THOMASVILLE — A counselor, a mother, a friend. Marie Ragan wears many hats as Thomas County Central High School’s nutrition manager. 

Ragan previously worked as an office manager and says the job opportunity at TCCHS fell into her lap. But she is no stranger to the school. Ragan graduated from TCCHS in 1985. 

“Working in the cafeteria was never something I ever wanted to do,” she said. “I believe now it is what I was meant to do. I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else. I believe what I do does make a difference.”

An employee for 12 years, Ragan began as an assistant manager. In this position, she obtained the necessary skills to be a leader and effectively run the kitchen.

“There is always something that pops up, but you have to be prepared for anything, and above all, you must be flexible,” Ragan said. “I have learned to take it one day at a time and just do the best I can.”

Her tasks include preparing a nutrition staff work schedule and ordering and logging food.

“I have to keep up with every bit of food that is cooked and served,” Ragan said. “My biggest challenge is ordering the right amount of food. It is not good to have too much in inventory…but if you don’t order enough, the kids don’t get fed.”

Despite the daily challenges, Ragan loves the relationships she’s developed with her co-workers. They are like one big family.

“We laugh sometimes; we cry sometimes; we are there for each other,” she said. “I love the fact that my staff views me as a friend and not just a manager. I would give my right arm for any one of the people who work in the cafeteria at TCCHS.”

She enjoys making her staff feel at ease and, hopefully, creating a workplace that is welcoming every day.

“I love her attitude and good spirit,” nutrition staff member Tracy Tucker said of Ragan. “She cares about her employees.”

Ragan believes being a manager doesn’t mean she has to be serious all the time. She tries to have fun and joke around with the staff every chance she gets. And there’s been some memorable cafeteria moments.

“One of the ladies was boiling eggs, and she got busy and forgot that she had put the eggs on to boil,” Ragan said. “They boiled for so long that the pot ran out of water and the eggs burst. They sounded like gunshots. We were hiding and running, and then when we figured out what it was, we couldn’t stop laughing.”

Nutrition staff member Amanda Currie has learned much from Ragan.

“She is an easy boss to work with,” Currie said. “She’s taught me a lot of things needed to help run the kitchen.”

Ragan regularly attends classes to keep her certification updated. In her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with family and friends. 

At work, Ragan strives toward finding ways to improve the cafeteria and tries very hard to give students what they want while staying within state nutrition guidelines.

The kids are a vital reason Ragan so enjoys her job. Seeing the students at lunch is her favorite part of each day. 

“I love the kids,” she said. “I was told by one of the students that they appreciated what I do for them. It made such an impact on me because on that particular day I felt like I didn’t matter. I don’t have any biological children, but I have around 1,400 children I feed and talk to every day. I feel so fortunate to be a part of their lives.”