The FRLAEF will conduct three ProStart Teacher Training events this summer. Training will be held at the Keiser University Sarasota campus, St. Thomas University in Miami, and at UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality in 
Orlando.
PROGRAM COST
The FRLAEF will cover the cost of all Florida ProStart instructors who will be teaching the ProStart curriculum during the 2026-2027 school year. Attendees will be responsible for their travel and some meals.
SAVE THE DATE
Attendees may choose from one of the trainings below. Agendas are available at the link.
June 8-11, 2026 St. Thomas University, Miami
June 16-19, 2026 UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality, Orlando
June 23-26, 2026 Keiser University, Sarasota
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
FRLAEF Post-Secondary Scholarship–Application Closes May 15
Please share this with your graduating seniors!
In order to be eligible for this scholarship the applicant must:
• Be enrolled at a post-secondary school pursuing a culinary or hospitality program–Summer/Fall 2026 term
• Return your transcript by application deadline
The scholarship amount is based on investment returns and award amounts fluctuate from year to year. Approximately six $2,000 scholarships will be awarded. This is a one-time, non-renewable award. However, students may reapply each year.
Application deadline: May 15, 2026
Applicants notified award status by: May 22, 2026
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
National ProStart Competition 
The National ProStart Invitational took place Saturday April 25-Sunday, April 26 in Baltimore, MD. Florida was represented by Strawberry Crest High School, who won both the Management and the Culinary competitions at the Florida Culinary Team Competitions in February.
The Management team placed fifth with their Cheezy’s restaurant concept. Those team members are Toby Highsmith, Macey Riley, Dayana Hernandez, Abigail Emin, and Pooja Gopinathrao. Their instructors are Paul Bonanno, Jeremy Walburn and Josh Bauer.
The Culinary team did not place in the top five but represented Florida very well. Those team members are Riley Clark, Brinley Miranda, Ethan Weisenritter, Jessie Andrew, and Samantha Chung.
The 5th Place Management team won a $2500 scholarship from Coca Cola to the school of their choice along with scholarships from post-secondary schools.
Congratulations to both teams!
Sweet Fresh From Florida Watermelon
“Fresh From Florida” promotes Florida agricultural products on behalf of Florida farmers, ranchers and fishers.
Did you know that now is also peak season for many of Florida’s beloved fruits and vegetables? In early summer, Florida’s seasonal bounty includes watermelon, tomatoes, potatoes, snap beans and mango. As a complement, Florida beef and most seafood products are always in season.
Florida is the largest producer of watermelon in the U.S. Florida’s watermelon is known for its sweetness and first-in-season availability, with peak season running from April through July and a secondary season from October through December. Florida Watermelon Poke Bowl is a showstopping recipe and an excellent way to incorporate Florida avocado into your offerings. Florida Fruit and Berry Yogurt Bark is a sweet option to incorporate many “Fresh From Florida” fruits into a recipe.
We know that kids love sweets, and these Florida Watermelon Pops are an easy, kid-friendly recipe to prepare with young cooks. In addition, Fresh From Florida offers a free online class for young chefs. Check out Jr. Chef University for information about the program.
There’s nothing better than “Fresh From Florida” produce, beef and seafood during peak season. Look for and buy “Fresh From Florida” where you shop. Peak flavor and peak freshness are hard to beat.
REGISTER FOR UPDATES! Want to learn how to improve the flavor and freshness of your students’ culinary creations and at the same time, support Florida farmers? Learn from the fun and engaging resources at FreshFromFlorida.com! To have FREE access to over 400 recipes and receive seasonal information from Florida’s Culinary Ambassador Chef Justin join the Fresh From Florida Club. Follow them to stay updated on Instagram or Facebook @FreshFromFlorida or at their website, followfreshfromflorida.com!
Rachael Ray Grant Winners
Through The Rachael Ray Foundation (RRF) ProStart Grow Grants, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation provides grants for ProStart schools or schools with culinary arts programs, demonstrating a strong need to build up or enhance programming. This year marks the sixth round of Grow Grant funding from The Rachael Ray Foundation, which has awarded more than $1 million to ProStart schools across 153 grants to-date.
Funding from RRF provides schools the opportunity to upgrade or purchase new resources, build up their classrooms in preparation for return to school, and support teachers with whatever they need to help their students learn career-building skills. Congratulations to the following Florida ProStart schools who won a $5,000 Rachael Ray Grant the 2025-2026 school year. Look for the 2026-2027 application in the Fall.
Boynton Beach Community High School, Rachel Gaon, Instructor
Deerfield Beach High School, Rory Mapp, Instructor
Gause Academy of Leadership, Kristen Hunt, Instructor
Marathon High School, Carl Stanton, Instructor
Miami Central Senior High School, Yolanda Washington, Instructor
Miami Lakes Educational Center, David Nunez, Instructor
North Miami Senior High School, Andre Franks, Instructor
Orange Park High School, Alfralisa Key, Instructor
South Lake High School, John Thunberg, Instructor
Kids Cooking Camp
If you have ever conducted a kid’s cooking camp during the summer, please let us know.
Smart Study for ProStart & ServSafe
Help your students with ServSafe Manager exam and ProStart Foundations exam preparation via adaptive learning techniques. ServSafe Smart Study Modules personalize learning based on each student’s unique needs and guides them to master the most critical course objectives. The program assesses individual knowledge, identifies and corrects misinformation, and redirects students to topic areas where they show struggle. The results are efficient learning, long-term retention, better prepared instructors and overall improved performance on exams.
Features include:
• Just in time multi-media “learning bursts” to address knowledge gaps
• Learning experience rooted in cognitive science for quick mastery and
long-term retention
• Confidence-based learning to improve performance and productivity
CLICK HERE to preview ProStart Foundations Smart Study
CLICK HERE to preview ServSafe Smart Study
For more information or to order, contact Lauren Robin at [email protected]
9th Edition ServSafe Coursebook Released
- Updated regulatory and safety guidance
- Clearer, more robust food safety concepts
- Improved instruction on operations and risk reduction
- Expanded training, inspection, and food coverage
- Facilities and equipment updates
Instructor Resources
The updated online resources include:
- Test Bank & Printer Reader Customizable Chapter Exams
- Customizable PowerPoint Presentations
- Instructor Guide
- Chapter Handouts
Register here to become a certified instructor and gain access to these resources and more. If you are a registered Dual Role Instructor/Proctor, you can access the resources now.
If you are interested in purchasing the 9th edition Coursebook, contact Amy Parker at [email protected] for the price list
Career Connection Event
The International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA) is looking for young adults from all areas of study to introduce them to career options in the food industry that they may never have considered.
The IDDBA is hosting the Career Connection Live on June 9 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. It’s a free, half-day event during our national food industry trade show, open to all areas of interest—business, marketing, engineering, tech, sustainability, and more. Students and their faculty advisors can network with professionals, explore career paths, and hear from a live Career Advice Panel.
CLICK HERE for the info flyer.
Become a Premier ProStart School with Free ProStart Exam Materials
Teachers often ask how they can become Premier ProStart schools when they are doing everything required to be Full ProStart schools. In order to get to Premier, you must have at least one student earn the ProStart Certificate of Achievement (COA). If you have a student already working in the foodservice industry, this could be a pathway to get to Premier status. To earn their COA, students must:
- Work at least 400 hours in the foodservice industry
- Pass both Foundations exams
- Have their manager complete the Work Experience Checklist
For a detailed list and a how-to of these steps click here.
The FRLAEF offers free ProStart exam materials each year to Premier and Full ProStart schools. Once we have received a teacher’s Full Implementation contract you are free to request complimentary scantrons or online codes.