ANTONIA MASTRELLA
Piscataway Educator of the Year 2020 - 2023
Innovated trained culinarian with a passion for teaching.
Dedicated to the success and well-being of her students.
Motivating and inspiring others to live purposefully and to their full potential.
Creating positive change through leadership and exceeding expectations.
Dedicated to the success and well-being of her students.
Motivating and inspiring others to live purposefully and to their full potential.
Creating positive change through leadership and exceeding expectations.
Biography
From a very young age, I spent countless hours in the kitchen with my mother. We prepped, we cooked, we laughed, and we infused the recipes we made with our
hearts and our souls. I learned that food was my favorite way to share love, and all I wanted to do with my life was to share those same moments with others. Naturally, I went to culinary school and graduated from Hudson County College, which then led to my professional journey in the culinary industry. Each step I took in my journey led to the fine-tuning of my skills, and to exposure in culinary specialties that I embraces at every step. Like a sweet Italian ice on a warm summer day, I relished each experience, from baking and pastry art, to executive dining and catering, to a la carte restaurant service. But the most rewarding experience of my journey was taking the tools have developed over my life, and showing others how to use them. I have committed the last few decades to educating students in the culinary industry, working with students whose ages span 30 or more years. While working here in New Jersey, I had the privilege to teach in tandem with countless experts in the field, further developing my own expertise. In addition to being a chef, I have embraced the concept of “paying it forward”, by maintaining involvement in my community, through the Girl Scouts, the St. Vincent DePaul Society, and through helping local food pantries. Teaching at Piscataway Magnet School has taught me that mentoring my culinary classes keeps the students inspired. My own motivating actions seem to server as a role model to my kids, helping them to believe in themselves, and encouraging them to continue their path in their journey of becoming who they are meant to be. As a culinary instructor, I am there to ignite their flames; but I don’t just provide instruction and leadership. I strive to model my enthusiasm for the most rewarding journey they will take, beyond school, beyond their careers, which is life itself.
Teaching is my career, Culinary is my field, inspiring others to be their best selves is my calling. – Antonia Mastrella
From a very young age, I spent countless hours in the kitchen with my mother. We prepped, we cooked, we laughed, and we infused the recipes we made with our
hearts and our souls. I learned that food was my favorite way to share love, and all I wanted to do with my life was to share those same moments with others. Naturally, I went to culinary school and graduated from Hudson County College, which then led to my professional journey in the culinary industry. Each step I took in my journey led to the fine-tuning of my skills, and to exposure in culinary specialties that I embraces at every step. Like a sweet Italian ice on a warm summer day, I relished each experience, from baking and pastry art, to executive dining and catering, to a la carte restaurant service. But the most rewarding experience of my journey was taking the tools have developed over my life, and showing others how to use them. I have committed the last few decades to educating students in the culinary industry, working with students whose ages span 30 or more years. While working here in New Jersey, I had the privilege to teach in tandem with countless experts in the field, further developing my own expertise. In addition to being a chef, I have embraced the concept of “paying it forward”, by maintaining involvement in my community, through the Girl Scouts, the St. Vincent DePaul Society, and through helping local food pantries. Teaching at Piscataway Magnet School has taught me that mentoring my culinary classes keeps the students inspired. My own motivating actions seem to server as a role model to my kids, helping them to believe in themselves, and encouraging them to continue their path in their journey of becoming who they are meant to be. As a culinary instructor, I am there to ignite their flames; but I don’t just provide instruction and leadership. I strive to model my enthusiasm for the most rewarding journey they will take, beyond school, beyond their careers, which is life itself.
Teaching is my career, Culinary is my field, inspiring others to be their best selves is my calling. – Antonia Mastrella
CertificationsNew Jersey Department of Education - Teacher of Culinary Arts
ServSafe Proctor - National Restaurant Association LEGAL ONE - School Law for Career and Technical Education Teachers Youth Mental First Aid - USA National Council for Behavioral Health TIPS Certification - Trained for Intervention Procedures Heartsaver CPR and First Aid - American Heart Association CL.N. Certification - Clinical Nutrition and Holistic Health Sciences |
Community Interest American Culinary Federation -Active Member
Grown in Monmouth - Monmouth County Agriculture IMPACT of New Jersey Emmanuel Cancer Foundation Girl Scouts of Jersey Shore Habitat for Humanity in Monmouth Count Saint Vincent de Paul Rutgers Community Partnership James O’Bryant Food Pantry New Jersey Chef Alliance |