“I think every teacher should take this class, and classes about this type of content should be more readily available. It was fabulous!”
— Edible Schoolyard NYC Professional Development Participant
ESYNYC Professional Development Opportunities 2026-27
These one-hour workshops are virtual and offer CTLE credit. Presented in partnership with the New York City Public Schools Office of Food and Nutrition Education.
Celebrating Latinx/Hispanic Culture through Cooking
PreK – 12th Grade Educators
Virtual, CTLE credit available
October 5, 2026 | 2:30 – 3:30 PM
Edible Schoolyard NYC educators will describe our approach to teaching cooking–making lessons hands-on and engaging for all students. We will talk generally about how we use culinary lessons to celebrate the cultural diversity of New York City and specifically about the rich history and diversity of Hispanic/Latinx cultures in the United States. We will also discuss our specific strategies for cooking safely with students and will highlight the following healthy, plant-based Hispanic/Latinx recipes: Baleadas, Arroz con Gandules, Esquites, Empanadas and Sancocho.
Please note that registration is limited to NYCPS employees, and please register using your @schools.nyc.gov email.
Register here.
Civic Engagement and the Food System
High School Educators
Virtual, CTLE credit available
February 1, 2027 | 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Edible Schoolyard NYC will share lessons and strategies to engage high school
students in the political issues of the food system. We will share lessons about
school breakfast and lunch policy and advocacy, the controversies around
nutrition labels, guerilla gardening in New York City, citywide composting, and
the environmental impact of the food system.
Please note that registration is limited to NYCPS employees, and please register using your @schools.nyc.gov email.
Register here.
Celebrating the Cultures of the African Diaspora Through Cooking
PreK – 12th Grade Educators
Virtual, CTLE credit available
February 10, 2027 | 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Edible Schoolyard NYC educators will describe our approach to teaching
cooking–making lessons hands-on and engaging for all students. We will
talk generally about how we use culinary lessons to celebrate the cultural
diversity of New York City and specifically about the rich history and
diversity of African Diaspora cultures in the United States. We will also
discuss our specific strategies for cooking safely with students and will
highlight the following lessons featuring healthy, plant-based recipes from
the African Diaspora: Callaloo; Asaro; Black-Eyed Peas, Greens and
Cornbread; Misir Wat and the Red Foods of Juneteenth.
Please note that registration is limited to NYCPS employees, and please register using your @schools.nyc.gov email.
Register here.
Cooking and Eating to Save the Planet
PreK – 8th Grade Educators
Virtual, CTLE credit available
March 22, 2027 | 2:30 – 3:30 PM
Edible Schoolyard NYC educators will share strategies for teaching students
about how their cooking and eating can positively impact the planet. We will
highlight lessons that engage students through hands-on cooking and
interactive games, sharing lessons about the benefits of eating “imperfect”
foods; using food scraps to make muffins or stir fry; conducting a scavenger
hunt to understand where (and when) food is grown; playing a game to
demonstrate the benefits of eating locally and seasonally; and re-enacting the
food web that exists in a typical New York City garden.
Please note that registration is limited to NYCPS employees, and please register using your @schools.nyc.gov email.
Register here.
Authentic ELA Through Cooking
PreK – 8th Grade Educators
Virtual, CTLE credit available
April 5, 2027 | 2:30 – 3:30 PM
Edible Schoolyard NYC educators will share our strategies for supporting
students’ literacy in the authentic context of reading a recipe as they cook.
We’ll discuss our strategies for cooking in a regular classroom while
keeping students safe and engaged and will share simple lessons and
activities that highlight and support literacy while cooking: a quick pickles
recipe and reflection; hot chocolate sequencing; fruit salad recipe writing;
berry rosehip bars on Boardmaker for non-verbal students; and the
complex components of arroz con gandules with apple-jicama slaw.
Please note that registration is limited to NYCPS employees, and please register using your @schools.nyc.gov email.
Register here.
Celebrating AAPI Cultures Through Cooking
PreK – 8th Grade Educators
Virtual, CTLE credit available
May 24, 2025 | 2:30 – 3:30 PM
Edible Schoolyard NYC educators will describe our approach to teaching
cooking–making lessons hands-on and engaging for all students. We will
talk generally how we use culinary lessons to celebrate the cultural
diversity of New York City and specifically about the rich history and
diversity of Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) cultures in the
United States. We will also discuss our specific strategies for cooking
safely with students and will highlight the following healthy, plant-based
AAPI recipes: Dumplings, Sushi, Summer Rolls, Scallion Pancakes; and
Aloo Gobi.
Please note that registration is limited to NYCPS employees, and please register using your @schools.nyc.gov email.
Register here.
Understanding How Food Gets to Your Table
PreK – 8th Grade Educators
Virtual, CTLE credit available
June 10, 2027 | 9:00-10:00 AM
Edible Schoolyard NYC educators will demonstrate how we use engaging,
hands-on activities to support students in deepening their understanding of social
studies and science through curriculum focusing on the food system. We will
share lessons that introduce the food system and the components needed to get
food from the farm to our plates; highlight the workers who make the food system
possible; describe ways in which the food system can harm the environment and
ways to mitigate that harm; celebrate the workers in the school cafeteria who
serve over a million meals a day in New York City; and study the immigrants who
brought us halal food trucks.
Please note that registration is limited to NYCPS employees, and please register using your @schools.nyc.gov email.
Register here.
Professional Development Workshops
As a participant in our Professional Development workshops, you’ll learn the tools and curriculum to incorporate gardening and cooking lessons and activities into your own classrooms.
- Learn how to set up a teaching garden and kitchen with the resources available to you
- Dig into our curriculum and learn techniques for managing cooking and gardening with your students
- Learn strategies for increasing parent and community engagement in your gardens and kitchen classrooms
- Network with other educators in NYC to exchange ideas and strategies for kitchen- and garden-based education
Who is eligible
Many of our workshops are presented in collaboration with New York City Public Schools, and in some cases registration may be limited to NYCPS employees. We also offer additional workships throughout the year that are open to all types of educators, including public and private school teachers, nonprofit workers, volunteers, community educators — anyone who wants to learn how to bring elements of edible education back to their own sites. For more information about additional opportunities open to the general public, please visit our Events page, which is updated with opportunities throughout the year.
Other Ways to learn
Site Visits
Observe our classes in action! Our Core Schools serve as centers of excellence where we model best practices and methods for a seed-to-table education. To set up a site visit, please contact our Director of Education Liza Engelberg.