and emotional resilience. Through powerful storytelling and live music, he illustrates how to approach challenges with curiosity, turn frustration into innovation, and find deeper meaning in everyday work. Drawing from his own journey of near-misses, breakthroughs, and reinvention, Shaun reminds audiences that success comes not from staying in your lane, but from daring to explore new ones.

Child nutrition programs run on people — and the strength of their relationships. This interactive workshop gives nutrition leaders, staff, and industry partners simple, effective tools to communicate better, build trust, and work together with greater unity. Through engaging team-building activities, meaningful questions, and active listening strategies, participants will learn how to improve collaboration, strengthen morale, and create a culture where everyone feels valued and supported. Whether managing a kitchen, leading a district team, or partnering with vendors, these practices help teams show up with clarity, connection, and purpose. This workshop helps child nutrition teams and industry partners SHOW UP better for one another — creating connection, collaboration, and shared success.

Child nutrition programs run on people — and the strength of their relationships. This interactive workshop gives nutrition leaders, staff, and industry partners simple, effective tools to communicate better, build trust, and work together with greater unity. Through engaging team-building activities, meaningful questions, and active listening strategies, participants will learn how to improve collaboration, strengthen morale, and create a culture where everyone feels valued and supported. Whether managing a kitchen, leading a district team, or partnering with vendors, these practices help teams show up with clarity, connection, and purpose. This workshop helps child nutrition teams and industry partners SHOW UP better for one another — creating connection, collaboration, and shared success.

Build an AI assistant that works like you do. AI works best when it sounds like you. In this interactive session, school nutrition professionals and industry partners will learn how to train ChatGPT to reflect their voice, audience, and responsibilities. Participants will practice setting roles, tone, and guidelines using real-world examples and walk away with tools they can use immediately to save time and improve communication across their programs.

Music is more than entertainment—it’s emotional medicine. In this interactive workshop, Shaun guides participants through the process of creating a personal “Power Playlist” designed to lift mood, reduce stress, and build connection with those we work with. Participants will explore how music and other creative outlets can help balance the emotional weight of serving others, while also fostering stronger team morale and a healthier work culture.

Bring One, Share One is an interactive resource exchange where school nutrition professionals and industry partners share practical tools, ideas, and best practices. Participants bring one helpful resource and leave with fresh strategies for operations, marketing, menu success, and student engagement.

A deep dive into the procurement process, spec’ing equipment with confidence, and getting the most out of your investments.

This roundtable is designed to create productive, respectful dialogue between school districts and industry partners. The session focuses on understanding constraints, improving collaboration, and identifying practical ideas that strengthen partnerships.

See how a working community partner and school district work together to create school gardens for afterschool programs. The session explores our process from the seed to the serving lines, where the students taste fresh-grown produce from their school gardens!

Strategic Optimization of USDA Foods Entitlement
Rethinking entitlement as a strategic asset, not just a compliance requirement

Commodity Processing as a Labor Mitigation Strategy
Reframing further processing as a labor solution, not just a food decision

Advanced Cost Modeling: True Net Cost of USDA Foods
Pushing beyond “commodity is free” thinking

Processor Performance & Accountability
Evaluating processors as long-term partners

Menu Engineering with USDA Foods
A shift in thinking from commodities fitting menus to menus built around commodities

Forecasting Failures & Rebuilding Discipline
Why forecasting has eroded — and how to restore it without overwhelming teams

Risk Management in Commodity Processing
Recognizing and planning for entitlement and inventory risk

Distributor Relationships & Commodity Flow
The distributor’s role in commodity success — or failure

Nutrition Standards & Student Acceptance
Balancing compliance, participation, and financial sustainability

Policy, State Agency Practices & Flexibility
Policy barriers and opportunities for modernization

Future of Commodity Processing
Long-range thinking beyond the current school year

Leadership Reflection & Mentorship
Capturing institutional knowledge and mentoring emerging leaders

Jennifer Miller, Director of Child Nutrition Services at Garland ISD and current TASN Vice President, will deliver PCS wrap-up remarks. Darin Crawford, Assistant Superintendent of Support Services at Cypress-Fairbanks ISD and TASN Public Policy & Legislative Chair, will offer a legislative update. Lena Wilson, Assistant Commissioner for the Food and Nutrition Division at the Texas Department of Agriculture, will give a TDA update to close out the PCS.