KCKCC Career and Technical Education

08/26/2026

👨‍🍳 Meet Chef John Williams, KCKCC's New Culinary Arts Coordinator & Lead Instructor! 🎉

With more than 30 years of culinary experience, Chef John Williams brings an incredible wealth of knowledge, passion, and real-world expertise to our Culinary Arts program.

Chef John's journey began humbly as a dishwasher in high school, where he discovered a love for cooking that would shape his future. From cooking in Colorado resort towns while chasing his passion for snowboarding to attending the prestigious California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, he built a career rooted in dedication, creativity, and continuous learning.

In 2003, Chef John opened PotPie, a beloved restaurant inspired by his love of classic French cuisine and Midwestern comfort food. Over the next 14 years, he honed not only his culinary skills but also his leadership and mentorship abilities while building a team and raising his family.

Although he dreamed of teaching during his time in culinary school, it wasn't until 2017 that he brought that vision to life, joining Kansas City Kansas Community College as a chef instructor.

Since then, he has found his true calling: sharing his knowledge and inspiring the next generation of culinary professionals. "Being able to pass on my skills and knowledge to future chefs is such a rewarding experience," Chef John says. "It makes the whole journey feel like it led exactly where it was meant to."

Please join us in welcoming Chef John Williams as our new Culinary Arts Coordinator and Lead Instructor! 👏

08/26/2026

08/20/2026

08/20/2026

05/23/2026

Congratulations to one of our own in CTE, Kayla Eagles, on earning her degree from KCKCC yesterday!
Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to growth inspire all of us. We’re proud to have you on our team and even prouder to celebrate this milestone with you.

05/23/2026

05/18/2026

Hands-On Learning in Action! 🌿
Our Landscaping students have been hard at work bringing their skills to life! As part of their latest project, they designed and built a beautiful retaining wall and planter set from the ground up.
Throughout the process, students explored key horticulture concepts like plant life cycles, hardiness zones, weather impacts, and plant selection. They carefully chose and planted a variety of trees, along with bushes, shrubs, and flowers to complete the space. 🌳🌼
But the learning didn’t stop there! Students also gained valuable hands-on experience operating industry equipment, including skid steer loaders, excavators, and handlers with auger attachments. Using these tools, they successfully installed a picket fence—digging post holes, mixing and setting concrete, and placing each picket with precision.
👏 We’re proud of the hard work, teamwork, and real-world skills these students are building every day!

05/07/2026

🍽️ Culinary Arts Capstone Practicals – Round 2!

Our student‑run Capstone cafés are in their second round, and last week was a huge success 👏check out the photos! 👏

Each student created their own restaurant or bakery concept, handling everything from branding and menu design to costing, layout, and customer service.

🛍️ À la carte to‑go only (cash, check, or card)

🕥 10:30–11:45 a.m. or until sold out

☕ The Roasterie coffee available for $1

📅 This Week’s Capstones

Thursday, May 7
• Kaylynn – Kaylynn’s Crafted Bagels
• Jimena – Girasol
• Elizabeth – Best Regards

Friday, May 8
• Noah – Nono’s Afro‑Asian Cuisine
• Marina – Ari’s Gourmet
• Keke – Big Ke’s Kitchen