Welcome to Pilot Light’s Feeding Minds blog! Here, we get to tell the story of Food Education through in-depth stories from our classrooms, partnership spotlights, new program announcements, and opinion pieces from guest authors and the Pilot Light team. Join us in exploring the power of food to connect, excite, and empower us to build a better future together. 

March 5, 2024

By lilystark

SnackTime Explorers Expansion Commitment accepted by The White House!

Pilot Light and our partners at FRESHEALTH are thrilled to announce that through the support of The Savage Family Office, we are joining The White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities through the expansion of SnackTime Explorers!  The SnackTime Explorers expansion plan will grow the reach of the educational toolkit to include all

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November 22, 2023

By lilystark

When Teachers and Chefs Build Partnerships, Lessons Come Alive

How to Build a Teacher and Chef Partnership Chef James Martin and Pilot Light Educators Paul Floyd & Rita Leary on how teachers and chefs can connect to create meaningful Food Education experiences  Since 2013, Pilot Light has brought together teachers and chefs to create hands-on Food Education experiences for students in the classroom. What

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October 9, 2023

By lilystark

Corrina Hargett Grows Student Connections to School Food

Educator Corrina Hargett Grows Student Connection to School Food – School Lunch Week 2023  Happy School Lunch Week! This year, Pilot Light is all about Celebrating School Food though sharing stories of classroom connection and mealtime memories from our community of educators, chefs, staff, and other supporters.  Today, we sat down with Pilot Light 2022-23 Fellowship

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August 16, 2023

By lilystark

5th Annual Food Education Fellowship: Welcome, Fellows!

Welcome, 2023-24 Food Education Fellows!  We are thrilled to announce that we have welcomed 25 new educators to our 5th Annual Food Education Fellowship! This week marked the official beginning of what is sure to be a fantastic Fellowship school year!  Summer Institute Last week, our new cohort of educators joined us for our Summer

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July 24, 2023

By lilystark

Pilot Light Awarded a 2023 USDA Farm to School Grant!

Pilot Light Receives a USDA Farm to School Grant to Expand the Food Education Fellowship!  July 24, 2023 – Pilot Light is thrilled to announce that we have been recognized as a 2023 Farm to School grantee! A USDA-funded program, Farm to School awards grants and provides resources to organizations that offer food and nutrition

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May 12, 2023

By lilystark

Teacher Appreciation Week Spotlight: Pilot Light Fellow Lisa E. Hosts a Food and Art Event for her Community at Alice Fong Yu Alternative School

By contributing writer Emily March, Pilot Light Intern  Every school year, our Food Education Fellows create thoughtful, engaging lessons for students to learn about the connections between food and their daily lives. Today, we would like to highlight one particular Fellow Lisa Ernst, a 6th grade teacher at Alice Fong Yu Alternative School, who teaches

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April 18, 2023

By lilystark

Pilot Light, FRESHEALTH, & the USDA join Puprika the Puppy Chef on a SnackTime Explorer Adventure!

Read Puprika’s ADVENTURE NOTES from Real SnackTime Explorer Classrooms!  Greetings, Explorers! My name is Puprika, puppy chef and leader of the all-new SNACKTIME EXPLORER expedition team! Over the past several months, Chicago Public Schools 2nd grade students have embarked on weekly explorations of Fresh Fruit and Vegetable (FFVP) snacks, fresh produce snacks delivered to their

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March 22, 2023

By lilystark

Pilot Light & FRESHEALTH Advocate for Food Education in DC!

Notes from Taylor Meredith, Education Strategy Consultant for Pilot Light & former elementary school teacher and instructional coach with experience in New York City and suburban Chicago public schools. At Pilot Light, our programs, lesson plans, and daily operations are all guided by the Food Education Standards. These are 7 educational standards written by a

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January 12, 2023

By lilystark

Mobile Cart Kitchen Sponsored by Rabobank Ignites Passion for Learning in Chicago Pilot Light Students!

Pilot Light relies on our amazing Fellows and support from dozens of mission-aligned partners to deliver our model in classrooms across the country. That truth was very much in evidence in November when one of our corporate partners, Rabobank, visited Food Education Fellow Catherine Yackee’s classroom at Brooks College Preparatory High School in Chicago’s Pullman

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January 9, 2023

By lilystark

SnackTime Explorers Launches in CPS This Week!

2023 is off to an exciting start with the launch of SnackTime Explorers!  On January 11, students and educators across Chicago Public Schools will be transformed into the first ever SnackTime Explorers through a brand-new exciting collaboration between Pilot Light and FRESHEALTH. SnackTime Explorers is an educational toolkit designed to supplement the USDA’s Fresh Fruit

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