When Fannin County School System School (FCSS) Nutrition Director Candice, “Candy,” Sisson moved to Fannin County in 1984 and enrolled in Fannin County High School (FCHS) as a sophomore, she met teachers who shaped her future as an educator and in-turn became an educator who would shape the futures of others herself.
Sisson, who will retire at the end of this school year, graduated from FCHS in 1987 and earned her Bachelors of Science in Business Education from North Georgia College in 1991. A year later, she earned her Masters in Business Education from West Georgia College before she began working for the Union County Board of Education as the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) Coordinator for the opening of Mountain Education Charter High School in 1993. It was in this role that she was involved in opening the Union, Gilmer, Lumpkin, and Towns County sites.
While in her junior year of high school, she met Joyce Mitchel and Barbara Smith who were instrumental in Sisson’s decision to pursue Business Education as a career path, and she brought that knowledge back to Fannin County in 1994 when she became the Business Education teacher and Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) advisor at FCHS.
“I came to teach in Fannin County ready to share my excitement for Business Education with my students,” Sisson said. “Little did I know that I was to learn as much (or more) from my students as they might from me. Department Head Joyce Mitchell, and co-worker Theresa Dillard served as mentors and friends. I learned the ropes of how to advise FBLA along with how to manage teaching, paperwork and students.”
She spent 12 years in this role before she became the school system’s Director of School Nutrition, Teacher of the Year coordinator, REACH Scholar coordinator, Wellness coordinator and Board of Education minutes coordinator.
“I became interested in Nutrition when, like most people, I began to gain weight,” Sisson said. “I learned from WeightWatchers what a portion size is really supposed to look like. It was very eye-opening and inspired me to learn more about nutrition, healthy eating habits, and health lifestyles. After receiving my Educational Leadership certification, I decided to continue my education and added the School Nutrition Director certification. With this certification, I was qualified to apply for the Director of School Nutrition position in Fannin County School System when Joyce Mitchell retired in June 2006.”
Sisson described her transition from the classroom to a director role as a “big undertaking,” stating, “I had training in the classroom setting related to the School Nutrition but little experience in a school kitchen. I had much to learn and fortunately for me, the nutrition staff members were very knowledgeable, professional, and patient. I attended New Director two-day training sessions with the Georgia Department of Education (GADOE), School Nutrition Division each month in Macon, Georgia, along with other Georgia School Nutrition Association conferences.
“As I gained knowledge of the many federal guidelines that go along with the Federal National School Lunch, National School Breakfast, and Afterschool Snack programs, I began to look for ways to increase the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables that were offered to students. The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) was implemented for one year at East Fannin about seven years ago and has been operating this school year at West Fannin. Applications for the FFVP have been submitted for all three elementary schools for SY 2021-2022.”
Throughout her time as school nutrition director, Sisson, her department and the school system have received several awards and recognitions for their hard work and the programs they have implemented including bronze, gold and platinum Golden Radish Award recognitions, among several others.
Recently, in the Fall of 2020, Fannin County Schools Nutrition Program was recognized for achieving Platinum Elite Status, and Sisson received the 2019 Nexus Award from the GADOE.
“In 2013, the school meal pattern changed as a result of the 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act,” Sisson said. “It was my responsibility to implement this new meal pattern that introduced lower sodium products; whole grain bread, rice, pasta, and crackers; whole grain breading on chicken and beef products; lower fat milk; and nonfat flavored milk. Not long after, Smart Snack guidelines were implemented that impacted the entire school system and the items that were allowed for sale to students during the school day. More fresh fruits and vegetables are being offered and students are required to take a fruit or vegetable with breakfast and lunch.
“Since 2013, manufacturers have improved the quality and palatability of whole grain items, and I am proud of the quality of the meals offered to FCSS students and the variety students have to choose from. Hungry children can’t learn, and I hope that I have played a small part in preventing hunger for the children in this community.”
Working as a school nutrition director has opened her eyes to the number of children in the country that live with food insecurity.
“Many do not know where their next meal will come from when schools are closed,” Sisson said. “I am fortunate to work in a community that is in tune with the needs of our families. School nutrition staff members, bus drivers, nurses, teachers, administrators, counselors, etc. all take an interest in our students and direct families to resources that are available in our community to support them appropriately. Family Connection, Feed Fannin, Snack in a Backpack, and the Fannin County Recreation Department are only a few of the many organizations I have had the pleasure of working with to keep Fannin County families well and healthy.”
Many of her fellow school nutrition directors from surrounding counties speak highly of her work over the years.
“Candy never swayed from doing the right thing,” Dawson County Schools Director of School Nutrition Linda Byrd said. “If it was procurement, she followed the guidelines. If it was a USDA, she followed the guidelines. If it was best for the students, she did it.”
Sisson loves seeing former students become successful in the community, and she will treasure the friendships she has made throughout the Fannin County and school nutrition communities as she moves into retirement where she plans to spend more time with her family and travel when she can.
Sisson leaves the Fannin County community with a quote from Margaret J. Wheatley, that reads, “There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.”
Sisson said, “I believe that Fannin County cares about ALL of its citizens, especially the children, and we will continue to see positive changes for them in many aspects of our community.”