As they wrap up their Annual Holiday Baking Season we thought it would be a good time to shine the Spotlight on Mrs. Linda Brown and Mr. Joseph Candel, Easton High Culinary Arts Instructors, a dynamic duo with a very special history.
Mrs. Brown is a graduate of Easton High, Class of 1971 and is in her 48th year teaching in Talbot County. She has a Bachelors in Family and Consumer Science Education and a Masters in Secondary Education from University of Maryland College Park. She began her teaching career in 1975 at Easton High, then taught at St. Michaels Middle High from 1982 to 1997. She returned to Easton High in 1998 after a building renovation and creation of the culinary facility.
Mr. Candel is a graduate of Easton High Class of 2001 and has been teaching for 18 years. He has an Associates Degree in Professional Baking and Cooking from Baltimore International College - Stratford University; a Bachelors in Career and Technology Education from Wilmington University and a Masters in Secondary Education from Gratz College in Pennsylvania.
Mrs. Brown loves building relationships and working with a diverse population of students, and says there’s no greater feeling than to see them succeed. “You feel like are fulfilling a purpose for someone. I immediately think of one of our students, who was not really motivated for school at all, and then slid into a niche with a culinary apprenticeship and now has gone great guns. Another student once shared that the Free Enterprise class I taught at St. Michaels was the foundation for her becoming a CEO. At the time she didn’t seem to be overly interested in the class! We’re just planting seeds, like work ethic and pride in the work, concepts they carry with them for life, and you never know how much impact you're having.”
Linda as 50 plus years of leadership in 4-H including serving on State and Local Boards. She serves on the Maryland Agricultural Fair Board, is a Chairperson and Demonstrator for the Maryland State Fair as well as the Talbot County Fair, and is on the Board of the Talbot Agriculture and Education Center. She is very active in Immanuel Lutheran Church.
Mr. Candel loves seeing the students discover their true potential, and loves when he hears from alumni that the Culinary Program classes were their favorites. "A parent and fellow teacher recently told me how much her son loves our classes, and this is a student who is very quiet." Mr. Candel also volunteers with the 4-H Fair, serving as a baked goods judge and working alongside Mrs. Brown. He works with Garden and Garnish Catering on the side, along with a number of other TCPS teachers, alumni, and students. He enjoys working with the members of the Culinary Program Advisory Board, made up of alumni, parents and industry professionals, whom they meet with quarterly. The Culinary Arts Program is also very active in the community, serving organizations such as the Farm Bureau, Hyde Park and many others. Mr. Candel knew from the time he was in 10th grade in Mrs. Brown’s class that he wanted to pursue Culinary Arts as a career.
