LaKisha Jordan has been recognized as the 2024 ProStart State Educator of Excellence by the South Dakota Retailers Association. As a high school curriculum, ProStart prepares students for leadership roles in culinary and restaurant settings on a national scale. The award was given to Jordan in recognition of her dedication to providing real-world experiences to her students both inside and outside the classroom.
Jordan’s teaching philosophy focuses on cultivating culinary curiosity by sparking a passion for flavor exploration rather than just teaching recipes. As a ProStart culinary arts instructor at T.F. Riggs High School in Pierre, she aims to ignite this curiosity within her students through hands-on experiences that go beyond traditional coursework. She teaches Family and Consumer Sciences and encourages her students to not only learn skills through their coursework but also apply those skills in practical settings, such as catering events and hosting community cooking classes.
LaKisha Jordan’s commitment to providing her students with real-world experiences has earned her the title of the 2024 ProStart State Educator of Excellence, recognizing her outstanding contributions to the education of South Dakota’s future leaders in the culinary industry.