Madison East culinary teacher awarded grant for work with school food pantry

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Inside her culinary arts classroom at Madison East High School, Emily Sonnemann is teaching kitchen skills and providing food to those who need it most.

“They’re looking for food that they know is going to make them feel good and help them focus on what they’re doing in class too,” Sonnemann said.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, Sonnemann realized there was a need for a food pantry at East High School.

In partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of Southern Wisconsin, Sonnemann runs the school market which provides free food to students and staff.

“It’s really just a source of joy for me because the kids all are so excited and so grateful and they’re like ‘thank you so much.’ And I know that maybe they’re coming down and they haven’t had anything for breakfast and that’s going to fuel them for the day and what they need to do in their classes,” she said.

Sonnemann is one of 100 teachers who was recently recognized with the Teacher Fellowship Award from the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation for her work both inside and outside of the classroom.

“I’m proud,” Sonnemann said. “I’m excited about being recognized but mostly that it’s just, I think it uplifts the program here and what students get to do because of it. That’s exciting for me.”

Sonnemann’s friend and neighbor, Marlisa Condon Kopenski, nominated her for the award.

“But she, from the get-go, isn’t just about teaching the kids to cook or to manage household expenses, she’s about building community,” Condon Kopenski said.

Sonnemann provides an inclusive community where students don’t feel ashamed to utilize the pantry, but see it as a resource to help with their learning.

“It’s phenomenal,” Condon Kopenski added. “One of the needs that all students have, but East High School in particular where 50-percent of the kids are economically disadvantaged, is to be able to learn, you have to be well fed. And not all kids come to school fed well.”

Peg Davey volunteers at East High once a week.

“PB&J are really popular,” she said.

Davey not only makes dozens of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the school pantry, but she also wrote a letter of recommendation for Sonnemann for the award.

“The way she set up the pantry and her classes, she’s really maximizing the opportunity here for kids and families to have food,” Davey said.

The goal of the pantry is to brighten students’ days and to make sure they’re fed. But, it’s also rewarding for Sonnemann.

“Selfishly for me, it’s like this constant source of joy because people are coming down and I just get to give this abundance away and that’s really amazing,” Sonnemann said.

Sonnemann started the school market at Madison East High School about four years ago. She hopes the pantry continues to grow over the coming years while continuing to feed students and staff.

Along with Sonnemann being awarded a $6,000 grant, Madison East High School also received a matching grant of $6,000 to further support learning and school initiatives. The grants will be used as funding for the school market.

The 100 teachers received this award because of their ability to inspire a love of learning, motivate students and lead both inside and outside of the classroom.

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