Christopher Chevrier was nominated by Brook Stealey, a member of the community.
Mr. Chevrier, also known as Mr. Chevy, is a true inspiration at Lake Howell High School. He is dedicated to both his profession and his students. He has created an incredible culinary program. The kitchen he created from scratch looks like a commercial kitchen you'd see in a really nice restaurant. The students cook lunch every week so the faculty can come through and have a home cooked meal.
"I was lucky enough to be invited to lunch one day by Mr. Chevy. The food was great, and it was an enlightening experience for me," said Stealey. "To see the students run the whole lunch was a very cool experience. I bet Mr. Chevy has more ideas in mind for the students and kitchen!"
Chevy (AKA Papa Smurff/Dad) is one of the coolest people I know - and I'm not just saying that because he is my dad. He has the most genuine heart of anyone I know. I can tell he truly cares about his students by all the time he puts into his culinary program. He consistently goes into school very early (5AM) to set everything up for the day and consistently stays late to clean up and ensure everything is in proper working order for the next day.. most nights he doesn't get home until 6-6:30PM. Once he comes home, he spends his free time either shopping for food for his students to cook during the coming days or creating lesson plans, schedules, or menu ideas for the upcoming week. He spends countless hours working to make sure that his students get the best culinary education he can possibly provide.
One thing I think truly sets him apart from other teachers, is that he frequently goes out into the community to restaurants to see what the managers at those restaurants are looking for when hiring a new kitchen employee. Then with the information from the managers in the community, he works to ensure that his students have all the qualifications necessary to work in the industry. Each year his students take BOTH the ServeSafe Certification exam and the National Registry of Food Safety Professionals exam. This way his students can have these certifications as "tools" in their tool-belt when searching for jobs in the food industry.
So as you can see, my dad puts all he can into his students and his program. He works for the success of his students. He has the most positive attitude of anyone I know and he works hard to be the best teacher and mentor he can be. I know for a fact he is worthy of this award because he truly is a Life Changer!
Congrats to my little brother Chris for a well deserved recognition! I’m an elementary principal in NY and CHRIS is the type of teacher every principal, parent and student admires! He TRULY loves everything about his profession but most importantly, his students. So proud of the impact he has made. Great job CHRIS!
Chris “Chevy” is one of a kind teacher / Chef teaching students lifelong skills and getting them ready for the real world! And making it fun! Teachers Enjoy The rewards of his teaching as well! Life changer!
I think high school and it’s student has always had a looming question of where exactly do I belong here. For me it was in the culinary program. I opted to take this class my freshman year thinking it was more about eating than anything. However, when I came in it was so much more than that and I will forever grateful for it. I not only learned how to cook, I learned the importance of presentation, teamwork, and rules on how to run a proper and clean kitchen. Culinary has always been a 2nd home to me at Lake Howell high. It most certainly is not because of the food but bc of the environment and spirit Chevy brought in every single day. Chevy was always someone you could confide in and always knew how to make a situation better, whether it was a kitchen matter or maybe even a personal one. Had it not been for the establishment Chevy created over the years high school would have been so much harder to get through. He made sure everyone in class got along and knew of each other. Chevy has also helped career wise. With his efforts to allow all of his students a chance at a servsafe certificate and food safe manager certificate, I am now certified in both which has opened many doors for me. Chevy is constantly thinking of his students to ensure they are always happy and I cannot stress that enough. Even students who have not taken culinary has been impacted by Chevy and even come in to say hi. Years later I still visit and it goes to show his and the programs impact on me. Chevy will for sure, always be a life changer, year in and year out and I will forever keep the memories, and recipe books, with me.
Chevy changed my high school career.. He was not only a great teacher but also a mentor. The skills I learned with four years of taking culinary with him have stayed with me to this day-almost 7 years later! I have great knife skills and still use the recipe books we made in class. Chevy will forever be my favorite teacher. He is genuine, caring, and humble. He deserves any extra recognition he can get :) much love Chevy!! Go Silverhawks
Chevy has been a groundbreaker at LH Culinary Arts. He is an Amazing teacher that All the students love. He started this program and has grown it to number 1 at LH. The life skills he teaches stays with these kids for a lifetime. Hands down the Favorite class in our campus. The food is outstanding. And continues to grown and change each year. The teachers Love the opportunity to eat in a restaurant setting and seeing all the students in action. Chevy runs a well oiled machine in Culinary producing the best kids and food. Hands down the best part of many of my days before I retired.
