School Lunch Lady Strikes Gold on “Wheel of Fortune”
A heartwarming story of persistence, passion, and unexpected fortune played out on national television when Katie McCann, a 37-year-old lunch lady from Long Island, became the star of “Wheel of Fortune.” The single mom and cafeteria worker at St. James Elementary School walked away from the game show with an impressive $65,253 in prizes during Tuesday’s aptly named “Living the Sweet Life” episode. Her winnings included a 2025 Toyota Tacoma SR5 truck, a week-long vacation to St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, a year’s supply of Dylan’s Candy Bar treats, and $13,200 in cash. McCann’s genuine excitement was evident throughout the show, as she later admitted, “You can see my face that I’m just in shock every single time I win anything. Like Ryan Seacrest said, I don’t have a poker face at all.” The humble lunch lady even confessed that she “blacked out” during much of the taping, barely remembering shouting out her correct answers to puzzles like “one smart cookie” and “pour some sugar on me.”
McCann’s journey to game show success began in her own elementary school days, where she developed a love for “Wheel of Fortune” that would stay with her into adulthood. “It helped me become a better speller,” she reflected, never imagining that one day she’d be spinning that iconic wheel herself. That opportunity first knocked in 2023 when network executives, impressed by her bubbly energy during auditions, selected her for an episode. Unfortunately, she couldn’t make the trip to Los Angeles at that time. The producers, however, saw something special in McCann and placed her in a pool of contestants they particularly wanted to feature. When they called again last spring, she was determined not to miss her second chance: “I was like, ‘Absolutely, I’ll be there.’ I couldn’t say no twice.” That decision would change her life in ways she never expected.
The physical challenge of the game came as a surprise to McCann, who described herself as “a little lady” who needed to be positioned higher behind the podium just to reach the wheel. “That wheel is heavy,” she revealed, highlighting one of the unexpected difficulties of participating in the show. After recording her winning episode, McCann faced another challenge—keeping her success a secret for months until the show aired. This proved particularly difficult for someone who enjoys daily conversations with the children she serves at school. The graduate of Manhattan’s Institute of Culinary Education had moved from Queens to Hauppauge four years earlier and had built meaningful connections with her “little customers,” making the secret-keeping all the more challenging.
When the episode finally aired and her victory became public, the response from her school community was overwhelming. Students created congratulatory drawings that now hang proudly behind her workstation in the cafeteria. “They’ve been so adorable, even the ones on the shyer side have been coming up to me,” McCann shared, clearly touched by their support. “The students are all so very happy, which makes me feel great.” The impact extended to her personal life as well, with her 3-year-old daughter, Brodie, repeatedly telling her, “Mommy, you’re a movie star.” Despite her newfound fame and fortune, McCann emphasized that she has no plans to leave her beloved cafeteria job, demonstrating her commitment to the school community that has embraced her success so enthusiastically.
McCann’s food service background proved advantageous during the food-themed episode. “It certainly gave me the upper hand,” she told The Post with a beaming smile. Her professional knowledge likely helped her solve those food-related puzzles, including the phrase “sunshine on my face,” which won her the tropical vacation. This prize holds special meaning for McCann, who revealed she hasn’t had many opportunities to travel abroad and is looking forward to experiencing some well-deserved relaxation. The timing of her prizes couldn’t be better—the Toyota truck is expected to arrive just as her Jeep Wrangler lease expires, a coincidence that seems to underscore how perfectly this opportunity aligned with her life.
For this hardworking single mother, the entire experience has been transformative. “It’s all just been a dream come true,” McCann said, summarizing her journey from cafeteria worker to game show champion. Her story resonates as a reminder that sometimes life’s most unexpected opportunities can lead to extraordinary moments of joy and reward. From serving lunch to elementary school children to solving puzzles under bright studio lights, McCann’s authenticity and enthusiasm captured the hearts of viewers and game show producers alike. Her success story serves as an inspiration to anyone who’s ever dreamed of their moment in the spotlight while faithfully performing the everyday work that sustains them. In Katie McCann’s case, a lifetime of watching “Wheel of Fortune” from her living room ultimately led to standing on its stage, spinning that famous wheel, and walking away with life-changing prizes—all while remaining the same down-to-earth lunch lady her students know and love.
