Pilot Light

We think it's great that a lot of you are resolving to use social media less in 2025 -- but we want to stay in touch with you! It's important to us to keep our community informed about the incredible impact their support makes in Pilot Light classrooms nationwide. Our bimonthly newsletter keeps you connected to all the latest news, resources, and opportunities to get involved in Pilot Light's mission to bring comprehensive Food Education to students nationwide. Sign up today at: https://lnkd.in/gJj9P7BK Thank you for believing in the power of Food Education! #foodeducation #pilotlightchefs #socialmedia #newsletters #stayintouch #nonprofitsupporters #nonprofits

Is food and travel on your bucket list this year? Wanna Getaway? ??? Pilot Light is hosting a sunny spring vacation raffle ?? and it's winner's choice on destination! But that's not the best part... Best part? (IMO) - all proceeds go toward building out Food Education programs in US school systems, helping our future leaders build a more food secure and sustainable world. And if you didn't think that was important...can I ask how much you've been paying for eggs these days? ?? ?? Enter today to WIN a chance to defrost and relax on the warm, sunny beaches of Punta Cana or Cancun (winner’s choice)! ??? CONTEST DETAILS ??? ?? Enter to win a five-night luxury vacation to the sunny beaches of either Punta Cana, Dominican Republic or Cancun, Mexico for 2!? ?? 2 entries = $25 | 10 entries = $100? ??Illinois residents 18 years or older eligible to participate? ?? Contest ends at 12 PM noon on Friday, March 21st, 2025 ??? Pilot Light is a Chicago-founded Food Education nonprofit that partners with teachers to bring the power of food & agriculture education into every day classroom learning. ?? Enter now HERE at the link: https://lnkd.in/emP8NSu7 #beachvacation #pilotlightchefs #nonprofitfundraiser #nonprofitfundraisers #illinois #raffle #springvacation?

Did you leave high school wishing you had more real-world experiences? Food Education offers students the opportunity to engage with practical life skills that will sustain them for years to come. One example comes from Tinesha Wilkerson's high school Special Education class in Chicago. High school SpEd students participated in a community-based instruction outing to a local outdoor mall, where they shopped for ingredients to make fresh juice. Students chose vegetables and fruits that they preferred based on Food Education Standard 4 - food behaviors are influenced by internal and external factors. They picked different types of pears, apples, limes, carrots, and cucumbers and made delicious juices for themselves back at school. What real-world food skills do you think should be included in schools? #foodeducation #foodeducationmatters #realworldskills #specialeducation #spedteachers #spedteachersrock #pilotlightchefs

?? Today's Fellow Friday Spotlight is on: Jillian Swets! ?? Jillian teaches at McLain High School for Science & Technology in Tulsa, OK. She has been teaching for 4 years and first became interested in the Pilot Light Fellowship through their Career Tech manager. She has been enjoying making the connection between Hydroponics and sustainable food production during their time as a Fellow. Jillian has a degree in Sustainability from the University of Texas and is passionate about environmental education. Along with Hydroponics, she will be teaching Renewable Energy (a first for her school). She leads her school's Interact Club and is passionate about outdoor service opportunities! ?? Why Join the Fellowship? "I am most excited to see students creating recipes with the produce that they grew. I'm looking forward to encouraging students to get outside of their comfort zone with the food that they eat!" ?? Food Education Love "Last year, in my Hydroponics class, we completed a unit on food and nutrition. My students spent time researching recipes and finding ways to adapt them into more nutritious meals. At the end of the unit, the students chose one recipe that they wanted to cook. It was such a fun day in class and ended with lunch!" Thank you for being a part of this year's Fellowship, Jillian! ?? — #foodeducation #pilotlightchefs #teacherspotlight #teacherappreciation #foodeducatesus #teaching #foodmemories #foodknowledge #teachershoutout #teachingideas #teachingmethods #highschoolteacher #hydroponics #sustainableagriculture #fellowfriday #teacherstories

Have you entered our WANNA GETAWAY raffle yet? Don't miss your chance to win this incredible vacation -- open now through March 21st! https://lnkd.in/g5J7FmjF

