THE
HUNTERDON COUNTY NEWS |
TITLE: Chef Paul Ingenito named HUNTERDON COUNTY Polytech Teacher of the Year.
With a background scanning the Culinary Institute of America, a Naval Chef with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, an Executive Chef at the Russian Tea Room to Proprietor of the Perryville Inn, Polytech recognized its tremendous fortune to have Chef Paul Ingenito as their high school Culinary Arts instructor and selected him “Teacher of the Year.”
This is not the first award that Chef Paul has received. The New Jersey Restaurant Association, one of the biggest professional organizations in the industry, nominated him for the James H. Maynard Excellence in Education Award as an outstanding educator in 2009.
“Paul is not a teacher. Paul is an educator” explains his co-culinary instructor Ms. Pat Philbin who teaches the Baking and Pastry program at the school. “Paul believes in the value of knowledge through education, preaches the importance of working hard at a job you will love and understands what it means to truly be a lifelong learner. These are characteristics that make Paul a rare educator. From his first appearance at Polytech as a guest chef speaker, I saw all students respond immediately to his way of communicating and sharing of his knowledge”.
In his 3 short years with the Polytech, the staff and students have seen his positive influence on the culinary program. “This year has been the highest enrollment in my twelve years at Polytech” said Ms. Philbin. “Under Paul’s vision we now publish an annual cookbook and have laid the ground work for a culinary library. As official members of Slow Food USA we will show students the process of “garden to table” this spring as we begin to grow fresh herbs and vegetables in our culinary greenhouse. Through student research and organization we regularly compost and use ‘greener’ products to reduce waste. They value & practice the concept of “paying it forward” through their community service projects with the Flemington Food Pantry. These are the result of Paul’s ability to positively influence our students.”
The program has also grown academically through an expansion of curriculum that includes math, reading and writing related to the food industry under his leadership. He also teaches for the adult education division of Polytech in Food and Restaurant Management program at Raritan Valley Community College.
He lives with his wife and three children in Hunterdon County. For more information about the culinary programs at Polytech please visit www.hcpolytech.org for the high school or www.polytechioas.net for the adult education division.