Twin Rivers Unified rolls out culinary arts food truck to boost career education

Jess Milbourn, the culinary teacher at Rio Linda High School, took a hands-off approach, letting the students manage the lunch rush themselves.

“We're debuting this awesome new toy — the Career and Technical Education Department food truck,” he said. “These students are the ones who are interested in cooking, who love what they do, and who have really taken hold of the program and run with it.”

District staffer Lia Vang took a bite of the birria fries and couldn't withhold her “mmmm” before sharing, “it’s very good.”

Twin Rivers Unified School District expanded its Career and Technical Education, or CTE, offerings with the debut of a brand-new culinary arts food truck last month. The initiative aims to provide students with practical skills that combine cooking expertise and business know-how. 

At a time when fewer students in the state are choosing to attend a 4-year college, districts are investing in CTE programming as alternative options. Carol Young, the district’s director of College and Career Readiness, explained that 37% of students in the district are enrolled in CTE classes, which offer 35 pathways designed to prepare them for future careers.

“It’s quite popular,” she said. “This gives [students] an opportunity to get workforce training during high school and make an informed decision about their future.”

The new food truck is another opportunity for students to explore potential careers, Young added.

“The kids aren't just learning how to cook; we’re also teaching them the business aspects of owning a food truck,” she said, noting plans to collaborate with the district’s business CTE pathway and district’s nutrition department.

While the program is rewarding, Young acknowledged that getting innovative CTE pathways — like the food truck — off the ground can be challenging. This particular project took five years to bring to fruition.

“Now, Twin Rivers Unified can order the food truck for events,” said Young excitedly. “We even have a way to pay [students] if they’re working after hours.”

For some students, like Sariah Choy, the food truck is an opportunity to envision a future: “I like helping other people and working with food.”

For others, like Audrey Tau, it’s a place to form meaningful connections: “It makes me closer to my friends, and we can make new friends too.”

Foothill High student Elizabeth Rivera sees the program as a springboard for entrepreneurship.

“Trying different food and diving into different flavors — it felt like it opened a new door,” she said.

This wasn’t the only CTE truck at the district’s headquarters that day. The digital media pathways truck was also in full use, run by two students interviewing teachers and their peers from the food truck.

Twin Rivers Unified School District students use the district's Career Training Education media truck.Srishti Prabha/CapRadio

17-year-old Creative Connections Arts Academy student Ray Thomas is one of the students, and is finding his confidence in the media space through the CTE pathway.

“One day, I want to do films,” he said. “So I'm learning how to film and how to interview, how to do the b-roll stuff – It definitely helps.”

Having seen the potential for students in the district, Young said, Twin Rivers plans to continue investing in more CTE pathways. Current expansion efforts focus on dual enrollment coursework with American River College, paving the way for a seamless transition from high school to college.