AYAA HELAL
Pelham
Summary
Passionate and hardworking Technological Education teacher candidate with experience in Hospitality and Tourism classrooms and culinary environments. Currently completing my teaching placement with the DSBN while working as a Food Technician. Enjoys hands-on learning, supporting students, and helping create safe and positive classroom environments where students can build confidence and practical life skills through cooking and hospitality.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Food Technician & Culinary Educational Assistant
Welland Centennial Secondary School - DSBN
Welland
10.2022 - Current
- Assist Hospitality and Tourism teachers in secondary culinary classrooms through hands-on culinary instruction and lab supervision.
- Support students with diverse learning needs and accommodations during practical kitchen activities.
- Demonstrate culinary techniques, baking methods, knife skills, food preparation, and kitchen safety procedures.
- Organized classroom, prepared food, managed inventory, and ensured food safety compliance.
- Trained students for baking skills competitions, fostering their confidence and technique.
- Supported and trained a student competitor who achieved Silver, 2nd Place, in a baking skills competition.
- Assisted another student competitor in dessert preparation, who successfully advanced through the first round of competition.
- Supported classroom catering initiatives, school events, and student-led food production activities, enhancing community engagement.
- Maintain safe, organized, and inclusive classroom kitchen environments.
Teacher Candidate - Hospitality & Tourism
St. Catharines Collegiate secondary High School - DSBN
St. Catharines
03.2026 - 05.2026
- Planned and delivered practical and theory-based Hospitality & Tourism lessons for Grade 11/12 College Level courses (TFJ3C/TFJ4C).
- Independently taught and supervised culinary labs during a quick breads unit, yeast breads unit, and a lesson focused on the science behind chocolate chip cookies.
- Demonstrated and reinforced proper food safety, sanitation, kitchen safety, and commercial kitchen procedures during all lab activities.
- Assessed student learning through observations, conversations, practical demonstrations, quizzes, reflections, and finished products.
- Developed instructional slides, demonstrations, recipes, quizzes, reflections, and exit tickets to enhance student learning and engagement.
- Used visual demonstrations and short educational videos to support differentiated instruction and hands-on learning.
- Facilitated hands-on baking activities and school coffee cart operations for School-to-Community (STC) students, fostering development of workplace, customer service, communication, teamwork, food handling, and money-counting skills.
- Contributed to the preparation of approximately 1,500 dessert items for the Cappies Awards event.
- Contributed to preparation of fresh baked goods for school breakfast catering, including loaves, muffins, croissants, scones, cheese biscuits, and cinnamon knots.
Cooking Instructor (Ages 7-12)
Boys and Girls Club
Niagara Falls
01.2023 - 06.2023
- Led hands-on cooking and baking classes for children ages 7-12, fostering culinary skills and a love for cooking
- Created engaging lessons on kitchen safety, baking fundamentals, and food preparation skills, enhancing children's culinary knowledge
- Facilitated creativity, teamwork, and confidence in children through practical culinary activities, promoting social interaction and self-expression
- Maintained safe and organized kitchen learning environments
Childcare Chef
Today's Family Childcare
Burlington
05.2021 - 10.2022
- Prepared meals for approximately 300 children on daily basis across multiple childcare locations
- Planned and prepared nutritious meals and snacks following CCEYA guidelines
- Managed kitchen operations, inventory, ordering, and food safety procedures
Senior Line Cook
St. Regis Hotel
Toronto
05.2019 - 06.2019
- Prepared and executed high-quality menu items in a fast-paced luxury hotel kitchen environment.
- Executed ingredient preparation, station setup, plating, and food presentation, ensuring adherence to high culinary standards.
- Upheld food safety, sanitation, and cleanliness standards to meet health and safety regulations.
- Coordinated with chefs and kitchen staff to enhance daily kitchen operations and service.
Internship Cook
Shangri-La Hotel
Toronto
04.2016 - 06.2016
- Assisted with the preparation and execution of daily menu items across multiple kitchen departments in a luxury hotel environment.
- Completed rotations in Garde Manger and Pastry, supporting food preparation, plating, and daily service operations.
- Prepared and executed High Tea service in collaboration with pastry and culinary teams.
- Executed protein preparation and butchery under chef supervision, ensuring quality standards.
- Maintained organized workstations and followed strict food safety, sanitation, and hygiene standards.
- Collaborated with culinary staff to maintain efficiency in high-volume kitchen operations.
Cook
Events Plus Management
Toronto
10.2014 - 06.2016
- Supported large-scale catering and hospitality events, enhancing guest experiences at Pan Am Games and Rogers Centre events
- Operated in high-volume culinary environments, ensuring adherence to food quality and safety standards
- Teamed with culinary staff to prepare and present food for large events, contributing to overall event success
Education
Early Childhood Education Candidate
Fanshawe College
London, ON 09.2022 - 05.2026
Bachelor of Education - Consecutive Technological Education Program (BBT Hospitality & Tourism)
Brock University
St. Catharines, ON 01.2026 - 05.2026
Diploma - Culinary Management
Humber College
Etobicoke, ONSkills
- Culinary Instruction & Demonstration
- Baking & Pastry Preparation
- Food Safety & Sanitation Practices
- Classroom & Lab Supervision
- Student Engagement & Differentiated Instruction
- Catering & Large-Scale Food Production
- Inventory Management & Food Preparation
- Team Collaboration & Communication
- Microsoft Office, Google Workspace & Canva
- Bilingual: English & Arabic
School And Community Involvement
- Assisted with Cappies Awards dessert production, breakfast catering, school food programs, and other large-scale hospitality events.
- Participated in school bake sales, fundraising initiatives, and student-led food production activities.
- Supported School-to-Community coffee cart programming focused on workplace, customer service, and life skills development.
- Assisted students participating in culinary and hospitality competitions through hands-on training and preparation support.
- Volunteered with the school Science Club to support a molecular gastronomy activity where students created a deconstructed panna cotta dessert featuring cucumber-mint granita, black sesame cookie crumble, and blueberry compote while encouraging creativity, hands-on learning, and connections between science and culinary arts.
Additional References
Available upon request.
Languages
- English
- Arabic
References
- Tammy Zonneveld, Principal, Welland Centennial Secondary School - DSBN, Tammy.zonneveld@dsbn.org
- Carla Piovesana, Principal, St. Catharines Collegiate Secondary School - DSBN, carla.piovesana@dsbn.org
- David Cottingham, Hospitality & Tourism Teacher, St. Catharines Collegiate Institute & Vocational School - DSBN, David.Cottingham@dsbn.org
Certifications And Qualifications
- Safe Food Handler Certificate, Renewal In Process
- Bilingual, Arabic, English
Timeline
Teacher Candidate - Hospitality & Tourism
St. Catharines Collegiate secondary High School - DSBN
03.2026 - 05.2026
Bachelor of Education - Consecutive Technological Education Program (BBT Hospitality & Tourism)
Brock University
01.2026 - 05.2026
Cooking Instructor (Ages 7-12)
Boys and Girls Club
01.2023 - 06.2023
Food Technician & Culinary Educational Assistant
Welland Centennial Secondary School - DSBN
10.2022 - Current
Early Childhood Education Candidate
Fanshawe College
09.2022 - 05.2026
Childcare Chef
Today's Family Childcare
05.2021 - 10.2022
Senior Line Cook
St. Regis Hotel
05.2019 - 06.2019
Internship Cook
Shangri-La Hotel
04.2016 - 06.2016
Cook
Events Plus Management
10.2014 - 06.2016
Diploma - Culinary Management
Humber College