R-Jeneration: Family and consumer science teacher inspiring minds through culinary courses

School.

For most adults, it was a time of the past, but for Phyllis Langlois, it's now.

"I eat, drink and sleep school," says the family and consumer science teacher at Green Valley High School. "It's a pattern in my life. Every day, I wake up and do it again. I usually go to the supermarket three times a week just to get supplies for my culinary class."

Langlois recently was awarded Nevada's "Spirit of Advising Award" by the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America.

Nominations are made by state advisers and one person is generally recognized from every state to receive the coveted honor. To her students and the Green Valley administration, the award seems well-deserved.

"She's usually in the kitchen, working," says Green Valley Principal Jeff Horn. "She does a great job making sure that things are prepared and presented properly and is obviously a valuable asset to the school. Her years in education are appreciated and valued here at Green Valley."

Langlois has been teaching for 40 years and has been an adviser for Family and Career Leaders for about 35 years.

This past year, she took the culinary department to the national competition, where they placed second.

"I was quite surprised when I received the award, because this is an award that comes from the state level," Langlois says. "It's nice to receive the recognition."

Langlois was born in Peoria, Ill. As a child, she enjoyed swimming and considers herself an outdoors person.

"I was raised in Big Rapids, Mich., and when I attended college, I was faced with the decision on whether to teach elementary kids or high school kids," she says. "I chose high school and began to pursue a career in teaching home economics."

When she has time for non-school-related activities, Langlois enjoys sewing, cooking, traveling and entertaining family.

She also usually participates in summer culinary courses at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas to better her teaching skills.

"I'm a pretty patient person when it comes to my students," she says. "Although, once students realize that I am a business-minded person, they learn to appreciate the amount they actually learn once they settle into the routine I set up."

Desiree Hine, a student at College of Southern Nevada, was one of Langlois' students during Hine's senior year at Green Valley.

She's currently trying to attain her associate degree in culinary arts, and credits Langlois for helping her choose her career path.

"Ms. Langlois inspired me to pursue a cooking career," she says. "I didn't know what I wanted to be my senior year, and once I started cooking, it kind of became obvious that it was what I wanted to do."

This year, Langlois plans to incorporate more community service opportunities for her culinary students, hoping to begin working with the local Cakes For Kids program.

She also hopes to continue growing the Family and Consumer Science Department at Green Valley.

"Just to see how the program has grown and where the kids can go with the skills they learn here is rewarding," she says. "We are a small but mighty kind of program."