Auburn School District No. 408
915 4th Street Northeast, Auburn, WA  98002

9/13/07

NEWS RELEASE
Auburn School District’s Board of Directors to Honor Staff Member Kenlynn Amburgey

The Auburn School District Board of Directors will recognize Kenlynn Amburgey, kitchen manager at Auburn Mountainview High School, for her outstanding service on Monday, September 24, at 7 p.m. in the board room at the James P. Fugate Administration Building.

Kenlynn Amburgey, kitchen manager at Auburn Mountainview High School, initially selected her kitchen job because it was a “mom job,” she remarks. “It helped me fulfill my dreams of working and being a dedicated stay-at-home mom. As my kids got older I was able to increase my hours.”

Now Kenlynn’s “mom job” has turned into a full-time career. In 2005 Kenlynn left the Washington Elementary kitchen for the culinary arts program at Auburn Mountainview High School. On any given day Kenlynn is responsible for the kitchen flow for one breakfast and two lunches, which feed over 1,000 students per day. The unique aspect of the district’s high school kitchens is that the students are preparing and dishing up the food. “You really get to know the kids working in the kitchen, because they’re flowing in and out every day,” says Kenlynn, “which is what I like most about my job.”

Kenlynn has learned to think on her feet as she supervises the 24-30 students who man the various stations including cold prep, frying and stocking, ovens, baking and so on. “My kids are the manpower so it takes constant adjustment to keep up with the ebb and flow of the kitchen,” says Kenlynn. “I call myself the ‘traffic master.’” From food quality to correct temperature settings to safety to food presentation, Kenlynn is monitoring it all.

Despite the bustle, Kenlynn enjoys the slower times when she has the opportunity to better relate to the students. “My best quality is my personality,” says Kenlynn. “I’m a people person and the kids know they can come and talk to me. I can be a mentor and listen to what’s going on in their world.”

Kenlynn has learned the most about the food service industry when she’s jumped into the mix rather than sat in a daylong conference. Chef, otherwise known as Tony Cunio, Auburn Mountainview’s culinary arts instructor, provides Kenlynn hands-on opportunities to learn new cooking techniques and management styles. Because the Auburn Mountainview program will be adding a sit-down restaurant piece to the program, Kenlynn is acquiring a lot of new information. “Chef is showing me the restaurant side of the industry, which is different than my other kitchen experience, but I am really eager to learn more,” remarks Kenlynn.

For instance Kenlynn has adopted Chef’s bulleted checklist method, which makes the kitchen run more efficiently. Now that Kenlynn has seen its value she is modeling it to the culinary arts students to use in the kitchen. “The communication and respect I get from the kids when they embrace new concepts like the checklist is what keeps me going and what keeps me here. It’s the interaction with the kids I enjoy the most,” smiles Kenlynn.

Probably Kenlynn’s favorite time of the day is when she’s working the till during the lunch rush and gets to have brief moments with the students who are getting their lunches. “I like telling students ‘have a good day’ or ‘thank you’ and then seeing how that positive interaction may lift their spirits or put a smile on their face,” says Kenlynn.

Over the summer Kenlynn had the chance to spend quality time with some of her favorite people: her grandson, Ethan, her three children, and her high school sweetheart, who also happens to be her husband of 25 years.

For more information contact Amy Spence, public information officer, at 253-931-4713.