ProStart Teacher Institute & Professional Development

Description

Building Culinary Futures: ProStart Teacher Institute & Professional Development

Join us for a dynamic two-day professional development experience designed to strengthen ProStart programs and elevate your classroom impact!

Through a blend of industry insights, hands-on workshops, and collaborative discussions, you’ll explore the latest curriculum updates, refine culinary and management teaching strategies, and learn how to expand student opportunities through credentials, work-based learning, and career pathways.

Connect with fellow educators, gain practical tools you can implement immediately, and walk away re-energized with new ideas to grow your program and support student success.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of this exciting and transformative experience!

Registration closes June 1st, 2026 at 5:00 PM

Tentative Agenda:

June 23rd, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Lunch Provided)

June 24th, 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM (Breakfast & Lunch Provided)

What Attendees Can Expect:

DAY 1: ENRICHING THE PROSTART CLASSROOM

10:00 – 10:45 AM | Welcome Icebreaker

10:45 – 11:30 AM | Keynote & Industry Update - "The Hospitality Landscape: Why ProStart Matters More Than Ever" 

11:45 AM – 12:30 PM | Lunch & Learn - "Advisory Boards That Work" 

12:30 –12:45 PM | Break

12:45 – 1:30 PM | ProStart Curriculum Deep Dive - “What’s New & What’s Next in ProStart” 

1:30 – 2:30 PM | Understanding Barriers 

2:30 – 3:30 PM | Breakout Workshops (Choose One)

A. Knife Skills & Advanced Culinary Techniques 

B. Restaurant Management Simulation: Turning Theory into Practice

3:30 – 4:30 PM | Competition Prep Masterclass - “Beyond the Recipe: Coaching for Culinary & Management Competitions” 

4:30 – 5:00 PM | Day 1 Wrap-Up

5:00 – 6:00 PM | Office Hours (optional)

DAY 2: EXPANDING STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES

8:00 – 9:15 AM | Breakfast & Collaboration

9:15 – 10:15 AM | Credentialing & Career Pathways - "From ProStart to Paycheck: Building Career Pipelines" 

10:30 – 11:30 AM | Breakout Sessions (Choose One)

A. Work-Based Learning & Employer Engagement

B. Trauma-Informed Classrooms & Wellness

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Lunch & Resource Share

12:45 – 1:30 PM | Marketing Your ProStart Program - "Telling Your Story: Recruitment, Retention, and Recognition"

1:30 – 2:00 PM | Roundtable: Program Sustainability & Growth

2:00 – 3:00 PM | Closing Session & Certificates

Registration closes June 1st, 2026 at 5:00 PM

For questions, please contact Dr. Jai Girard at Jai@vrlta.org.