Kacy Leyba — Electives Teacher, West Campus
As a former Street School student, I know what it’s like to be clueless in a kitchen. So, when I felt God calling me to teach a cooking class this year, a small part of me went into panic mode.
Sauté, flambé, boil, broil; At the beginning of the summer I didn’t have the first clue about anything in the cooking world- except how to make oatmeal (and I usually manage to mess that up). But after realizing how unrefined my own cooking skills are, I realized how important it is that our students learn their way around a kitchen and know how to cook nutritious, well rounded meals.
So throughout the school year, I am undertaking the role of “faux sues chef”; Wrapping geography, anthropology, math, life skills, art, & cooking all into one course. My students and I will be taking a journey around the world with the cooking class as our vehicle. By the time Christmas vacation rolls around, we will have explored the food and cultures of the United States, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Italy, China, Japan, the Philippines, and France- just to name a few.
I’m a big believer in broadening your horizons and learning through adventure. I am trying to instill some of that adventurous spirit in my students, and trying to break them out of their “McDonalds everyday” comfort zone. So, on the first day of class, my students and I made a pact: No matter how strange something looks or how ‘gross’ it sounds, we will try it- together.
I’m excited to see where God takes our class in the next nine months and am so thankful for all the wonderful people who have helped to get this class off the ground! If you are interested in stopping by the class for a day, or being a “guest chef”, feel free to call the school and set up a time to drop by! We would love to have you.