Culinary Arts teacher Betty Ewing has resigned from her position after nine years of working at the school. She tendered her resignation early March; it will be effective as of June 30.

According to Principal Wynne Satterwhite, Ewing is very involved with a project she founded even before she began to work at the school and wants to concentrate more on it. The program, called the El Cajon Project, helps at-risk and disadvantaged high school students through a culinary arts training that also offers school credit.

“I’ll be traveling … to spread the word about El Cajon,” Ewing said.

Ewing’s decision is also due to her long daily commute from Monterey.

However, the decision was somewhat sad for Ewing too, as she has had a long history with Los Altos.

“This is my alma mater,” Ewing said. “I grew up here. Being here feels like a home … I am humble to have been able to work with some of the best educators in the country, people who truly love to give of their time, talent and knowledge to all the students who walk in their door.”

Culinary Arts’ tumultuous year also carried some influence for her decision to resign.

“I want [the class] to be very productive,” Ewing said. “This needs to be supported financially … I know it’s been difficult.”

Since the closing of the Eagle’s Nest Café at the beginning of the year, funding has become a major concern for Culinary.

According to senior Fred Chen, Ewing used over $1,000 of her own money to obtain meats and other ingredients for the class this year.

Regarding Culinary Arts’ future, Satterwhite said she definitely wants to continue the program because of its less academic-driven and more “hands on, proactive” approach. Satterwhite also hopes to someday expand Culinary to five sections, but that will depend on state cuts and how many students register. Student interest could in turn be affected by Ewing’s resignation as “she is the program.”

“Our program wouldn’t be what it is today without her, Satterwhite said.

Ewing says she will also miss teaching Culinary, particularly “being able to get young people into my industry.”

Students and administrators alike will miss Ewing once she leaves.

“She’s a good teacher,” junior Tiffany Benavidez said. “She guides you when you need to be guided.”

Junior Elizabeth Cifuentes agres.

“She knows what she’s doing,” Elizabeth said.

However, Satterwhite is sure Ewing will make as big an impact wherever she goes as she did at the school.

“This is just the next step in her life,” Satterwhite said. “I know she’s going to create something phenomenal.”