People often notice the food and the line in the crowded Student Activities Center during lunch, but they often overlook the actual busybodies that make sure that food is always served.

Lunch Supervisor Maria Turner works five days a week to feed the hungry students. However, much more goes on behind the scenes in the cafeteria. “I prep food, package food and put food into containers,” Turner said. “It’s just a lot of prep work and stuff like that.”

Turner’s day begins when she wakes up at 6:30 a.m. She drives to Palo Alto High School (Paly), and meets up with other lunch workers in the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) to pack the food. Afterwards, Turner and her fellow co-workers are shuttled to Gunn, where they serve food to students. “There’s a lot of packing and unpacking,” she said.

Despite the amount of commuting, however, Turner still enjoys her job. “I don’t think that there is a worst part,” she said. “I really enjoy my job a lot. It doesn’t even feel like a job. [My favorite aspect of the job is] the kids. I have always liked children.” Turner also said that she enjoys her job because of her love of cooking and preparing food.

Turner’s workday typically ends at 1:15 p.m. “Getting off work and relaxing is my favorite part of the day,” she said. “I watch ‘General Hospital’ when I get home.” In addition to being an avid “General Hospital” viewer, she also regularly tunes in to “American Idol.” Turner’s other hobbies include gardening, shopping and spending time with her family. “I love the fact I have lots of time off, so when my son’s on vacation, so am I,” she said.

Turner has not always been a lunch supervisor. She began her career as a secretary for an optometrist and later worked at Macy’s for 18 years.

Her lunch supervision job can be credited to her marriage in Spain. “I went to Spain to get married,” Turner said. “But when I came back to work [at Macy’s], my job was no longer available. I was unemployed for a while.”

Her neighbor, who worked in the lunch program, then suggested Turner work as a lunch helper. Turner started out as a lunch lady at Fairmeadow Elementary School five years ago and then began to work at Gunn when more lunch workers were needed.

Turner, who works the entire school year, is already anticipating summer vacation. She will be visiting her husband, Antonio Gamez, a marble stonemason who currently resides in Spain, for two months. “My favorite part [about Spain] is the walks because the surroundings there are beautiful,” Turner said.

Supervisor by day and a custodian in the late afternoon—this may be too much work for some—but to Campus Supervisor Sherri Jenkins, her vocation is more of an enjoyment than an unwanted burden. “I like everything about my job,” she said. “I enjoy making differences in peoples’ lives.”

Jenkins has worked in PAUSD for five to six years. She first worked at Palo Verde Elementary School and later began her work at Gunn.

Jenkins’ workday begins at 10 a.m. As a campus supervisor, one of Jenkins’ duties is to supervise the lunch line on a daily basis. She also helps the lunch workers prepare the provisions. “I help them set up the hot and the cold food,” she said.

Helping out with the lunch program is not a new experience for Jenkins. She had worked at Gunn as a lunch lady until last August, when she was promoted to the Campus Supervisor position. “I wanted to try something different,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins has fond memories of her last job. “It’s fun working in the snack bar,” she said. “My favorite part of the job was when I saw [the students] smiling, and they were happy.”

At around 2 p.m., Jenkins leaves Gunn and then heads to the corp yard, the place where the school buses are parked, and she works there as a custodian. She enjoys the job due to her love of being clean and organized. “I like to clean,” Jenkins said. “I like to be clean.”

After her workday ends at 6:45 p.m., Jenkins takes off to fulfill her duty as a single mother. Jenkins has two children. Her daughter Indaca is 14 and attends Terman Middle School, while her son Kaine is 13 and goes to Jane Lanthrop Stanford Middle School. Her two children attend different schools because of their different learning styles. “My son needs more one-on-one teaching, and my daughter doesn’t need that,” Jenkins said.

She has many hobbies outside of work. “I like to knit, to sing and I watch movies,” Jenkins said. “I enjoy spending time with my family.”

Jenkins plans on spending time with her family this summer. “I’m planning on taking my children bowling and to Great America,” she said.

Jenkins, who is no stranger to thrill rides, is excited for Great America. “Oh yeah, I cannot wait,” she said. “I love roller coasters. My son isn’t that into rides, but my daughter and I, we have a blast.”