Oak Ridge middle school showcases ‘Secret City Academy’ student cooking program

At the June 9 Oak Ridge Board of Education meeting the district showcased a student culinary and nutrition program called Secret City Academy, which district staff said grew from a University of Tennessee College of Agriculture grant and now provides weekly hands‑on cooking instruction for seventh and eighth graders.

A district speaker described the program’s origins and praised staff member Shonda Slater for expanding it. The presentation said the curriculum began about a year and a half ago when agricultural college graduate students came into schools to teach nutrition; the district later hired Slater to run a weekly small‑group cooking block where students “make things from scratch.”

The board was told students have learned sautéing, baking and air frying and that families have given strong positive feedback — in some cases reporting that meals prepared at school were served at home. The program also provides practical skills for students who are older siblings caring for younger household members or whose parents work late shifts.

Staff member PJ Cherry prepared food that board members sampled during the meeting; the presentation noted the food is prepared in the school kitchen and that the program operates during the academic year with varying menus. Board members thanked staff and described the program as valuable life‑skills instruction.