Title - Culinary Arts (Intro to Foods) Teaching Assistant
Location - Donald R. Kline Technical High School - Hudson, NY
Intro
Here at Questar III BOCES, we believe in changing lives, realizing dreams and doing together what can’t be done alone. Our vision is that of creating a student-centered culture and putting students first. Our core values include a commitment to excellence by honing our craftsmanship to deliver high-quality work, a commitment to leadership & service by moving the organization, departments and school districts forward by exceeding client expectations, and a commitment to innovation by creating programs and services to address client needs AND by continuously improving our programs and operations. We believe that organizational excellence is best achieved when leadership is reflective of our diverse society.
About the Job
Questar III BOCES announces a vacancy for a Full-Time (10-month school schedule) Teaching Assistant position to support the Culinary Arts program (Introduction to Foods) at our Donald R Kline Technical School. We are looking for a passionate and organized Culinary Teaching Assistant to help shape the next generation of professional chefs and hospitality leaders. In this role, you will work directly in our commercial-grade kitchen classroom, supporting the Lead Instructor in delivering hands-on technical training to high school students.
The ideal candidate balances professional kitchen expertise with a mentorship mindset, ensuring students follow industry-standard safety, sanitation, and technical skills while maintaining a high-energy, positive learning environment.
The Culinary Arts Teacher Assistant (TA) provides essential support in a fast-paced, hands-on Career and Technical Education (CTE) classroom (Introduction to Foods). The primary goal is to assist the Lead Instructor in fostering a safe, professional, and engaging environment where students learn the fundamentals of food preparation, kitchen safety, and industry standards.
As Intro to Foods is a Career Studies program, the class size is small in order to support the diverse needs of the students enrolled in the program.
This role is part educator, part sous-chef, and part kitchen manager, ensuring that students transition smoothly from theory to practical lab application.
Responsibilities:
Lab Preparation & Inventory Management
- Organize and set up "mise en place" for daily kitchen labs according to the lesson plan.
- Monitor pantry, walk-in cooler, and dry storage inventory; alert the instructor when supplies are low.
- Assist in the procurement and receiving of food orders, ensuring quality and food safety standards are met upon delivery.
Instructional Support
- Provide small-group or one-on-one coaching to students on fundamental skills such as knife handling, measuring techniques, and equipment operation.
- Monitor student progress during labs to ensure recipes are followed accurately and techniques are executed safely.
- Assist the Lead Instructor in grading practical exams and checking off student competency rubrics.
Safety & Sanitation Oversight
- Enforce ServSafe or local health department standards at all times.
- Supervise the "breakdown" and sanitization of student workstations at the end of each period.
- Ensure all commercial equipment (mixers, ranges, dishwashers) is used correctly and maintained.
Classroom Management
- Model professional kitchen behavior, including punctuality, grooming (uniform standards), and teamwork.
- Manage administrative tasks such as taking attendance, organizing student portfolios, or updating digital learning platforms.
Minimum Requirements:
- NYS Teaching Assistant certification required at time of hire
- Candidates with a high school diploma or equivalent and a desire to work with kids are encouraged to apply. Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts or related field preferred.
- Preferred candidates will have experience working with Special Education students.
For more information on Questar III BOCES, please visit www.questar.org.