The Pizza Expo is coming to Columbus on October 11–12—and we have an exciting, hands-on opportunity for ProStart students!
We are looking for two student teams to work alongside International Pizza Champion Michael LaMarca and the Master Pizza team as they prepare and serve pizza to thousands of Expo attendees. Chef LaMarca is a five-time national pizza competition winner and winner of Hulu’s Best in Dough—so this is an incredible opportunity for students to learn from one of the best in the business!
One team of four to five students is needed each day. Students will gain real-world experience in a fast-paced environment while supporting a nationally recognized pizza team.
Do your students have what it takes to keep up with a master pizza maker? Email sdelaney@ohiorestaurant.org and tell us why your team should be selected for this unforgettable experience!
Check out this article by students from Lakewood High School The Lakewood Times
Leadership Lab Registration is OPEN!
Ohio Hospitality CTSO students from across the state will have the opportunity to participate in leadership experiences as well as hands-on activities during this exciting day of learning at the third annual Ohio Hospitality Leadership Lab presented by Sysco. More details to come! Lunch will be provided. Registration closes Monday, October 12th. REGISTER HERE.
Competition Season is Almost Here!
We’ve added some new elements to the competitions! See the rules to each competition below:
Registration is now open for October 27th! Register Here!
Data Collection- Past Due!
Data collection for the 2026 – 2027 school year is PAST DUE! Reminders were sent Tuesday. The survey needs to be completed by Tuesday, September 22. Emails including the annual survey came from the following email address - prostartdatabase@nraef.org. It's a 26-question survey asking about your program. It takes about 10 minutes to complete. These answers are used by the National Restaurant Association to evaluate and support ProStart nationwide. Completing this survey is required to remain an active ProStart program and stay on our contact lists. If you run into any issues with it, reach out to sdelaney@ohiorestaurant.org.
As of 9/22/26, the following schools below have NOT completed the survey:
- Columbiana County Career & Technical Center
- C-TEC - Career & Technology Education Center
- Delaware Area Career Center
- Greene County Career Center
- Lancaster High School
- Maritime Academy of Toledo
- Ohio Hi-Point Career Center
- Ohio School for the Deaf
- Pioneer Career & Technology Center
- Portage Lakes Career Center
- Stow-Munroe Falls High School
- Vantage Career Center
- Wayne County Schools Career Center
- West Shore Career-Technical District
Rachael Ray Foundation ProStart Grow Grant application Closes TONIGHT!
Funding from Rachael Ray Foundation ProStart Grow Grant provides schools the opportunity to upgrade or purchase new resources, build up their classrooms in preparation for return to school, and support teachers with whatever they need to help their students learn career-building skills. Apply here. Application closes September 24 at 11:59pm
Normandy High School and Ohio Valley Career Center both received $5,000 in the fall of 2025!
Industry Award Nomination's Now Open!
It’s that time of year to nominate an Outstanding Ohio Educator and ProStart Student! We will be celebrating our winners this year at the 2026 Industry Awards
Nominate the ProStart Student of the Year 2026 HERE
Nominate the Educator of the Year 2026 HERE
September is National Food Safety Month!
Week 4: Personal Hygiene
Food safety is in your team's hands, literally. Week 4 of our Recipe for Food Safety Success focuses on personal hygiene, one of the most important defenses against contamination in any foodservice operation. From proper handwashing and glove use to employee health policies and professional appearance standards, these everyday habits help protect guests and reinforce a culture of food safety. Download the bundle for practical tools and resources that help your team maintain high hygiene standards and make safe practices part of every shift, every day. Download the meterials HERE.
What Servsafe courses do you teach? Please complete this short survey!
To celebrate National Food Safety Month, enjoy 20% off select ServSafe Manager and Food Handler products during September with code NFSM2026. Don't miss this limited-time opportunity to invest in the training and resources that help strengthen food safety knowledge and support your team's continued success.
Ohio Hospitality CTSO Open for Registration!
Sign ups for the Ohio Hospitality CTSO are available! The pricing is remaining at $5 per student for the 2026-2027 school year. Invoices for this will be sent in the Fall. Please take the time to review the Guidebook HERE for refreshers on the program, and begin plans for your students to hold officer elections for Leader, Vice Leader, and Social Ambassador in the fall. Register HERE. Leaders are due by September 30!
Beef in the Classroom Grant
Program Guidelines
Eligibility: Open to all Ohio teachers who plan to use cuts of beef as part of a classroom lesson.
Funding: Each teacher may receive up to $300 per school year.
Use of Funds: Grant money may be used for beef products and any necessary supplies to complete the lessons. Educators may use a lesson from the Ohio Beef Council website or create their own. Funds may not be used for the purchase of live animals or to provide meals for students (such as banquets, class parties, or awards dinners).
Application: Teachers must complete the online application and submit a lesson plan and budget for approval prior to purchase.
Documentation: After the lesson, recipients will submit documentation, including a brief description of how beef was used in the classroom and copies of receipts. Specific instructions will be sent to recipients who are awarded grant funding.
Timeline: Grant funds must be used by the end of the 2026–2027 school year. (Exceptions may be allowed, but reimbursement will only be made during this school year.)
Limit: One grant per teacher, per school year.
Questions: Please contact Anna Gest, Manager of Nutrition Education Programs.
Ohio Beef - Back to School Teacher Resources Available
From classroom lessons and educational materials to hands-on resources, Ohio Beef has tools to help students explore beef, agriculture, nutrition and careers in the industry. Explore resources and find materials for your classroom at ohiobeef.org/education.
Educator Portal
There is a new educator portal password. Please reach out to info@oraef.org for access. Let us know if there are resources you would like to see.
2026-2027 Calendar
2026
September 25 Teacher Institute
October 20 Ohio Hospitality CTSO Leadership Lab
October 27 Burger Battle, Creative Cakes, Mocktail Madness
2027
March 9 Ohio ProStart Invitational
Virtual events coming soon!
Pre-apprenticeship Program
Students can earn their COA (Certificate of Achievement) and Pre- Apprenticeship designation. Both are work-based learning opportunities. A COA earns 9 points toward graduation, and Pre-Apprenticeship earns 12. The process is simple, with just a few forms to complete each month.
Email info@oraef.org with any questions.
This is a great opportunity for your students! We currently have 3 schools enrolled: Tri-County, Ohio Valley, and Stow Munroe. Please register your students so we can submit to the state of Ohio!
Click HERE to view the Pre-Apprenticeship Guidelines & Click HERE for the Pre-Apprenticeship Application. Are you interested in bringing pre apprenticeship to your school next year? Email Abby Del Riesgo adelriesgo@ohiorestaurant.org
