Pilot Light works with school, district, and educator partners across the country to support Food Education as an engaging, effective classroom teaching model.
534 Teachers | 23 States | Est. 26,000 Students
By incorporating food as a lens for traditional subjects such as math, reading, history, science, and more, Pilot Light educators make classroom learning exciting for students as they learn through food and about food’s relevance to themselves, their education, and their communities.
Our Nationwide Reach
Click on each “flork” logo to learn more about the Pilot Light program in each state!
Pilot Light schools are nationwide! Since our founding in 2010, we have worked with hundreds of educators both in Chicago and nationwide to build lessons aligned with our Food Education Standards, as well as Common Core, Next Generation Science Standards, WIDA Language Standards, and more to allow teachers as much flexibility as possible when integrating food and cooking topics into their preexisting curriculum.
“To date our work with Pilot Light has exceeded expectations; from project conceptualization all the way through implementation, our work together has been efficient and seamless….Their teacher-centric approach allows for a quicker and deeper buy-in from participating teachers, who immediately see the connections to their own teaching practice.”
–Jeremy Walter, Deputy Executive Director, New York City Department of Education
Our expert educators range from PreK-12th grade and have experience in all subject areas. Our model is grounded in flexibility and capacity building for teachers of all backgrounds, so educators can choose to adapt our preexisting lessons designed by their fellow teachers, or create their own lessons using our Food Education Standards. Teachers can access our online lesson plan library, The Food Education Center, for free anytime anywhere to start using Pilot Light in their classrooms.
Our Impact in Chicago
Pilot Light began in a single Chicago classroom in 2010. Since then, we have been proud to reach over 60 schools across the city through both past and present program models including The Food Education Fellowship (2019-present), SnackTime Explorers (2022-23), and more!
- 38% of all Pilot Light schools are in Chicago to date
- 81% of Chicago Pilot Light schools are on the south and west sides of the city
- 104 teachers across Chicagoland have worked with us since 2022
As we continue to grow to reach more districts and classrooms nationwide, we are proud to continue our work with Chicago teachers and will always remain committed to uplifting teachers in Chicago as our “home base.”
We’re always excited to grow and connect with interested teachers, schools, and districts to bring hands-on Food Education to their students through our various programs. Please contact us or explore our programs for more information!
Pilot Light School Partners by Program
Learn more about the Fellowship here!
2024-25 participating schools:
Arizona
Phoenix International Academy (Phoenix)
Delaware
Wilmington Friends School (Wilmington)
Georgia
Chattahoochee Hills Charter School (Chattahoochee Hills)
Illinois
University of Chicago Charter School-North Kenwood Oakland Campus (Kenwood, Chicago)
John Lewis Middle School (Waukegan)
Spencer Technology Academy (South Austin, Chicago)
O’Keeffe School of Excellence Elementary (South Shore, Chicago)
Ogden International School, Jenner Campus (Old Town, Chicago)
Lincoln Park High School (Lincoln Park, Chicago)
Thomas J. Waters Elementary (Lincoln Square, Chicago)
Chicago Jesuit Academy (Austin, Chicago)
Mather High School (Peterson Park, Chicago)
Chiaravalle Montessori School (Evanston)
Indiana
