Wise County Public Schools

🚨 Big things are happening in the Culinary Arts Pathway at WCCTC — all thanks to the incredible leadership of Mrs. Chantay Proulex! 👩‍🍳Her expertise, creativity, and dedication to hands-on learning continue to elevate this Culinary Arts program — empowering students with real-world culinary skills and career-ready confidence. 👏 We are so proud of the work she’s doing and the opportunities she’s creating every single day!

🍽 A Robust School-Based Enterprise in Action - "A Taste of Tech"
Breakfast service offered twice a week through HQ Work-Based Learning gives students experience in:
📋 Menu creation
💲 Pricing
📊 Feasibility planning
🔧 Production pipeline management

🎓 Career & Workforce Development
🔗 Approved youth-based apprenticeship with Ballad Health at Norton Community Hospital
📍 A powerful opportunity in a region with limited culinary career pathways
🧪 ServSafe Manager certification offered

💼 Student Employment & Alumni Success
Students + alumni are working locally at:
🍗 Cluck Truck (2 students)
🔥 Black Bear BBQ
🥖 Doughmakers — A former student answered the call when a local establishment was searching for a ServSafe-credentialed candidate. Because of the training in this program and the industry-recognized credentials offered, that student stepped in immediately — opening the door for future students and creating a growing employee pipeline for local workplace opportunities

 🤝 Internships & Work-Based Learning
👩‍🍳 Two current internships with Ballad Health
🍽 Previous partnership with the Cancer Center in Norton, VA, providing biweekly lunches (~30 meals every other week)

🎉 Catering Expansion
🍰 Dessert bars
🥪 Boxed lunches
🥟 Heavy hors d’oeuvres

📚 Courses & Enrollment
🔪 Culinary Arts I — 26 students (fundamentals & intro skills)
🔥 Culinary Arts II — 6 students (advanced cooking, three days per week)

🏫 School & Community Engagement
Student-prepared meals for:
👩‍🏫 Faculty lunches
🏢 Central office meetings
🤝 Chamber of Commerce luncheons
📋 DSS board meetings
💡 Appalachian Council for Innovation - Cold appetizers & hors d’oeuvres for VCEDA conference in Abingdon, VA
🌐Career & Technical (CTE) Advisory Meetings

💬 Real-world skills, strong relationships, and professionalism at the core
Students not only prepared the meals — they delivered and served many of them. 🙌

🍽 Looking for catering services, dessert bars, or heavy hors d’oeuvres?

The WCCTC Culinary Arts students are ready to serve your next event! Every meal, dessert, and hors d’oeuvre is prepared with skill, care, and professionalism — giving students real-world experience while providing your group with delicious food.

📩 For orders or inquiries, please contact Mrs. Chantay Proulex at cproulex@wisek12.org

Support our students and enjoy amazing food at the same time! 👩‍🍳✨