-Amy Stamm/High School Special Education Teacher & Pilot Light Fellowship Alum/Northampton, MA ?? This March, we're highlighting stories from the incredible Special Education teachers in our community for National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Food Education has incredible power to let students of all abilities shine and thrive at school and in their communities. "[Pilot Light Food Education Standard 1: Food connects us to each other] deepens people’s cultural knowledge with its focus on food traditions, the geopolitical influences and interactions enabled by foodways, and historical forms of imagination expressed through food. Whenever we shared food, students asked interesting questions: “Where does jambalaya come from?”; “How did you learn how to make that?”; “I’ve never had a pine nut! They’re good! Where do they grow?” “You can make tea out of flowers?!” Students offered their knowledge to teachers: “I’ll tell you how to make my banana pudding”; “I made gluten-free cookies, so [my classmate] could have dessert,” which connected them more deeply to each other and strengthened our school’s sense of community." How has Food Education changed the way your classroom connects? #teachingmethods #foodeducation #nationaldevelopmentaldisabilitiesawarenessmonth #specialeducationteachers

?? Today's Fellow Friday Spotlight is on: Ms. Torres! ?? Ms. Torres has been teaching elementary school children for 26 years with the NYC Department of Education. She joined the Fellowship after completing Pilot Light's Classroom to Cafeteria program last year. ?? Why Join the Fellowship? "I feel my work around Food Education must continue impacting the lives of my third graders and the community I serve as a teacher. I am excited to belong to a community of fellow educators that believe in food justice for all." ?? Food Education Love "My favorite memory from the past year was teaching students about food choices and empowering them to use their voice and responsibility to persuade others to eat healthily. We were covering standard #6: “We can make informed food choices.” The students researched healthy snack options, and my co-teacher and I made a list of the snacks they wanted to try. We purchased all the different snacks and set up a table. I even cooked my grandma's rice pudding recipe, which was my comfort snack when I was a child. We had a guest visiting our classroom that day. It was such an impressive experience to see the kids tasting different foods for the first time. It was especially memorable to watch them initially dislike a choice, come back to give it another try, and then change their minds." Thank you for bringing your expertise to Pilot Light, Ms. Torres! ?? #teacherspotlight #fellowfriday #teacherstories #foodeducation #pilotlightchefs

Our partners at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation are currently #hiring a FAN Partnership Manager! Check out this opportunity to join an organization dedicated to inspiring youth and families through urban agriculture, food system resiliency, and career readiness: https://lnkd.in/ghiZSxjG

Did you know that March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month? That's why, all month long, we'll be highlighting stories from our incredible special education teachers who use food as a teaching tool in their classrooms all year round. Food is a fantastic way for students both with and without disabilities to connect and delve deeper into their academic content. Our first story comes from Mrs. Brittani Dixon, an elementary school special education teacher in Chicago. Students in Mrs. Dixon's elementary school special education class learned about Costa Rica in their social studies unit. They discussed culture, traditions, and popular foods, including Gallo Pinto, a popular beans and rice dish. This lesson also began the class's exploration of foods sources and origins: as they made Gallo Pinto, they researched where each ingredient came from. "This started of journey of learning that our food doesn't just appear in our refrigerator and it also doesn't begin at the store." Finally, students were sent home with the recipe so that anyone who wanted to try the dish with their families could do so! How are you celebrating Developmental Disability Awareness Month in your classroom? #developmentaldisabilitiesawarenessmonth #classroomstories #SpEdteachersrock #spedteachers #spedteachertip #spedteachersoinstagram

All students should be able to connect over a meal at the cafeteria table, without the stigma of receiving a different meal or without worrying if they have enough funds to pay for their meal. Schools and school food/nutrition staff should be able to focus on meal quality, Food Education, and engagement, without cutting through additional red tape while burdened with administrative tasks. Take action with this resource from the National Farm to School Network: https://lnkd.in/dGwwKcg6 Find a state by state breakdown of schools affected by this change through Food Research & Action Center: https://lnkd.in/emxvP3td