North Judson-San Pierre High School (North Judson)
Bradie Shrum Elementary (Salem)
Massachusetts
Haynes Early Education Program (Roxbury)
Michigan
Global Tech Academy (Ypsilanti)
New York
PS072 Dr William Dorney (Bronx, New York City)
PS 142 Amalia Castro (Lower East Side, New York City)
McKinley-Brighton Elementary (Syracuse)
STEAM at Dr. King Elementary School (Syracuse)
Argyle Central School (Argyle)
Oklahoma
McLain High School for Science and Technology (Tulsa)
Pennsylvania
Westtown School (Westchester)
Virginia
Lynnhaven School (Richmond)
2024-25 School Year
Indiana
Bridgeport Elementary (Indianapolis)
Garden City Elementary (Indianapolis)
Michigan
Hamilton Elementary (Westland)
Graham Elementary (Westland)
David Hicks Elementary (Insker)
Wildwood Elementary (Westland)
2023-24 School Year
Chicago
Bouchet Elementary Math & Science Academy (South Shore, Chicago)
Bret Harte Elementary School (Hyde Park, Chicago)
Deneen Elementary School (Greater Grand Crossing, Chicago)
Harvard Elementary School (Englewood, Chicago)
James N. Thorp Elementary School (South Chicago)
John M. Smyth Elementary School (Near West Side, Chicago)
Ludwig Van Beethoven Elementary School (Grand Boulevard, Chicago)
Mt. Vernon Elementary School (Washington Heights, Chicago)
Spencer Technology Academy (Austin, Chicago)
Indiana
Charles Warren Fairbanks 105 (Indianapolis, IN)
Benjamin Franklin Elementary (Hammond, IN)
Hess Elementary (Hammond, IN)
Wallace Elementary (Hammond, IN)
2022-23 School Year
Ludwig Van Beethoven Elementary School (Grand Boulevard, Chicago)
Holmes Elementary School (Englewood, Chicago)
James N. Thorp Elementary School (South Chicago)
Learn more about the Feeding Futures Fellowship (2024-26) here!
Illinois
Dvorak School of Excellence (Chicago, IL)
Perkins Bass Elementary School (Chicago, IL)
Jackie Joyner-Kersee Academy (East St. Louis, IL)
Montessori Academy For Peace (Decatur, IL)
Learn more about Classroom to Cafeteria here!
2023-24 School Year
New York City
K008 Emily Roebling School (Brooklyn)
K443 New Voices School of Academic & Creative Arts (Brooklyn)
K664 Brooklyn Environmental Exploration School (Brooklyn)
K767 (Brooklyn)
K853 (Brooklyn)
M751 Manhattan School for Career Development (Manhattan)
PS 008 (Brooklyn)
PS 72 Dr. William Dorney (Bronx)
PS 97 The Forest Park School (Queens)
PS 124Q Osmond A. Church (Queens)
PS 142 (East Village)
PS 278 Paula Hedbavny School (Upper Manhattan)
PS 343: The Pre-K Center at the Peck Slip School (Downtown Manhattan)
Q356 Community Voices (Queens)
Q387 Valence College Prep (Queens)
X190 Environmental Science, Mathematics, and Technology School (Bronx)
X413 Bronx High School for Medical Science (Bronx)
X535 (Bronx)
2022-23 School Year
New York City
PS 1: The Bergen (Brooklyn)
PS 38: Roberto Clemente (East Harlem)
PS 72 Dr. William Dorney (Bronx)
PS 94: David D. Porter Elementary School (Queens)
PS 105: The Blythebourne School (Brooklyn)
PS 124Q Osmond A. Church (Queens)
PS 153: Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Elementary School (Upper Manhattan)
PS 186 Castlewood (Queens)
PS 249: The Caton School (Brooklyn)
Chicago, IL Schools (Neighborhood)
Academy for Global Citizenship* (Archer Heights)
Ashburn Community Elementary School (Ashburn)
John M. Palmer Elementary School* (Albany Park)
Hazelgreen Elementary (Alsip)
Oglesby Elementary School (Auburn Gresham)
Scott Joplin Elementary (Auburn Gresham)
Robert W. Fulton Elementary School (Back of the Yards)
Acero Brighton Park Elementary School* (Brighton Park)
Bronzeville Classical Elementary School (Bronzeville)
Donoghue UChicago Charter School (Bronzeville)
Ida B. Wells Preparatory Elementary School* (Bronzeville)
Pulaski International School (Bucktown)
