From NACDD's 2014 Annual Conference

1. PASTRY ARTS TRAINING and NEXT STEPS
EMPLOYMENT SERVICES PROGRAM
Sara Portman Milner, LCSW-C
Co-Founder and Co-Director
Sunflower Bakery
Gaithersburg, MD
sara@sunflowerbakery.org

2. Sunflower Bakery
In the beginning, seeking community buy-in
• “All-volunteer army” + 1
• Community networking to meet needs
• Support of County and local foundations
• Customer base—Sweets-of-the-Month, non-profit discounts
• Come for the cause, come back for the quality

3. Sunflower Bakery
Pastry Arts Training Program
• Who are Our Students?
• Recognition of Program
• Training Program
Application , Interview, and Assessment
Pastry Arts and Employee Development Training—300 hours
On–the-Job Training (OJT)—Approximately 100 hours
Internship— Minimum of 160 hours (3 to 6 months)

4. Application
Interviews and
assessment
Pastry arts
training and
employee
development
On-the-job
training
Internship Employment
Service
Provider takes
lead role in job
search with
assistance from
Sunflower’s
Employment
Specialist and
Chefs
100 hours
Two afternoons
each week for 5
hours each
afternoon, plus
site visits for
internships.
Service
Provider now
involved
2.5 hours for
initial
interviews,
then 5
consecutive
days for bakery
assessment
300 hours
training 5
days/wk from
8am-2pm.
Includes
ServSafe
training
For first 90 days
Sunflower monitors,
but job coaching or
support provided by
Service Provider.
Student has
unlimited
opportunity to get
occasional skill
refreshment
Minimum of
160 hours (3-6
months),
depending on
internship site
and interest
The Acceptance
Review and
Dismissal
Committee
reviews
applications,
references,
assessment results
and accepts or
makes other
recommendations
Interview
scheduled
within two
weeks of
receipt of
application, if
appropriate
Sunflower Bakery’s 9-12 Months of Training

5. Pastry ArtsTraining Curriculum
2014-2015
Section 1: Basic Principles
After this section the student should be able to follow formulas and understand basic recipes. The student
should become comfortable using a variety of kitchen equipment and tools and practice safe kitchen protocol.
Section 2: Ingredients
After this section, the student should be able to understand the functions of the major baking ingredients
and identify ingredients by sight, smell, and/or feel.
Section 3: Cookies and Bars
After this section the student should be able to prepare cookie doughs by the three basic mixing
methods; prepare seven basic types of cookies-- dropped, bagged, rolled, molded, icebox, bar, and sheet; and
bake and cool cookies properly.
Section 4: Quick Breads
After this section, the student should be able to prepare muffins, loaf breads, and coffee cakes.
Section 5: Pies
After this section, the student should be able to roll pie doughs and line pie pans; fill, assemble and bake
single- crust pies and double-crust pies; form and bake pie shells; and prepare fruit and custard fillings.

6. Pastry Arts Training Curriculum (Contd.)
2014-2015
Section 6: Pastries
After this section, the student should be able to prepare various mini-pastries.
Section 7: Cakes
After this section, the student should be able to perform basic cake mixing methods,
scale and bake cakes correctly.
Section 8: Buttercream and Icings
After this section, the student should be able to prepare various buttercreams and decorate cakes.
Section 9: Packing, Plattering, Presentation
After this section, the student should be able to present for sale many of the items sold in Sunflower Bakery,
as well as prepare platters for events.

7. Employer Partners
(As of June 2014)
• Aroma Café, Bethesda, MD
• Classic Bakery, Gaithersburg, MD
• Founding Farmers, Potomac, MD
• Hot Breads & Cakes, Gaithersburg, MD
• Revolution Foods, Cheverly, MD
• Safeway
• Spring Mill Bakery, Bethesda, MD
• Stella’s Bakery, Rockville, MD
• The Bagelry in Silver Spring, Silver Spring, MD
• Potomac 18 Caterers, Rockville, MD
• Me and 3 Caterers, Gaithersburg, MD

8. Sunflower Bakery Academic Calendar
July 2014- June 2015
July 2014- June 2015
45 Scheduled Pastry Instruction Classes/EDT 5 days, M-F 7:30-2pm (42 required to complete)
225 Pastry Instruction hours + 25 hours Kitchen Assessment
65 EDT hours (Employee Development Training)
100 minimum OJT hours (On the Job Training) 2-3 days/ Sunday-Friday, hours TBD
400 Total Program hours required
Class A
Pastry Instruction / EDT,
August 4 - October 8 2014
OJT/EDT
October 19th- December 23rd 2014
Class B
Pastry Instruction / EDT
October 20th- December 23 2014
OJT/EDT
January 4-March 20th 2015 (1 extra week of
OJT is scheduled to account for snow days)
Class C
Pastry Instruction / EDT
January 12-March 20th 2015 (5 extra classes
are scheduled to account for possible snow
days)
OJT/EDT
April 12-June 11th 2015
Class D
Pastry Instruction / EDT
April 13-June 12th 2015
OJT/EDT (the OJT is extended because it is
slow in the summer months/vacation time)
June 14th- October 15 2015

9. “Sweet Summer Sessions for Teens”
Ages 14 - 18
For further information:
http://www.sunflowerbakery.org
Sunflower Bakery is excited to offer four, one- week baking classes in July for teens
with a variety of learning disabilities or autism spectrum disorders, including
Asperger Syndrome. These classes offer a wonderful opportunity for teens to
experience baking in a professional kitchen and learn about safe food handling,
kitchen safety and responsibility. Students will bake an assortment of cookies*,
cupcakes, brownie pops and a decorated cake to bring home! On Fridays, parents
are invited at the end of the day to see their teens’ creations. There will be two
morning sessions and two afternoon sessions to accommodate summer school or
other commitments.
Each Session is Monday – Friday
$325 per one-week session
Morning sessions, 9-11:30am
Session 1: July 7 – 11
Session 3: July 28 .
– August 1
Afternoon sessions, 1-3:30pm
Session 2: July 14 – 18
Session 4: July 21-25

10. May 2014 Open House Days
for Montgomery County Educators
Select a date to visit Sunflower Bakery’s Pastry Arts Training and Next Steps
Employment Services Programs and production facility.
See first-hand the evolution from students to baking professionals!
• Monday, May 5th 11:00am-12:00pm
• Wednesday, May 7th 11:00am-12:00pm
• Monday, May 12th 11:00am-12:00pm
• Wednesday, May 14th 8:30-9:30am
• Monday, May 19th 8:30–9:30am

11. Thank You
For more information, please see
www.sunflowerbakery.org
For referrals, contact
sara@sunflowerbakery.org