Culinary Arts

Chef Jetty is from Friesland, the most Northern Province of the Netherlands. She is the third generation in the Food and Beverage Industry and grew up in her parent’s restaurants and families hotel. Following in her family's footsteps she attended Noorderpoort College for Commercial Education in Groningen, The Netherlands. She graduated in 1998 with a degree in Hospitality Management.

While in college she worked at the Michelin star-rated Kandinski restaurant in the Steigenberger Kurhaus Hotel, The Hague. After graduation, she came to the United States through HRC International on for 18-month Food and Beverage management internship with Omni Hotels and was offered a full-time position upon completion. Chef Jetty worked in several Food and Beverage Manager and director positions for first Omni and later Hilton hotels throughout the United States. When she moved to the Central Illinois area Chef Jetty operated her own catering company before working for Peoria Public Schools.

This is Chef Jetty's 8th year with Peoria School District 150, where she started the now very successful Culinary Arts program and has developed the student ran Warrior Way Cafe' which serves between 150 and 250 lunches on select Thursdays to the public. The culinary program also hosts catering events in the community to raise funds to support the program and to give the students additional experience. Chef Jetty and her students volunteer for charity events to support their community such as the Future Chef program and the annual Food Fight fundraiser for the Neighborhood House. Chef Jetty is passionate about teaching her students the importance of pride in your work, working hard, and enjoying what you do. This shows in all of her students, her former students often stay in touch and visit even after they graduate out of the program.

Chef Jetty received the Peoria Community Service Excellence award for the work her and her students do for the community, PPS Foundation’s Shero award (female hero) and was also nominated by Peoria Public Schools for the National Life Changer of the year award. Chef Jetty was awarded Culinary Educator of the year for the state of Illinois 2017/2018 school year, and also received a National Educator of Excellence award from the National Restaurant Association. Chef Jetty has successfully coached her teams of students to three consecutive state championships hosted by the National Restaurant Association, as well as a state win and numerous top three finishes in Skills USA competitions.