Houston Chef And Teacher Honored For Work

Chef Reginald Martin was recently president with the Educator Excellence Award for 2013-14 by the Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation, the Chron reports. Martin owns a catering operation, Lemond Catering, with his wife Merinda Watkins Martin and also works as a culinary arts teacher at Westside High School in Houston.

The Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation was established to help educate students about the food service industry. Its curriculum for culinary arts and restaurant management is used in 192 Texas schools.

This is the second year the award has been presented, and honors educators that make a difference in the lives of their students. Martin was nominated by a parent of one of his students and accepted the award on June 24 at the Southwest Food Expo in Dallas.

The program Martin leads is a four-year program, and about 100 to 150 students participate. Students start by learning basic kitchen and restaurant management skills and by their junior and senior year they run the program's café. Students can also earn up to six college credits through a partnership with Houston Community College.