Sawyer partners with hundreds of educators who are stars in their communities. From inspiring class content to engaging teaching styles, these educators are known for their enriching activities that empower both children and parents alike.

We got the opportunity to chat with Niki Cordell, the founder of Junior Chefs Kitchen, which provides cooking classes and camps to children in Chicago. Their programs offer  hands-on cooking classes infused with nutrition education to children looking to learn. We spoke about about inspiring moments in and out of the classroom, the importance of out-of-school education, and how Sawyer helps them grow.

Thank you for taking the time to chat with us! I’d love to hear a bit more about you and why you started your business.

Sitting at my kitchen island growing up, doing homework while my Dad cooked dinner - enchiladas, open faced turkey sandwiches, breakfast for dinner. Nothing elaborate, but it’s these warm memories of my late father that have instilled a love of meal time with my own family. 

A mother of three (Olivia 10, Grayson 8, Lenny 6) and proud wife, all my life experiences have led me here. I have spent my career in retail real estate and financial tech. Having sold a small business, I was looking for something to take everything I learned and apply it to a new venture. Junior Chefs Kitchen was born from my love of children (not just my own!), as well as learning about nutrition, cooking with my family, and the conversations around the dinner table.

Can you describe an inspiring moment you’ve had as an educator?  

Everyday and every interaction with children and food is inspiring! Specifically, getting a class of 4 year olds to try their ingredients as we went through the recipe. This made them excited to try the entire dish at the end!

What’s the most rewarding thing about teaching children?  

Children are so unconventional! Having them get excited to try raw thyme as they’re picking the leaves off the stem or share stories of how they’ve had Mango Lassi with their parents recently is so fun. 

What’s one time a child surprised you and made your day? 

We ended a semester recently with a school partner and one of the little girls asked if she could give me a hug and said “you’re my favorite.”

On a similar note, what’s the funniest thing a child has done in your class? 

We have this little hand gesture for “hot, hot, don’t touch” when we’re teaching stove and oven safety. Recently a little girl got really into it, making a whole dance, thrusting her hips and shaking her knees. It was adorable and hilarious at the same time! 

Why is after school/extracurricular enrichment and camp so important for children?  

To give children a safe space to explore something new is so key for kids! Plus, it makes logistical pick-ups for working parents easier too :) 

How do you think children can discover their passions when they’re not in school or your programs? 

Taking what interests them from school and seeking additional places and ways to fulfill these interests. Diversity of learning is key! Try 1-2 new activities per semester to see what sticks. These can be programs found on Sawyer, your local park district, or by talking with other parents and caregivers. 

What is your favorite Sawyer feature? 

Oh this is a tough one since I love a lot of the ease of Sawyer! I would have to say the way to build semesters is pretty easy!

What's one trick you learned from another educator that you still practice? 

Outline expectations (or rules) at the beginning of every class. 

Have you discovered new customers on the Sawyer Marketplace?  

Yes! At least I see new Marketplace orders come through! Candidly acquisition is something I need to focus on from a data POV for this next quarter!

How do you balance your time between running your business (from an operational perspective) and teaching/connecting with parents and students? 

Fortunately, I have finally found an incredible manager who runs a lot of the day to day. In the 2.5 years we’ve been open it’s taken me 4 managers to get it right! This allows me more time to connect with parents, mostly through email or text comms and at pick-up. I do teach 3-4 classes per week which allows for the student connection to thrive. 

How has Sawyer helped your business? 

Sawyer truly takes so much of the backend registration stuff off my plate since it’s so simple to use!