Claremont Academy Elementary School (Chicago Lawn)
Morrill Science and Math Elementary School (Chicago Lawn)
Dewey School of Excellence (Englewood)
Johnson College Prep (Englewood)
Lillian R. Nicholson STEM Academy (Englewood)
Perkins Bass Elementary School (Englewood)
Southside Occupational Academy High School (Englewood)
The Montessori School of Englewood (Englewood)
Acero Jovita Idar Elementary School (Gage Park)
Ludwig van Beethoven Elementary School (Grand Boulevard)
Paul Revere Elementary School (Grand Crossing)
Pritzker College Prep (Hermosa)
Alfred Nobel Elementary School (Humboldt Park)
Bret Harte Elementary School (Hyde Park)
Ray Elementary School* (Hyde Park)
Lincoln Park High School (Lincoln Park)
Waters Elementary School* (Lincoln Square)
Charles R. Darwin Elementary School (Logan Square)
John M. Smyth Elementary School (Near West Side)
West Park STEAM Academy (North Austin)
North Kenwood Oakland UChicago Charter School (North Kenwood)
Chalmers School of Excellence (North Lawndale)
Lawndale Community Academy (North Lawndale)
Disney II Magnet Elementary School (Old Irving Park)
Disney II High School (Old Irving Park)
Butler College Prep (Pullman)
Wilma Rudolph Learning Center (United Center)
Edmund Burke Elementary School (Washington Park)
Anna R. Langford Community Academy (West Englewood)
Charles W. Earle Elementary School (West Englewood)
Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep* (West Roseland)
Ellen Mitchell Elementary School (West Town)
Rowe Middle Charter School (West Town)
John Foster Dulles Elementary School (Woodlawn)
O’Keeffe School of Excellence (Woodlawn)
Chicago Jesuit Academy* (Austin)
Roberto Clemente Community Academy (Humboldt Park)
Parker Community Academy (Englewood)
Piccolo Elementary School (Humboldt Park)
Roosevelt High School (Albany Park)
Wadsworth STEM Elementary (Woodlawn)
Westinghouse College Prep (Woodlawn)
Maryland
Dickey Hill Elementary/Middle School (Baltimore)
Hamilton Elementary/Middle School (Baltimore)
Stuart Hill Academic Academy (Baltimore)
Meade High School (Fort Meade)
Louisiana
Scotlandville Pre-Engineering Magnet Academy (Baton Rouge)
Villa Del Rey Creative Sciences and Arts Magnet School (Baton Rouge)
Eva Legard Center for Coastal and Environmental Science (Baton Rouge)
New York
PS 376 (Brooklyn, NYC)
The Neighborhood School (Manhattan, NYC)
Tompkins Square Middle School (Lower Manhattan, NYC)
Hamilton Central School (Hamilton)
Schalmont Central School District (Schenectady)
North Carolina
Charlotte Lab School (Charlotte)
Colorado
Merrill Middle School (Denver)
STRIVE Prep – SMART (Denver)
California
The Primary School (East Palo Alto)
Alice Fong Yu Alternative School (San Francisco)
Gulf Avenue STEAM Elementary School and Magnet Center (Los Angeles)
Thornton Middle School (Fremont)
Alabama
Gulf Shores Middle School (Gulf Shores)
Georgia
West Jackson Elementary School (Hoschton)
Florida
Lake Weston Elementary School (Orlando)
Arkansas
Manila High School (Manila)
Pottsville High School (Pottsville)
Mount Vernon-Enola High School (Mt. Vernon)
Springdale High School (Springdale)
Minnesota
Mounds Park Academy* (Fort Meade)
L.H. Tanglen Elementary School (Minnetonka)
Harding High School (St. Paul)
Oregon
The Valley School of Southern Oregon (Medford)
Newport High School (Newport)
Massachusetts
HEC Academy (Northampton)
Innovation Academy Charter School (Tyngsboro)
New Jersey
Far Brook School (Short Hills)
Illinois
Butler Elementary School (Springfield)
Viking Middle School (Gurnee)
Indiana
West Lafayette Elementary School (West Lafayette)
Delaware
Odyssey Charter School (Wilmington)
Wilmington Friends School* (Wilmington)
Vermont
Albert D. Lawton Intermediate School (Essex Junction)
Oklahoma