Congratulations to our Culinary Arts instructor, Jennifer Noriega, for being named the March Teacher of the Month. Mrs. Noriega loves “sharing her passion for the hospitality industry with students who have an opportunity to be educationally successful in an alternative setting.” She does this by bringing in many guest speakers from the area who provide insight into the expectations of this high-demand industry, as well as through a wide variety of catering events.
She was recently selected as one of five inaugural fellows in the Kids Feeding Kids Fellowship Program. This national initiative supports high school teachers who help students develop culinary skills while addressing food insecurity in their communities. Through this program, the Culinary Arts program has provided over 1,000 meals to families in need.
Congratulations to our Automotive Technology assistant teacher, Brian Leisinger, for being named our March Employee of the Month. Mr. Leisinger has over 30 years of experience in the automotive industry. For eleven of those years, he worked with Shannon Lasiter (our Automotive Technology I instructor) as a fleet mechanic for the Stone County Sheriff’s Department. Because of their years collaborating together, they are able to build on each other’s strengths to provide a great academic atmosphere.
Mr. Leisinger brings to class a calm demeanor that helps students feel comfortable in both the classroom and, most importantly, in the shop, where they are given the opportunity to gain real-world experience in a structured environment designed to prepare them for life after graduation.