ProStart Educator Excellence Awards 2020-21

Honoring State Educators Of The Year

2020-21 ProStart Educator of Excellence Award Virtual Celebration

With support of longtime Foundation partner Golden Corral, this virtual event celebrates the spirit of the James H. Maynard Teacher of the Year Award by recognizing all ProStart Educators for their unwavering support of ProStart this past year. Hear stories from current students and alumni, NRAEF leadership, and ProStart industry supporters. We’ll show our appreciation for educators by awarding incredible prizes, including gift cards to help them build out their ProStart classrooms.

The NRAEF ProStart National Educator of Excellence Awards (EEA) recognize educators who demonstrate excellence in the classroom and passion, commitment and creativity in all aspects of the ProStart program to help their students make the most of the opportunities that ProStart offers. Their stories inspire ProStart educators and supporters across the globe.

2020 Award Winners

EEA Classroom Expertise Award

Winner: David Groenewold, River Valley Technical Center, Vermont

EEA Best Practice & Knowledge Sharing Award

Winner: Elissa Oliver, Riverwood International Charter School, Georgia

EEA Industry Connections Award Winner:

Nick Brandler, San Dimas High School, California

EEA James H. Maynard Teacher Of The Year Award

Winner: Ann Taylor, Coronado High School, Nevada

​With support from Golden Corral, a proud sponsor of the EEA Awards, the NRAEF announced the recipient of the James H. Maynard Teacher of the Year Award at EEA. Established over a decade ago as a tribute to Golden Corral’s founder, James Maynard, the award honors one EEA winner for their tireless dedication to providing remarkable experiences to their ProStart students. The annual honoree receives a gift of $10,000.

Each participating state restaurant association nominates its leading educator who has demonstrated a strong commitment to his or her students and to the ProStart Program. 

The 2020 ProStart Educators of Excellence State Awardees are:

Alaska
Brian Yim – Dimond High School

Arkansas
Audra Weeks – Bentonville Ignite

California
Nick Brandler – San Dimas High School

Colorado*
Hope Nazzaro – St. Vrain Career Development Center
Yvonne Justice – St. Vrain Career Development Center

Connecticut
Joshua Ogrodowski – Enfield High School

Delaware
Ricki Senn – Caesar Rodney High School

Florida
Carl Stanton – Marathon High School

Georgia
Elissa Oliver – Riverwood International Charter School

Iowa
LaRae Arment – Alburnett High School

Illinois
Matt Barker – Technology Center of DuPage

Indiana
Brad Luzadder –Heartland Career Center

Kansas
Jack Low – Eudora/Desoto Technical Education Center & High School

Kentucky
Elizabeth Crump – Jessamine Career and Technology Center

Louisiana
Wanda Lemoine – Red River High School

Massachusetts
Samantha Clarke –Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School

Michigan
Clint Frenette – Sanilac Career Center

Minnesota
Marissa Getty –Rogers High School

Missouri
Nora Hill – Park Hill School District

North Carolina
Ashley Whitesides – Cary High School

Nebraska
Joan Hines – Lincoln Southwest High School

New Hampshire
Victoria Garay – Richard W. Creteau Regional Technology Center

New Jersey
John Pollock – Trenton Central High School

New Mexico
Veronica Hunnicutt Garcia – Chaparral High School

Nevada
Ann Taylor – Coronado High School

New York
Andrew Ottati – Questar III: Rensselaer Educational Center

Ohio
Debra Bates – Lancaster High School

Oklahoma
Danny Morrison – Northeast Technology Center

Oregon
Macy Hagensee – Crook County High School

Pennsylvania*
John Picarello – Monroe Career & Technical Institute
Samantha Armstrong – Monroe Career & Technical Institute

Rhode Island
Marie-Claire McKillip – East Providence Career and Technical Center

South Carolina
Holly A. Bell – Enoree Career & Technical Center

South Dakota
Megan Jaquet – Brookings High School

Texas
Becky Salter – John Marshall High School

Utah
Diane Cluff – Provo High School

Virginia
Tara Roberts – Massanutten Technical Center

Vermont
David A. Groenewold – River Valley Technical Center

Wisconsin
Tara Bradford – Middleton High School

West Virginia
Stephen Martin – Cabell Midland High School

* These educators are co-teachers at their schools and are nominated together

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