Nancy Firasek has been teaching for 27 years and after this year she will be retiring. She taught at Riverview Gardens for 11 years and then in 2008 she moved to Hazelwood West. Firasek teaches a few different Culinary classes such as Culinary 1, Culinary 2, and Tastes of Culture. After retirement, Firasek plans to take a gap year and travel with her husband. 

As a Culinary teacher Firasek’s favorite unit is the fruits and vegetables unit because there are always students that say they hate vegetables but then end up liking them after this unit. Firasek’s favorite meal to make in class is Alfredo pasta because that is the one food everyone begs for so once they finally get it they are happy. 

The thing Firasek loves most and will miss the most about teaching is the students, she says they keep her young. Firasek has always wanted to be a teacher solely for the purpose of teaching the kids new things. 

“Once you give someone the knowledge of something it can’t be taken away”, Firasek shared. 

Firasek’s favorite memory teaching is when she is out at a restaurant and see’s a former student using the skills she once taught them. Firasek also recently received an invite to one of her former students capstone project dinners which she is looking forward to attending. Another thing she loves about teaching is the friends she has made along the way. Firasek considers Ms. Smith to be her best friend because they have been here for around the same amount of time and they have just done life together. 

Firasek is an avid traveler and since those are her plans after retiring we asked her which place she has been to that has had the best food. 

“Bosnia had really good food and since it was only four hours from Venice they had amazing Italian food as well”, Firasek shared. 

She really wants to travel to Alaska along with going to New England for the Fall Foliage. 

Firasek has inspired many students to embrace a new experience in cooking and will definitely be missed at Hazelwood West. Make sure to wish her luck in her future adventures after retirement!