Hiking. Salsa dancing. Running marathons. These are just a few of the many passions that members of the Riverdale kitchen staff pursue when they are not at school. An integral and beloved group at Riverdale, the kitchen staff are some of the friendliest faces that greet students and faculty throughout the day. Many were eager to share stories of who they are with the rest of the Riverdale community.
From communicating with farmers to overseeing menu design, chef Jeff Duncan, the current Head Chef of the kitchen staff, directs all of the day-to-day operations that allow work in the kitchen to run smoothly. “The freedom to be creative with the menus,” chef Duncan said, along with “seeing the kids and teachers happy with the lunch that they have every day,” are what he believes to be the most fulfilling aspects of his job. Chef Duncan has managed the kitchen staff at Riverdale since he sold his catering company back in 2006.
In his free time, chef Duncan unwinds by catching up on the latest news concerning his favorite sports teams. “I don’t think a lot of people know that I’m a big sports fan,” chef Duncan pointed out. “I’m originally from Philadelphia, so I follow all of the sports teams there.”
Mr. Andre Murray has only been working in the kitchen staff for two months, but he has already made an impact on students through the passion and charisma that he brings to his job. “I’m going to make sure that breakfast is fun for you,” Mr. Murray promised. “If you come up here with a frown, I’m going to make you smile. You’re not walking out on me like that.”
Prior to coming to Riverdale, Mr. Murray was a member of the kitchen staff at the Avenues School, where he received an award for his work. “[Avenues] just liked the way that I made everyone smile and have fun,” he explained.
Mr. Murray is also an avid hiker; for him, hiking is a peaceful way to “get out of New York” and de-stress. “I like to hit the trails whenever I can,” he said.
Ms. Georgina Acevado, another beloved member of the kitchen staff, has been making her mark on Riverdale for the past 10 years. Before arriving at Riverdale, Ms. Acevado, originally from Santo Domingo, worked at a facility for senior citizens. “It was wonderful working with elderly people,” Ms. Acevado reflected.
Being hired at Riverdale “felt like a blessing” to Ms. Acevado. “The students here are very kind,” she said. “I feel comfortable around them.”
In her “quiet time,” Ms. Acevado enjoys reading the Bible and relaxing with her two sons. “My sons are grown men – they are not little, but in my heart they still are,” she noted with a smile. At the moment, one of Ms. Acevado’s greatest preoccupations is planning her trip to Israel at the beginning of next year; “[the trip] is my dream,” she said.
One of the long-time members of the kitchen staff, Ms. Antonia Mota, has worked at Riverdale for 20 years. She first heard about the job from her husband, Mr. Manuel Mota, who had already been working in the kitchen staff and suggested that she join him.
When asked about what she enjoys to do outside of school, Ms. Mota had an immediate response: dance. “I love to dance,” she said. “Salsa, bachata...every time I go out, that’s what I do.” Ms. Mota also loves cooking: it is a passion that she “fell in love with.”
Ms. Elizabeth Ocasio, who has worked at Riverdale since 2016, is a dedicated member of the kitchen staff, a mother of a two-year-old, and a long-distance runner. “I like [running] a lot because it is something that relaxes me,” she explained. Ms. Ocasio trains to run in at least one race per month, the distances ranging from five kilometers to a full marathon.
“I love working at Riverdale, and I like having a future here,” Ms. Ocasio said when asked about her experience at the school over the years. “There are a lot of other places where we don’t feel appreciated, but here we do.”
While members of the kitchen staff all took varying paths to arrive at their current positions and pursue different interests outside of school, they all bring a common sense of charm and devotion to their jobs that brightens the Riverdale community.