Andrea Martin Consultant, Chef, and Educator

Andrea Martin is a professionally trained chef and NY State certified teacher who specializes in school lunch reform projects and integrating wellness-based educational initiatives into the school community. Her clients have included schools in the Tri-State area.

Martin has successfully transitioned school districts from a processed food culture to a cook-from-scratch environment.  Her expertise includes developing menus and recipes, training and professionalizing kitchen staff, and educating elementary and secondary students through effective social marketing tools such as in-class, after school, and community-based programs.  Martin also works to source products from local farms and uses school gardens in food and culinary-based learning experiences.  She exposes students to concepts of sustainability, small farm operations vs. industrial agriculture, and health and nutrition based issues.

Martin’s educational background includes a Bachelors Degree from Amherst College, a Masters in Education from the New School, and an Associates Degree in Culinary Arts from the Culinary Institute of America.  During her tenure as a New York City schoolteacher, she designed and implemented a culinary arts training program for high school students and formed a successful social purpose catering company employing graduates from the culinary program. The business, Venture Catering, was a runner up in the Yale-Goldman Sachs Social Purpose Business Plan Competition.

Martin frequently speaks on school lunch reform issues to parents, school communities, and educators. She appears in the documentary film “Two Angry Moms,” and her writing can be found on Ann Cooper’s blog at www.ChefAnn.com/blog. Martin is an active member of Women Chefs and Restaurateurs, and was chosen as the Catherine Brandel Scholar in 2006.