Culinary arts instructor honored as Educator of Excellence
Daniel Wagner (second from right), culinary arts instructor at Greene County Career and Technology Center, works with students Nichole Crowe, Lauren Uveges, Lillan Dues, Collin Purcell and Dylan Wilson in the program’s kitchen. Wagner was recently selected as the 2022 Pennsylvania ProStart Educator of Excellence.
Hope Sterner (pictured right), director of education for the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association, recently presented Daniel Wagner, culinary arts instructor at Greene County Career and Technology Center, with the 2022 Pennsylvania ProStart Educator of Excellence. (Submitted photo)
Daniel Wagner, culinary arts instructor at Greene County Career and Technology Center, has added another accolade to his long and already impressive career.
The Greene County native, who has served as a CTC culinary arts instructor for more than three decades, was selected as the 2022 Pennsylvania ProStart Educator of Excellence.
He will join other State Educators of Excellence Award winners in being honored at the National ProStart Invitational Awards Dinner on May 8 in Washington, D.C., where four instructors will be chosen as winners in four categories: classroom, expertise, industry connection and best practice/knowledge sharing.
In addition to the awards dinner, Wagner and the other SEEA winners are invited to attend an event in July in Las Vegas that will be a mixture of knowledge and best practice sharing.
The award is an impressive achievement for the longtime chef; however, the always modest and humble Wagner said the award truly belongs to his students, the CTC and the individuals in the community who want to see the culinary students succeed.
“I deeply appreciate this award and I thank ProStart for the recognition, but without a doubt, it’s all about the students,” he said, while working busily with several 10th grade students in the culinary arts program kitchen. “It’s about them, and it’s about the many people within our network wanting to see our students achieve great success.”
Wagner was nominated for the award in January by Hope Sterner, director of education for the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association. The association represents the entirety of the state’s hospitality and tourism industry, including restaurants, hotels, destination marketing organizations, attractions, institutions, students and industry suppliers.
Sterner said ProStart is a nationally accredited and industry-backed program for high school students to create the next generation of hospitality industry leaders.
“With programs that garner skills ranging from culinary technique to management abilities, ProStart’s curriculum offers real-life experience opportunities and creates a foundation of useful skills that last a lifetime,” she said.
Sterner said the PA ProStart Educator of Excellence award recognizes an educator who has passion, commitment and creativity in all aspects of their program to help their students make the most of the opportunities offered.
“We are honored to have Dan Wagner involved with ProStart,” she said. “His tenacity and willingness to find industry connections has given his students invaluable experiences outside of their local area. His dedication to his students’ learning helps to provide them with a full culinary experience. He continues to push boundaries and show his students the importance of networking and making connections.”
Wagner said the culinary arts program has been using the ProStart program for the past four years.
Other honors that Wagner has received throughout his career include the Sysco Corporation Secondary Educator of the Year Award in 2019, the Carnegie Science Award for Secondary Education in 2018 and the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America Adviser of the Year Award.
Wagner said he takes pride in the fact that he has worked diligently over the years building and strengthening connections with people.
“All of the networking initiatives that have been done within the culinary arts program ultimately has to do directly with providing solid outcomes for the students,” he said. “Networking is about connecting, it’s about internships and job shadowing, it’s about being given opportunities to work with businesses and individuals in the industry, and working with top chefs across the world, in-person or virtually.
“Success is possible through the willingness and connectivity of networking,” he added. “That is why networking is so essential.”
Wagner also attributed the success of the culinary arts program and students to the current Greene County CTC administration.
“Their support has been a huge positive asset to the program, and they deserve a great deal of credit,” he said.
CTC Administrative Director Mark Krupa said Wagner and other CTC instructors, including those who have also recently won awards in their respective departments, deserve credit for their commitment to the students.
“Our instructors are second to none,” Krupa said. “We are really proud of them and what they bring day in and day out to their students. We are excited for them and are very honored to have them as vital assets of the Greene County Career and Technology Center.”