Eileen Torpy (eileen@pilotlightchefs.org) serves as Director of School and District Partnerships and is dedicated to expanding access to Pilot Light to schools nationwide. She is responsible for building and stewarding partnerships, creating new programming and professional development opportunities, and managing our online Food Education Center resources. As a former classroom teacher, Eileen is excited to support educators at all levels in their adoption of food education.
As a staunch believer in the power of young people to change the world, Eileen is excited to connect with students, educators, families, and partners to expand access to food education. Eileen began her career as a public school teacher through Teach For America. After her years in the classroom, she worked in youth workforce development with Urban Alliance through the High School Internship Program, the Obama Youth Jobs Corps, then piloted the Urban Alliance Teacher Institute in 2020. In 2019, Eileen completed her Y12SR Yoga for Trauma and Addiction training through Africa Yoga Project in Nairobi, Kenya.
As a native Southsider, Eileen is a proud resident of the South Shore neighborhood in Chicago. When not at work, you can find her reading by the lake, spending time with her family and pets, or planning her next meal.