Diane Mora, Program and Education Director
Diane Mora, CCC, is a distinguished chef and educator whose career combines culinary and education excellence with a passion for social responsibility. While her early career was defined by culinary accomplishments, she holds advanced degrees from Creighton University, earning an M.A. in Liberal Studies with a focus on Social Justice, and Avila University, completing an M.A. in Education with an emphasis in Teaching English.
As a graduate of Johnson County Community College's Hospitality Management program, Diane led the culinary team to its first national championship in 1997 and would go on to earn numerous individual and team awards throughout her culinary career, including Regional Team Sous Chef for the American Culinary Federation’s U.S. Culinary Olympic Team in 1999 and 2001 Chef of the Year by the Greater Kansas City Chefs Association. Channelling her drive for excellence to a career change of over 20 years in education, Diane was recognized as the 2018 Kansas City Public Schools District Teacher of the Year. These accomplishments reflect her ability to lead and innovate across fields, where she now combines her passion for education, culinary arts, and social impact to lead Kids Feeding Kids, a program of Pete’s Garden that’s gaining national attention.
Since taking the helm as Education Director, Diane has expanded Kids Feeding Kids to 43 schools across three states, engaging thousands of students in preparing and distributing a cumulative total of over 40,000 free meals to families in need. Her ability to connect with the teachers, inspire students, and deliver measurable outcomes is matched only by her personal dedication to the mission of Kids Feeding Kids. She is a passionate ambassador of the program’s vision of addressing food insecurity and preventing food waste, and transforming high school culinary and FCS classrooms into hubs for social change, Real World Learning, and meaningful community partnerships.
Diane’s expertise extends to classrooms across borders. As an English Language Specialist with the U.S. State Department, she designed and delivered professional development to 108 teachers throughout Peru, equipping them with best practices for teaching underserved high school students. Her international work aligns seamlessly with local recognitions as a Kauffman Foundation Fellow in Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning and a 2023 recipient of the President’s Award from the ACF Greater Kansas City Chefs Association.
At the heart of Diane’s leadership is her continued commitment to collaboration and community. She is a Teacher Consultant for the National Writing Project, contributing to enhancing professional development locally as a contributor to Missouri’s Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) programing and AI Study Groups in connection with the Greater Kansas City Writing Project. A former Instructional Specialist for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and adjunct faculty member for several area university Education Departments, Diane has consistently championed innovative teaching practices and professional development. In an effort to remain on the cutting edge across careers Diane also remains active as Secretary of the ACF Greater Kansas City Chefs Association, and as an active member of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) and its Public Policy Community, collaborating with other AAFCS members nationally to advance advocacy and education initiatives that drive equity in public policy and legislation focused on human and family development.
Diane’s ability to build teacher partnerships, inspire students, and deliver measurable outcomes is matched only by her personal dedication to the mission of Pete’s Garden and Kids Feeding Kids—equipping educators with lessons and resources that furthers the program’s vision of addressing the causes of food insecurity and reducing food waste, while also ensuring that each student is equipped to respond with empathy and generosity to the nutritional needs of families in their community.
