PIERRE — the South Dakota Retailers Association has named LaKisha Jordan of T.F. Riggs High School in Pierre as the 2024 ProStart State Educator of Excellence for outstanding achievement in culinary and restaurant management education in the state of South Dakota.

ProStart, a nationwide high school curriculum administered by the Retailers Association in South Dakota, prepares students from 22 South Dakota high schools for leadership positions by integrating hands-on learning in the classroom and mentored work experience, focusing on culinary and restaurant management skills.

“Cultivating culinary curiosity is not just about teaching recipes, it’s about sparking a lifelong passion for flavor exploration,” explained Jordan. “As a ProStart culinary arts instructor, I believe in igniting that curiosity within my students.”

Jordan, who teaches family and consumer sciences courses, embodies ProStart’s mission of combining real-world experience and industry partnership, with her students regularly taking part in outside-school experiences, including catering events and hosting cooking classes for the community.

“Industry connection and student involvement in the community are just two of the many things she excels in with her culinary program,” said South Dakota ProStart Coordinator Seanna Regynski.

Upon nomination, Jordan is now a finalist for the National Educator of Excellence Awards. NEEA winners are recognized one of the following ways, by category — classroom expertise, best practice/knowledge sharing and industry connection — where each category winner will receive a monetary award, or as a finalist for the James H. Maynard Teacher of the Year Award, where one winner will receive $10,000.

To learn more about the ProStart program in South Dakota, visit sdra.org/prostart.