Winter Training Sees Record Number of ProStart Educators

​This year, Winter Educator Training was held at the John Folse Culinary Institute at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux February 4, with a record 41 ProStart educators attending. Led by Mistica Maples-Adams, LRAEF Program Manager, educators experienced a boot camp to prepare them for the upcoming Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers Louisiana ProStart Invitational, March 29-30th. 
 
“It’s been two years since our educators have prepared students and participated in the invitational,” said Maples-Adams. “Some of the rules for competing have been updated and our newer teachers have yet to attend or participate in the invitational.”
 
In addition, the training included two JFCI students in a cook-off with LPSI Head Judge Randy Cheramie, who led two volunteer educators through the judging process. One student demonstrated how to use Blue Runner white beans as a puree to elevate the pan roasted quail dish, and Maples-Adams covered the national rule change that now enables competitors to use pre-soaked beans in competition.
 
Regional Leader of Recruiting for Raising Cane’s Brigette Monistere spoke to the group about the ability for Raising Cane’s to help the students achieve their Certificate of Achievement (COA) by working at a Cane’s near them. “Those leaders in your class, those are students we are really interested in. We are looking for students we can train as managers if that’s what they are interested in,” said Monistere. 
 
Another session featured the Registered Youth Restaurant Apprenticeship program led by David Emond, who explained the pre-apprenticeship requirements in which ProStart students are applicable.
 
“It’s important that the ProStart educators can bridge their students from ProStart into an apprenticeship in the industry to further their career,” said LRAEF Executive Director Jonathan Baynham. “The NRA Educational Foundation sees pre-apprenticeship and ProStart as complimentary to one another.”
 
The LRAEF wishes to thank the John Folse Culinary Institute for hosting the one-day training event, and the Bayou Chapter for providing lunch from LRA member Spahr’s. Summer Educator Training planning is underway and will be held June 20-22 in New Orleans.