Let’s Not Judge Each Other’s Kit Kats: How Appreciation Shapes Culture

Live from the ASBA Capital Conference

At the ASBA Capital Conference in Columbus, we spent two days surrounded by school district leaders - superintendents, treasurers, board members, and so many familiar faces. It felt less like a conference and more like a family reunion. Our shared goal? Supporting the people who make schools work.

For this special edition of the NutriSmart SNAX Podcast, we sat down with two of my favorite collaborators and longtime colleagues - Phil Herman and Tom Speaks of the Impact Group. Years ago, our paths first crossed when I served as Food Service Director at Hudson City Schools. Phil was our superintendent, and there’s still a legendary video floating around of him doing the earthworm dance on stage to hype up the students during a nutrition event. His energy then, like now, made an impact.

That impact eventually led to our shared work today - helping organizations lean into culture, communication, and appreciation.

So… What Is Appreciology?

According to Tom, Appreciology is the systematic practice of embedding appreciation into culture. We all believe appreciation matters, but few organizations know how to intentionally do it on a daily basis. Appreciology teaches concrete strategies leaders can use to retain staff, improve engagement, and increase joy at work.

“If you ask a room, ‘Is appreciation important?’ everyone raises their hand. Then ask, ‘Do you know how to do it?’ and no one responds.” - Tom Speaks

According to Phil,. that appreciation must begin with the individual leader. It’s rooted in mindset, clarity, connection, and intentionality - all core principles of the book.

If you only tried one practice from the book?

Write down three things you’re grateful for every day for 45 days. This rewires your brain to start looking for positive moments throughout the day - much like when you buy a car and suddenly start noticing that same model everywhere.

Appreciation in the Cafeteria

Food service teams are often the unsung heroes.

Hungry kids can’t learn. Cafeteria workers greet students every morning with breakfast and again at lunch. One genuine moment of appreciation from a student can light up a staff member’s entire day - and inspire pride in the scratch cooking or fresh produce being offered.

During the conference, we ran a little experiment. We set out a basket of clementines with a Kit Kat treat tucked under one. Almost no one picked it up-perhaps subconsciously concerned about “judgment” from being near the dietitians. Yet one booth away? Kit Kats were disappearing by the handful. No judgment there!

It was a playful reminder: We don't judge menus-we want kids to eat. Good nutrition isn’t good unless they take that first bite.

Empowering Nutrition Teams

For more than two decades, our fire has been fueled by believing:

💚 The kitchen is the heart of the school, just like it is in your home.

🧡 When kitchen staff feel valued, they educate through food.

🍎 Offering choice is part of that teaching

Phil and Tom shared that when employees understand the larger purpose of their role, they're much less likely to leave - and much more likely to lead.

"You make sure food service staff know they're not just serving meals; they’re fueling student success."

A Sweet Moment of Nostalgia

We ended with the classic NutriSmart SNAX podcast question:

“What was your favorite school lunch?”

For both Phil and Tom, it was unanimous: the famous Hollywood Squares - a chocolate-peanut-butter bar beloved across Northeast Ohio. Perfectly gritty, salty, and unforgettable. Tom would “chew through an iron bar” to get one.

We may not include that recipe in our cookbooks (for nutrition reasons!), but the nostalgia is important. It reminds us why food matters - because meals become memories.

The Shared Mission

Our work at Pisanick Partners and The Impact Group is deeply aligned. We both help people see the magnitude of their work and empower them to build cultures where employees feel valued.

“Our mission is wholesome meals fueling healthy lives. Their mission is creating stronger cultures. And those two are more connected than people realize.”

Key Takeaways from the Episode

🎙️ Lesson	💡 Insight
Appreciation must be intentional	It won't naturally embed itself without practice
Gratitude improves mindset	Try a 45-day gratitude journal
Food supports culture	From scratch cooking to produce bars, every choice matters
Staff retention hinges on purpose	Employees who feel valued stay longer
Nostalgia fuels inspiration	Recipes can connect past and present

Final Thoughts

Whether you're leading a school district, managing a kitchen, driving a bus, or sweeping the hallways — your work matters. Appreciation creates the kind of culture where people don’t just show up, they shine.

As we move forward, let’s choose appreciation. Let’s choose intention. Let’s choose connection.

And let’s not judge each other's Kit Kats.

❤️ Want to try the 45-Day Appreciation Challenge with your team?

The Impact Group can help you develop a simple, ready-to-launch staff recognition initiative inspired by Appreciology principles and tailored to school nutrition. You can also download the Appreciation Toolkit here.

Thanks to Phil Herman and Tom Speaks for their leadership, and to all who stopped by Booth 1029 at the Capitol Conference. Until next time - keep catching each other doing something right.

🎧 Listen to the full episode: NutriSmart SNAX – What if culture started with appreciation…even for choosing a Kit Kat over a clementine?

📺 Watch on YouTube: What if culture started with appreciation…even for choosing a Kit Kat over a clementine?