For some, the hustle and bustle of a pizzeria might seem like a chaotic and overwhelming place to work,  but for Calais School 12 Plus student Jacob M., the fast-pace and demanding environment at Johnny’s Pizzeria in Whippany is where he thrives.

The Calais School Work Based Learning (WBL) program offers students a variety of industry specific internship opportunities. Students benefit from real-life work site experience, career exploration and resume development. Last school year, the WBL program added a new job site in the food service industry- local eatery Johnny’s Pizzeria.

Angela Manuzzi, owner of Johnny’s Pizzeria, explains why she chose to partner with Calais, “Our decision stemmed from a desire to provide meaningful opportunities for students to gain real-world experience in a professional setting. Ultimately, we want Jacob to leave this experience with a greater understanding of the workplace and a sense of confidence in his abilities.”

With an expressed interest in the food and hospitality industries and his ServSafe Certification previously obtained, Jacob was the obvious choice for this new internship opportunity. Jacob has grown to play an important part in the operational efficiency of the restaurant. His role includes front and back of house responsibilities, from greeting customers to bussing and supporting the staff with food preparation, kitchen sanitization and organization.

He has been learning the ins and outs of the food service industry while also gaining several transferable skills, such as working effectively in a fast-paced environment, collaborating as part of a team, problem-solving and time management.

Recently, Jacob’s experience interning at Johnny’s helped him find employment at another eatery called Sonny’s Pizza. He will also be enrolling in Mechanic School this summer.

Jacob attributes his confidence in the kitchen and his success on the job to our very own Chef Salaam and her Culinary Program. Her hands-on teaching style and positive reinforcement gave him the courage to strive for more.

 My advice to other 12 Plus students is to try your best . . . If you make a mistake it’s only human. Making mistakes is how we learn.