The K-12 Culinary Educator award is presented to Debra Garbe by the Fox Valley Culinary Association on Nov. 4 at the Bridgewood Conference Center. 

Although, Garbe has a great passion for culinary it was a prolonged road to get there. 

The K-12 Culinary Educator award is distributed by the Fox Valley Culinary Association to praise teachers in the culinary field.

Fox Valley Culinary Association offers some insight into the criteria of the award:  “Recognized for being an exemplary teacher and mentor for young culinarians.” 

This is the first year that the award is being granted to a teacher. Evidently, Garbe has attended this banquet in the past and some of her students have been given awards. All the local culinary associates were present at this banquet as well. 

Although it may have been an open secret that Garbe won the award, she said, “I was extremely surprised and shocked that I received the award.” 

Garbe has earned a Master’s degree in management, organization and behavior and a Bachelor’s degree in family and consumer science. She originally wanted to go into early childhood education at Fox Valley Tech. Nevertheless, she decided to go to a four-year college and receive a degree.  Garbe originally ran a daycare company for a period of time. 

It is a volunteer-based daycare and she explained:  “I did like it! It was a very nice daycare and was very successful for over 30 years.” 

She began her teaching at the Rosendale Brandon School District teaching child development. Unfortunately, the Rosendale Brandon School District cut its child development program.  She then searched for a new job and connected with NHS. 

When she began working at NHS, she originally taught child development but ended up switching over to the culinary-based classes. Garbe currently teaches Culinary 1 and 2, Foodservice 1 and 2 and Nutrition and healthy cooking. Subsequently, she brought the ProStart culinary curriculum to NHS. 

“It has been very successful and I have received boatloads of great feedback,” Garbe said.

She is also the head of Key Club, Culinary Club and is apart of the Scholarship Committee.

Senior Nikki Messick, a Culinary Academy member, explained her experiences with the culinary field. “My favorite part of the culinary field is seeing how the food I make can affect the people I give it to. Food is something that can bring out the best in people and bring everyone together.” 

All of Garbe’s classes are dual credit through Fox Valley Tech. She encourages all students if they have an interest in culinary to check out her classes.