Culinary teacher Chef Ciaran Devlin has always loved cooking. After going through a rigorous career in cooking, he decided to become a teacher due to his passion for teaching young culinarians.
Students benefit from hearing about all the different places that Devlin has worked at and the stories that come along with that experience.
“He teaches me more about the culinary world and he gives great advice,” senior Becca Hodges said.
Devlin has had a good deal of experience to in the food industry to draw from while in the classroom.
“I have worked on a ship as a head chef for seven years where I oversaw two different kitchens and a cafeteria and officers mess and crew mess,” Devlin said. “I also worked in hotels where I served a five-year apprenticeship as part of my culinary training and later on I completed the ship’s cook and chef’s cook certificates of training. ”
Even though he has influenced student’s aspirations of becoming young culinarians, Devlin is aware that not all students will pursue this career path.
“You realize that this is high school and not everyone is going to make this their career, which is fine as this is demanding and not for everyone,” Devlin said.
But even if students do not pursue culinary arts as a career they still learn valuable life skills from Devlin and the class itself.
“I learned patience because of the work environment that he puts me in,” Hodges said.
As a Marshall Academy teacher, Devlin also teaches academy students and provides them with the same encouragement and advice.
“I have learned many techniques and skills that will be very useful in my life, and I also learned how to handle stress and pressure,” McLean High School junior Carla Rodriguez said.
While Devlin acknowledges that a culinary career isn’t fitting for everyone, he still goes beyond teaching his students how to cook meas by providing inspiring words and anecdotes in addition to his regular curriculum.