Partner Spotlight: Belle Chasse Academy
Five Years of Growth, Gratitude and Grit in the Garden and Kitchen
Belle Chasse Academy (BCA), a public K-8 charter school located on a military base just outside New Orleans, serves a highly mobile and resilient student body—86% are military dependent and many face frequent relocations due to family deployments. The school fosters a uniquely adaptable and culturally aware community, offering students a sense of continuity in an environment defined by change.
Located in a certified food desert, BCA has embraced food-based education to meet its students’ evolving needs. Over the past five years, Emeril’s Culinary Garden & Teaching Kitchen has become a central part of campus life, providing stability, connection, and empowerment through hands-on nutrition and garden learning.
Hands-On Healing
Today, the garden and teaching kitchen are fully integrated into BCA’s weekly schedule, helping students thrive academically while building lifelong skills and healthy habits. Each week, students across all grade levels grow produce, prepare fresh meals, and explore the connections between food, wellness, and community.
Chef instructor Ryan Galle and garden and sustainability coordinator Corinne Akins have seen the transformation firsthand.
“This program has changed our school,” said Corinne. “Kids who struggle in class often shine in the garden. They feel a sense of purpose and belonging—it’s healing.”
She described the garden as a refuge, especially for students who have trouble focusing or navigating traditional classrooms. “You give them a job, a responsibility, and they rise to it,” she added. “I’ve had students tell me this is their favorite part of the week—not because it’s easy, but because it feels like they belong.”
Inside the teaching kitchen, Chef Ryan Galle creates a similar transformation through skill-building and pride in accomplishment.
“We’re not just teaching them how to cook,” he said. “We’re teaching teamwork, patience, problem-solving and confidence. That moment when they plate something they made from start to finish—it’s a game changer.”
Lessons That Last
Students at BCA are learning more than just academic content—they’re learning to care for themselves, each other and the world around them. They harvest vegetables they’ve grown, learn the science behind composting, explore cultural food traditions, and bring those lessons home.
“We hear stories from parents all the time,” Corinne said. “Kids are talking about kale and compost at the dinner table. They’re asking to help cook. They’re thinking critically about where their food comes from. It’s creating a ripple effect that extends well beyond the classroom.”
More Than a Curriculum
In a school community shaped by movement, change, and uncertainty, Emeril’s Culinary Garden & Teaching Kitchen offers something rare—roots. For students who often face the challenge of adapting to new environments every few years, our program provides a steady space for connection, growth.
Belle Chasse Academy’s participation in Emeril’s Culinary Garden & Teaching Kitchen reflects everything Emeril Lagasse Foundation stands for: education through food, character development through connection, and a belief that every child deserves access to meaningful, hands-on learning.