Beaumont, CA – Local school students spent a significant portion of their summer at school launching rockets in the air and preparing gourmet meals thanks to an exciting program called “Career Explorers Summer Lab.” This year marks the second time the Beaumont Unified School District offered the free program to local middle school students.
At the start of each week, students attended a specific “lab” led by an industry professional. The labs ranged from hands-on lessons in engineering, culinary arts, video production, health care, performing arts, and law enforcement.
While tweens and young teens may not be at a working age, it does not mean they are not thinking about what they want to be when they grow up. “The approach to educating students has shifted. We’re still teaching the basics, but we’re also connecting these lessons to real world careers,” explains Beaumont USD Assistant Superintendent Dr. Ebon Brown. In short, this means students learning math will see how it relates to becoming an engineer or even a chef.
In the culinary arts lab, young students were busy scooping out the perfect fractions of flour and sugar for gourmet waffles. Before that, they had learned knife techniques to safely chop, slice, and mince vegetables. Chef Jonathon Wiener, who goes by “Chef W,” was one of the professional instructors providing lessons.
Chef W represents the Summer Lab’s model design of using industry expertise. Prior to becoming the Beaumont High School’s Career Technical Education Culinary Arts instructor, Chef W was the executive chef for Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City in California. He also cooked under the direction of the famous Michelin-rated Chef Gary Menes.
Despite preparing students for a possible career in the culinary world, Chef W keeps it humble. “I truly believe every person should be able to feed themselves a meal if they need to,” he explained. For middle school students who are likely seeking more independence, this is a life-skill they can use regardless of their career choice.
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The Beaumont Unified School District is located in Riverside County, California, serving over 15,000 students including the adult school and preschool of the Beaumont-Cherry Valley area. It remains committed to its mission of providing high-quality educational opportunities for all students in a safe and secure learning environment.