Cooking up success: Blue Valley’s renovated FACS classrooms transform learning

Walking into a Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) classroom in Blue Valley, you might notice students buzzing with excitement, hear the chatter as they problem-solve how to prepare a new recipe or smell the aroma of ingredients melding together in the oven. This unique space might look like a kitchen, but it's much more than that — it's a classroom space where creativity, cooking and collaboration come together to create the perfect recipe for learning.

Blue Valley High, Blue Valley North and Blue Valley West received renovated FACS classrooms over the summer as part of the 2023 Bond, with Blue Valley Northwest, Blue Valley Southwest and the Blue Valley Academy set to receive the same renovations in the summer of 2026.

The difference between the old and new spaces is evident. Sophia Boeger, a sophomore at Blue Valley High, said that the new layout has changed the energy of the class when cooking.

“I really think the openness of it is a lot better,” Boeger said. “It's not closed off, and our teacher can see us all cooking, which makes it easier for her to help. The sinks are newer and everything’s organized.”

These newly renovated classrooms were designed with open layouts, commercial-grade equipment and technology that mirror restaurant-style cooking environments. They have all new appliances, from KitchenAid mixers to industrial dishwashers that sanitize in minutes.

The culinary labs feature large display screens that assist the FACS teachers with cooking demonstrations, allowing them to stream themselves from a bird's-eye view as they demonstrate a recipe. This allows students to get a close-up look at the cooking lab that they are about to complete. 

The atmosphere in these culinary labs shows students what they would encounter in a professional kitchen and allows them to explore whether the culinary arts are a path they want to pursue after high school graduation.

“This is my third year here at Blue Valley High, and the difference between our old space and the new one is incredible,” said Savannah Williams, a FACS teacher. “Everything is updated and high-tech, and it matches how kitchens look in a restaurant. It’s so nice to be able to teach the way restaurants do things.”

“Everything is updated and high-tech, and it matches how kitchens look in a restaurant. It’s so nice to be able to teach the way restaurants do things,” Williams said.

Danielle May, Blue Valley West's FACS teacher, has experienced the same excitement from her students who are eager to work in the more professional-grade kitchen. With the new space, both teachers have noticed an increase in enrollment in their elective course. 

“In the old room, it felt like home cooking,” May said. “In this new space, students feel more professional and have a more professional attitude. They now understand the difference between home kitchens and restaurant-style culinary experiences.”

Charlie Holoch, a Blue Valley West senior, said that the modern design gives both her and other students a sense of independence. She, along with her fellow classmates, appreciates the open space because it allows them to take ownership of their assigned station in the kitchen. 

With four students in a cooking group, each student has their own assigned role - prep cook, lead chef, station cook or cleaner. These roles rotate with every lab, depending on what students are excited about or what role they had in the previous lab.

“Before, group work was more difficult because we were working in a smaller, more enclosed space,” Holoch said. “Now, everyone has their own section and we can move around freely without bumping into each other.”

Both FACS teachers agree that the new spaces elevate the learning experience for students. In the upgraded kitchens, students are not only strengthening teamwork and problem-solving skills, but they’re also gaining exposure to skills they can use in any kitchen, whether it is at home or in future careers. Across all Blue Valley high schools, these modern classrooms are giving students practical industry-standard skills that prepare them for success both inside and beyond the classroom.

“I’m just so excited to see the FACS department grow in the next couple of years, just from this remodel and all of the things we’re now able to do with having it,” Williams said. 

“I’m just so excited to see the FACS department grow in the next couple of years, just from this remodel and all of the things we’re now able to do with having it,” Williams said.