High school culinary students at Willingboro Township Public Schools in Willingboro, New Jersey are getting hands on experience this school year through a Work-Based Learning Program in partnership with Aramark Student Nutrition.
Participating students received a tour of the district’s central kitchen earlier this year, and following the tour, three students selected the central kitchen as their official work placement for the program.
The students spend a portion of their school day working in the kitchen where they learn things like knife skills, inventory management, food safety practices and more. Aramark’s district chef mentors the students directly.
In addition, the students will receive their ServeSafe certification which will help them when they seek employment post-graduation or during school breaks. Aramark is also working with teachers in the district to provide the students with sessions on interviewing skills, resume preparation and workplace readiness.
“This expanded partnership reflects a shared belief between Aramark Student Nutrition and Willingboro Township Public Schools that supporting students means more than serving meals. It means opening doors,” said Tiffany Rhodes, Aramark Student Nutrition food service director, in a statement. “Being a true partner goes beyond providing nutrition. It’s about understanding the needs of students and helping them explore the possibilities ahead of them.”
Willingboro Township Public Schools is one of many districts in the country that partners with students to provide them with workplace experience. Alongside giving students hands-on learning opportunities, partnering with students can also help school nutrition teams deal with staffing shortages.