6th-8th Grade Math, Science, English, and Culinary Teacher in Fremont, CA
Centerville Middle School
2025-26 Fellow: Dr. Ogden had been teaching for more than 20 years. They first became interested in the Pilot Light Fellowship when a local teacher mentioned the exciting new program she was apart of and they are looking forward to utilizing the curriculum in her culinary courses with the middle students they work with. Dr. Ogden worked for Le Cordon Bleu in San Francisco and has taught cooking and cookie classes for several years. She is excited to pass on her knowledge to a new group of students.
Favorite Food Education Standard: FES #1 – Food connects us to each other.
Food connects us to each other is my favorite food education standard. Family and friends celebrate with food. Food brings stranger together and allows for friendships to take place.
A Favorite Food Memory or Recipe:
Dr. Ogden’s favorite food memory is working with her father every Christmas eve since she could stand to create yummy, gooey cinnamon rolls for the holiday breakfast. She has continued this tradition with her young daughter who helped her this past holiday. In a perfect reflection of her own childhood, mother and daughter made a white kitchen with free flying flour and yummy rolls for the family to share the following day. Dr. Ogden has made wonderful culinary creations for her family including chocolate boxes, her grandma’s mousse, and other delights.
What I’m Most Excited About as a New Fellow:
I am most excited to connect my students to world of food out their. To borrow someone’s wise words- “someone’s yuck is someone else’s yum!” Students need to learn food makes the big world a much tighter knit place.
