THIS PROGRAM IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY
SERIOUS TEXAS BARBECUE
WE TAKE OUR MEAT SERIOUSLY. YOU'RE
WATCHING DURANGO TV NEWS. I'M DEBORAH URODA
SITTING IN FOR WENDY GRAHAM SETTLE I'M
WEARING MY CHEF'S JACKET TODAY IN
CELEBRATION OF THE RETURN OF THE
PROSTART CULINARY ARTS PROGRAM AT
DURANGO HIGH SCHOOL. AFTER A SIX-YEAR
HIATUS, IT'S BACK, AND PROSTART STUDENTS
ENJOYED THEIR FIRST COMING-OUT PARTY
WHEN THEY PREPARED AND SERVED DINNER TO
MORE THAN 70 BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY
LEADERS EARLIER THIS MONTH IN THE
DURANGO HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA. DURANGO
SUPERINTENDENT DAN SNOWBERGER HOSTED
THE COMMUNITY GATHERING TO INTRODUCE THE
HIGH SCHOOL'S CAREER AND TECHNICAL
EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND TO LAY THE
GROUNDWORK FOR A BALLOT INITIATIVE
TO ADDRESS MAINTENANCE AND
SAFETY ISSUES IN THE DISTRICT. SIX YEARS
AGO, BUDGET CUTS FORCED THE DISTRICT TO
ELIMINATE THE PROSTART CULINARY ARTS
PROGRAMS. THE PROGRAM REMAINED DORMANT
FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS BECAUSE THE
DISTRICT COULDN'T FIND A CERTIFIED
TEACHER WITH THE APPROPRIATE FAMILY AND
CONSUMER SCIENCES CREDENTIALS. BUT LAST
YEAR, THE DISTRICT FOUND HER IN JESSICA
BRIGHT, A CERTIFIED TEACHER
AND A SELF-TAUGHT FOODIE WITH 15 YEARS
OF EXPERIENCE IN MARKETING, FOOD PRODUCT
DEVELOPMENT AND CORPORATE EVENT PLANNING.
BRIGHT STARTED WITH BASIC
FOOD AND NUTRITION CLASSES OFFERED
THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND
CONSUMER SCIENCES AT DURANGO HIGH SCHOOL.
SHE INTRODUCED PROSTART WITH THE HELP OF
A THREE THOUSAND DOLLAR GRANT FROM THE
DURANGO RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, AND IF
STUDENTS COMPLETE THE TWO-YEAR PROGRAM,
INCLUDING A 400-HOUR FOOD INDUSTRY
INTERNSHIP, THEY CAN EARN COLLEGE CREDIT
OR PROSTART CERTIFICATION TO LAND A JOB
AFTER GRADUATION. IT TEACHES KIDS NOT
ONLY THE TECHNICAL SKILLS OF COOKING, A
VARIETY OF TECHNIQUES, BUT ALSO THE
MANAGEMENT SIDE OF WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO
BE FRONT OF HOUSE, BACK OF HOUSE, HOW TO
HAVE CUSTOMER SERVICE. THOSE BASIC LIFE
SKILLS THAT STUDENTS GET IS REALLY PART
OF THE PROSTART CURRICULUM. BRIGHT SAID
THE DURANGO RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION HAS
BEEN KEY
TO PROSTART'S SUCCESS BY PROVIDING
INTERNSHIPS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT. THIS
YEAR, SHE IS USING THE ASSOCIATION'S THREE
THOUSAND-
DOLLAR GRANT TO REPAIR LONG DORMANT
KITCHEN APPLIANCES AND TO REPLACE
MISSING EQUIPMENT LIKE POTS, PANS,
UTENSILS, FLATWARE AND DISHES AND EVEN
DISHES. CASE IN POINT. THE DINNER EARLIER
THIS MONTH HAD TO BE SERVED ON PLASTIC
PLATES. NEVERTHELESS FIRST-YEAR PRO START
STUDENTS SHOWED OFF THEIR SKILLS WITH A
MENU OF ROAST PORK TENDERLOIN TOPPED
WITH AN HERB SAUCE, PARMESAN AND GARLIC
ORZO ,GRILLED VEGETABLES ,AND CHEESE CAKE
WITH A BERRY COMPOTE ON TOP.
ALTHOUGH PROSTART IS GEARED TOWARD
STUDENTS WHO MAY WANT TO WORK IN THE
FOOD INDUSTR. BRIGHT SAYS IT CAN BENEFIT
ANY STUDENT WHO WANTS TO LEARN HOW TO
COOK FOR THEMSELVES. IT'S VERY DIFFERENT
NOW. KIDS ARE BEING RESPONSE, THEY ARE MORE
RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING TO COOK THEIR OWN
MEALS AND FEND FOR THEMSELVES OR
SIBLINGS. SO WHAT THIS PROGRAM KIND OF
ALLOWS, AND WHAT I'M SEEING IS JUST MORE
PEOPLE NEED TO LEARN THE BASIC SKILLS,
AND WITHOUT A CLASS LIKE THIS, WHERE ARE
YOU GOING TO LEARN HOW TO DO? THAT SO
THAT THERE'S JUST THAT PASSION THAT THE
STUDENTS BRING AND WANTING TO LEARN IS
SOMETHING THAT I'VE SEEN IN THE INDUSTRY.
AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW THIS ABOUT
DURANGO, WE HAVE MORE RESTAURANTS PER
CAPITA THAN THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO.
THIS IS A HUGE INDUSTRY FOR OUR TOWN, AND
IN DURANGO, SPECIFICALLY HAVING THE
STUDENTS WITH THOSE SKILLS GREATLY
IMPACTS OUR JUST ECONOMIC FOOTPRINT
ACROSS THE BOARD OF WHAT WE CAN DO IN
THIS TOWN. FOR STUDENTS LIKE ENBRY SEVILLE,
THE PRO START PROGRAM HAS ALLOWED HER TO
INDULGE IN HER PASSION … COOKING AND
BAKING FOR OTHERS. IT HAS TAUGHT A LOT
ESPECIALLY LIKE I WANT TO GO INTO THE
BAKING INDUSTRY. SO I WANT TO BE A PASTRY
CHEF, AND I'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT JUST
DIFFERENT, A TON OF DIFFERENT BAKING
TECHNIQUES AND PROCEDURES.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE PRO
START PROGRAM OR MAKE A DONATION, VISIT
DURANGO HIGH SCHOOL'S WEBPAGE AT D H S DOT
DURANGO SCHOOLS DOT ORG
I'M DEBORAH URODA WITH DURANGO TV NEWS.
THANKS FOR WATCHING AND BON APPETIT!
