Welcome to the month of September, one of the busiest times in education!
Every week, over 12,000 students cook with LIFT Enrichment. Serving that many students takes real work behind the scenes, and growth means always looking at what we can improve.
For more than a decade, we’ve brought cooking workshops into schools, teaching kids to make real, healthy food they’re proud of.
This fall, with a team of 250 Chef Teachers and 50+ school clients, we focused on making the experience better for schools and chefs alike. Here is what’s changed.
1. Student Cookbooks
Imagine your students heading home with their own cookbooks featuring the recipes that they made during the session, like cauliflower fried rice and chicken fajitas. The cookbook is not only a keepsake from the workshops but also a way to continue the fun and learning at home with their families.
With this optional add-on, we customize each cookbook with your school’s logo and the recipes your kids made during workshops, then ship it directly to your district!
2. Half-Session Option (4–6 Weeks)
Our typical session runs 10 weeks, which can be a tough block to fit once the start of the school year is already underway. This year, we are offering a shorter option of a 4-6 week half-session for schools that want to start around October.
It still gives students enough time to build culinary skills and learn the importance of healthy eating.
The half-session comes at a discount and is available this fall only. For a school that’s been on the fence about starting this year, it’s a great way to get kids cooking before the semester ends.
3. Chef Teacher Communication
With a team of 250 chef teachers, we learned having multiple channels of communication had become less and less effective. Chef Teachers would sometimes get confused about who to contact if they’re running late, have a question about the recipe, or a piece of their chef kit breaks. This fall we moved all communication to one platform.
Every message, email, phone call, and text all now live in a single inbox. The admin team sorts each one and routes it to the right person, so nothing gets overlooked and responses go out much faster.
A school never sees this part directly, but it’s what keeps the workshops running smoothly.
4. Chef Teacher Support Department
Onboarding a Chef Teacher is one thing; supporting them through a full session is another. This fall, that job got its own home, a dedicated Chef Teacher Support department.
A team of two support specialists, an admin, and a manager exists for one group only: Chef Teachers who have already been onboarded. They handle everything, including:
- Daily questions
- Payroll
- Evaluations
- Extra training
- Coordinating substitutes
This support structure is what stands behind the person leading your workshop.
5. Regional Chef Meetings
With a growing team, one big Zoom call would leave many Chef Teachers unheard. That’s why we brought virtual meetings where instructors have the chance to meet their colleagues working near them, ask questions, compare notes, and get face time with their Regional Manager.
The meetings double as training. Each session is built around real feedback from school partners, turned into a live review of the areas that matter most.
When a school shares feedback, it doesn’t disappear into an inbox; it becomes additional material Chef Teachers train on.
Want to bring a fun culinary after-school program to your school?