Greene culinary arts instructor honored as Educator of Excellence
Daniel Wagner, 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, 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.
Daniel Wagner, culinary arts instructor at Greene County Career and Technology Center, has added another accolade to his long and impressive career.
The Greene County native, who has served as 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.
Wagner says the award belongs to his students and the CTC, and the individuals within 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 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 by Hope Sterner, director of education for the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association. She said ProStart is a nationally accredited and industry-backed program for high school students to create the next generation of hospitality industry leaders.
Sterner said the ProStart 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.”
Wagner said the culinary arts program has been using the ProStart program for the past four years.
Other honors that Wagner has received include the Sysco Corp. 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 through social media and other networking outlets.
“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.
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 amount of credit,” he said.