Become a ProStart School
On behalf of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) and the Texas Restaurant Foundation, it is our pleasure to introduce you to the ProStart® program. When you join the ProStart program, you are joining a network of more than 95,000 students in 1,900 high schools across all 50 states, Guam, and U.S. military bases.
This is an exciting time to be a part of the restaurant and foodservice industry – in the next decade, the industry is predicted to need an additional 2 million employees! The industry is relying on programs such as ProStart to help prepare students to take leadership roles as they move into the industry. We thank you for helping ignite your students’ passion for the restaurant industry and introducing them to the wonderful opportunities that lie in their future.
If you are ready to join the Texas ProStart community, contact Susan Petty, Texas ProStart Coordinator, to get started!
Benefits of Becoming a ProStart Educator
Chef Tim Kelly Educator Excellence Award
Texas ProStart Instructors who demonstrate leadership and excellence in culinary education are eligible to contend for the annual Chef Tim Kelly Educator Excellence Award. Teachers must be advocates of the Texas ProStart program and dedicated to helping students achieve success. Awarded to educators who have made significant contributions in the classroom and beyond, the award package includes the following:
- $1000 cash prize
- Complimentary registration to the Culinary Educators Training Conference
- 2 tickets to the Texas Restaurant Show
- 2 tickets toTexas Restaurant Awards & Lone Star Bash
- One night hotel stay at the Texas Restaurant Show
Contact Susan Petty with any questions or to apply.
ServSafe for Educators
The Texas Restaurant Foundation (TRF) allows you to certify yourself and your students in food safety through the nationally recognized ServSafe program. ServSafe has provided training and certification for over 275 high school educators as ServSafe instructors who then train and certify hundreds of high school students across the state. In fact, ServSafe Food Manager Certification, which is part of the Texas ProStart curriculum, has become the standard industry certification offered in high school courses.
Additionally, TRF encourages the use of ServSafe Food Handler Guide as an introductory curriculum in high school foods related courses such as food science, restaurant management, nutrition, introduction to culinary, and introduction to hospitality and tourism. These students gain a strong foundation in the basics of sanitation. For more information, contact Susan Petty, Texas ProStart Coordinator.
Culinary Educators Training Conference
2024 dates, location, and more information coming soon!