ANNAPOLIS, Md., July 17, 2025 – The Idaho Potato Commission along with the Center for the Advancement of Foodservice Education selected Culinary Arts Instructor Phil Cropper to receive the 2025 Secondary Educator of the Year award. This honor recognizes an educator’s professional commitment to the educational community and foodservice industry.
Chef Cropper is an executive chef, pastry chef, and department chair who leads the Worcester Technical High School Culinary Arts program by creating an innovative, student-centered learning experience. Guided by his “Education Without Walls” philosophy, he connects students to their community, emphasizing engagement, collaboration, and real-world application.
Chef Cropper’s most recent honors include:
2025 ProStart Teacher of the Year
2025 Maryland State Culinary Teacher of the Year by the Restaurant Association of Maryland
2024 SkillsUSA Maryland Advisor of the Year and
2025 National SkillsUSA Maryland Advisor of the Year.
Chef Cropper also serves on the SkillsUSA Maryland State Board and National Education Team. He sits on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force for the ACF
Chef Cropper founded and manages the Pines Café, an off-site, student-run café in partnership with TidalHealth. This initiative provides students with hands-on experience in business operations, customer service, food preparation, and financial management. The CAFE is open from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., five days a week.
His community outreach projects include organizing and executing catered events for local organizations, fundraisers, and government functions, showcasing students’ culinary skills and providing them with industry exposure. He has also developed a program where culinary students teach over 400 elementary students about hydroponic farming and healthy food choices, promoting childhood nutrition awareness and sustainability.
The Secondary Educator of the Year award provided a $1,000 prize and commemorative plaque. Chef Cropper also received a complimentary registration to attend CAFÉ’s 2025 Leadership Conference held this summer in Pittsburgh.
About Idaho Potato Commission
Since 1937, the Idaho Potato Commission has represented the growers, fresh shippers, and processors of 100% Idaho-grown potatoes in fresh, frozen, dehydrated, and refrigerated forms. Idaho’s unique combination of soil, climate, and water produces high-solids, low-moisture potatoes known for their exceptional quality and taste.
Idaho supplies 33% of all potatoes in the U.S., with russets making up the majority of our production. Over the years, we've expanded to include reds, yellows, and fingerlings, offering more variety than ever. Today, we produce approximately 13 billion pounds of Idaho® potatoes annually, available in fresh, frozen, and fresh-dried forms.
Our initiatives focus on education, ideation, and industry support, providing valuable resources such as training programs, research, marketing insights, and culinary inspiration for consumers, retailers, and foodservice operators.
About the Center for the Advancement of Foodservice Education (CAFÉ)
Founded in 2002, CAFÉ’s mission is to link culinary educators with the foodservice industry. The organization provides up-to-date resources to foodservice educators who are training students for vibrant, fulfilling careers in the ever-evolving hospitality industry. CAFÉ supports the unique needs of highly specialized professionals who wear two hats as culinarians and educators through its online magazine, The Gold Medal Classroom, free digital resources such as CAFÉ Talks Podcast and Coffee with CAFÉ webinars, as well as national outreach events. For more information, visit our website: CafeMeetingPlace.com.