Chevy (like the truck) was one of my most influential teachers I had. I graduated from LHHS IN 2011, the year before the big kitchen. He was able to inspire us to be creative, and push us to do more with culinary that has been able to change my life. I know with the life skills kids are learning from Chevy are irreplaceable and he is able to do it in a fun and memorable way. Kids come out of his program with kitchen experience and a serve safe certification providing them opportunities for jobs right out of highs school. He is a life changer.
Chevy is the MOST impactful teacher I have ever had in my entire life. Not a single teacher met his qualities of caring, wanting to see success, and will go above and beyond to help his students thrive. He doesn’t JUST teach culinary. He teaches how to reach success in life by the same team work tools given in the kitchen. If anyone deserves this award, it is most definitely this man right here!! When I tell people that my culinary teacher changed my life, I mean it whole heartedly. Put me in for 10 votes if possible!!
This culinary class that mr Chevy teaches offers the most important survival Nutrition Food. Young people learn and then apply it to their lives FOREVER. They feed themselves and their families. Mr Chevy is an awesome person to have dedicated his life to this profession. He has taught thousands of students whose lives skills he improved
I am the early childhood teacher at the same school as Chevy we work right next-door to each other. He is such a joy and so much fun in the classroom!! He makes stressful situations in the busy kitchen fun & playful & I believe this really shows the students how to work with a positive attitude, creating an awesome work environment. Whenever I ask Chevy how he’s doing as we pass in the hallway his response is always the same… “Living the dream!”
Christopher Chevrier Is an amazing chef and teacher to his students. I completed all four years of his program, which influenced my decision in going to pastry school at Valencia. The knowledge that I received from his program helped me excel in college which I am forever grateful for. Christopher Chevrier deserves the Life changer of the year award for his impeccable culinary skill and proficiency. He and his program has helped so many students including my self learn the many necessary cooking skills needed in life and working in the industry.
From experience, all I can say is that Mr. Chevy and the program were amazing! I learned a lot from the program, from baking simple things like cookies to restaurant-quality food. I would always go home and share how my day went, and culinary was part of it. Yet, what made the difference was Chevy. He always supports his students and helps them in any way possible. He didn't only help me in the kitchen, but also in choosing my my career path. I would repeat those four year in culinary again if I could!
I've been out of high school for almost 7 years now and I can still say for a fact that lessons from Chevy's class have stuck with me. The culinary program by itself is an amazing experience but when you have Chevy teaching it becomes extraordinary! He was and always will be my favorite teacher.
Chef/Coach Chevy is a great person, chef and coach, re runs a very quality culinary program at Lake Howell High School. He teaches his kids all aspects of culinary and a lot of real world experiences they will be able to use later in life. He strives very hard to meet the needs of all of his students and even those at the school that don’t have culinary. I’ve eaten in his cafe and the food was great and it was a great experience seeing the students run the kitchen and provide quality customer service. He runs a class act and is very dedicated to Lake Howell High School and his students. Your one of the best Chef Chevy!!!!!!
Chef Pitts
ERHS Culinary
Chris is my younger brother and I'm very proud of how dedicated and committed he is to his program and his students. He spends countless hours before and after his school day to make sure his students get the experience they will need to succeed in Life. He's been Teacher of the Year twice in his short career and I'm sure every student that has been in his classroom will never forget his fun and sincere teaching!
Mr. Chevy was my favorite teacher I’ve ever had. I was definitely not one of those kids who did well in school or liked school at all. I enjoyed Chevy’s class but him as a person even more. He was definitely a teacher I never wanted to disappoint. He’s funny, clever and treated you like a person, not a student. He talked to you with respect and made you feel like an intelligent adult. I’ve since been back to his program and it’s incredibly how much has changed since graduating. He brought this program to life and I’m so happy for him. He deserves it!
