Neenah High School teacher Deb Garbe has been named the Wisconsin ProStart Teacher of the Year by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association Education Foundation.
Garbe, a family and consumer science teacher, has grown the culinary arts and ProStart program at Neenah High School to be one of the strongest in the state. Garbe is in her 18th year of teaching in Neenah and also oversees the school's Key Club, which annually has nearly 200 members that have been active in numerous local community activities.
Garbe encourages her students outside the classroom, bringing students to competitions like the Wisconsin ProStart Invitational and to events with the American Culinary Federation Fox Valley Chapter. She also works with local restaurant industry professionals from places like Fox Valley Technical College, Zuppa's Cafe and Catering and Lambeau Field to give her students practical experiences with the foodservice industry. Many of her students have earned the prestigious Certificate of Achievement and have gone on to successful food service industry careers thanks to her dedication and advocacy.
"Her contributions to education, extracurricular programming and career exploration all show an unmatched passion for the industry and make her very well-deserving of this commendation," said Alex Newman, ProStart Coordinator for the Wisconsin Restaurant Association Education Foundation.
As Wisconsin's ProStart Teacher of the Year, Garbe will be nominated to be a finalist for national awards given by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.
The ProStart program is a curriculum designed to teach high school students the skills needed for a career in the restaurant and food service industry. Students also have the opportunity to participate in paid jobs where industry managers mentor them. When students meet academic standards, complete a checklist of competencies and participate in at least 400 hours of a mentored work experience, they are awarded the ProStart National Certificate of Achievement that signifies they are well qualified to enter the industry workforce.
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