Work With Kimberly I. Houston
Culinary education consulting, professional development, and strategic advisory — for the educators and institutions building what's next in baking and pastry arts.
↓ Here's how we can work together:
Culinary Education Consulting
Speaking & Keynotes
Professional Development for Entrepreneurs
Professional Development Workshops
Workshops & Group Experiences
Free Learning & Resources
Culinary Education Consulting
You're building a baking and pastry program — or trying to fix one. You need someone who understands both sides of the table: the kitchen and the classroom.
This is where I do my most focused work.
I partner with school districts, CTE coordinators, and culinary schools to assess, design, and strengthen baking and pastry arts programs. Whether you're launching from scratch, adopting the Baking and Pastry Arts Curriculum, or trying to align what you already have to current industry standards — I bring the instructional design expertise and culinary authority to get it right.
Your culinary educators are likely among the most credentialed professionals in your buildings. What they often lack isn't skill — it's a structured, standards-aligned framework that matches what they already know how to do. That's the gap consulting closes.
This engagement is right for you if:
* You're a CTE coordinator or district leader evaluating or building a baking and pastry program
* You're a culinary school or program director who needs an outside expert to audit your curriculum and instruction
* You've adopted BAPC and want structured implementation support for your teachers and staff
* You're standardizing curriculum across multiple schools and need a consistent professional framework
What a consulting engagement can include:
* Program and curriculum audit — identifying what's working, what's missing, and what needs to change
* Standards alignment review against ACF, ProStart, RBA, and state CTE frameworks
* Curriculum development and instructional design support
BAPC implementation planning and educator onboarding
* Educator coaching and instructional observation with feedback
* Strategic advisory for program directors building or scaling culinary departments
How it works:
Every engagement is scoped individually based on your program's size, stage, and needs. We start with a focused discovery conversation — no pressure, no pitch — to assess whether and how I can help. From there, I'll outline a recommended scope, timeline, and investment before any commitment is made.
Consulting engagements are selective. I work with programs that are serious about building culinary education the right way.
Professional Development Workshops
Most culinary educators were trained to cook — not to teach. There's a difference. And it shows up in the classroom every single day.
My professional development workshops are built specifically for that gap.
Designed for culinary arts teachers, baking and pastry instructors, and CTE faculty, these workshops combine instructional best practices with culinary-specific pedagogy — including how to bring emotional intelligence into the way you teach, so students don't just learn technique, they learn to think like culinary professionals.
Every workshop is grounded in The Art of Teaching Culinary Arts—a practical guide written specifically for K–12 and CTE culinary instructors. Attendees receive a copy as part of their workshop experience.
Workshop topics include:
• Culinary Classroom Management & Instructional Design
• Emotional Intelligence in the Culinary Classroom
• Standards-Based Assessment for Baking & Pastry Programs
• Implementing the Baking and Pastry Arts Curriculum
• Building a Culinary Program That Retains Students
• From Industry Pro to Classroom Instructor — Making the Transition
What's included:
• One physical copy of The Art of Teaching Culinary Arts per attendee (in-person)
• Digital copy included for virtual workshops
• Facilitated instruction and guided application
• Q&A and program consultation time built into every session
Available as:
• Half-Day Workshop (starting at $1,800)
• Full-Day Workshop
• Multi-Session Series
• Virtual or On-Site
Ideal for: CTE professional development days, district educator convenings, culinary school faculty training, and new teacher onboarding programs.
Workshops can be paired with curriculum adoption for a complete implementation experience — covering both the what and the how of building a standards-aligned baking and pastry program.
The Culinary Entrepreneur Professional Development Bundle
For culinary entrepreneurs ready to sharpen their skills and expand their income streams.
This self-paced bundle covers food blogging, cell phone food photography, marketing with Canva, and strategic income diversification — designed to help you grow your culinary business without burning out or starting from scratch.
Best for: culinary entrepreneurs ready to level up their visibility, systems, and revenue.
Speaking & Keynotes
Kimberly I. Houston speaks at the intersection of culinary education, instructional leadership, and building with intention.
Her talks are grounded in real experience — over a decade teaching in kitchens and classrooms, building curriculum from the ground up, and advocating for the rigor that culinary arts education deserves.
Signature topics include:
• The Future of Culinary Education: Standards, Rigor, and What Students Actually Need
• Emotional Intelligence in the Culinary Classroom
• From Chef to Educator: Building a Program That Lasts
• Built With Intention: Leading Culinary Programs in a Changing Industry
Ideal for: CTE conferences, culinary industry events, educator professional development days, and leadership summits.
Not Sure Where to Start?
If you're a district leader, coordinator, or culinary school administrator exploring what a partnership could look like — start with a conversation.
No pressure, no pitch. Just a focused discussion about your program and whether I'm the right person to help you move it forward.
