Heart of a Teacher, Eye of an Artist

One of our newest instructors at The Culinary Center of Kansas City, Leesa Yates, is a 3rd grade teacher in her ‘other life’ outside our kitchens. She’s been teaching for 30 years and loves it! She has always been artsy and creative – in fact, she says she almost chose to major in art instead of education in college.

After taking a cookie decorating lesson, Leesa was hooked.  She found that cookie decorating is the perfect outlet for her creativity, plus she finds it to be relaxing, as well. “It’s very Zen for me,” she says.

As friends and family saw her cookies, shared pictures and spread the word, news got out about Leesa’s beautiful cookies. So Leesa took her new passion for cookie decorating and started an in-home cookie decorating business, Cookies by Leesa.

Leesa says her favorite cookie projects have come when a client gives her an idea of what they have in mind and then lets her run with it. (Take a peek at the slideshow below showing some of Leesa’s cookie creations.)

Our students at the CCKC have certainly benefited from Leesa’s career as a teacher. And her teaching skills work beautifully with her talent for cookie decorating. She leads classes for both kids and adults here at The Culinary Center of Kansas City and believes that everyone can create beautiful sweets after they learn some basics. Leesa is passionate about sharing her decorating expertise with you.

Here are some of her upcoming classes –

Cookie Decorating for the Holidays
Sunday, December 8  |  1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Hands On | Snacks & Take-Home Decorated Cookies

Junior Chefs in the Kitchen (ages 9-14)
Let’s Decorate Cookies for Santa!
Monday, December 23  |  1:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Hands On | Snacks & Take-Home Decorated Cookies

Li’l Kids in the Kitchen (ages 5-8)
A New Year’s Eve Cookie Decorating Party for Little Kids!
Monday, December 30  |  10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Hands On | Snacks & Take-Home Decorated Cookies

Junior Chefs in the Kitchen (ages 9-14)
Cookie Decorating Fun
Sunday, January 12  |  10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Hands On | Snacks & Take-Home Decorated Cookies

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