By Precious Kenney
The Scene staff
The resignation of a well-known Forest Park faculty member was quietly approved by the St. Louis Community College Board in January.
It was quite a contrast from the widespread promotion of Casey Shiller as the college’s “celebrity chef,” who coordinated the baking and pastry arts program for more than a decade.
Shiller won the Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars” contest in 2011 and 2013, as well as a host of awards. He was featured in magazine stories and served as a judge for the World Food Championships.
Shiller stopped teaching in the middle of fall semester, according to several students. Others didn’t know he had left the college.
“Chef Piazza said he was on leave for (fall semester), and we were going to have another teacher,” said Kristy Doks, 46, a baking and pastry arts major. “… There’s still the same teacher from when they switched over from him. So, I figured it was something kind of strange going on.”
The Scene was unable to determine why Shiller left the college. He didn’t respond to requests for comment via private Facebook message or phone at Jilly’s Cupcake Bar & Café, where he’s been working for years. His LinkedIn page indicates that he’s the executive pastry chef.
Ellen Piazza, chair of the culinary arts department, which includes the baking and pastry arts program, said she wasn’t sure of the circumstances of Shiller’s departure.
On Jan. 18, a list of resignations in the human resources segment of the STLCC board meeting included Shiller’s name with an effective date of Jan. 4.
“Due to our policy of respecting our employees’ privacy, we cannot disclose any further details regarding this personnel matter,” according to a statement from STLCC Communications Manager Bill Raack in response to an inquiry from The Scene.
“St. Louis Community College remains committed to providing high-quality education for our acclaimed Culinary Arts program. The college is in the process of filling (Shiller’s) role, which will be announced at a later date.”
Abigail Benz came on board as a new full-time instructor in the baking and pastry arts program this semester. She formerly was a student under Shiller, an adjunct faculty member and production manager at Jilly’s.
Benz is teaching introduction to baking, ice cream and frozen desserts, chocolate candies and showpieces and sugar candies and showpieces.
In 2011, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon gave Shiller an Excellence in Teaching Award. In 2012, the American Culinary Federation named him Chef Educator of the Year. Just last year, he received an STLCC Excellence Award.
“I’m very shocked,” said culinary arts major Mauriell Lovejoy, 37, when she learned that Shiller was no longer teaching at Forest Park. “Maybe this is why Chef Benz did say she would be taking over a few classes (for spring) semester. She was going to be teaching three classes.
“I’m very shocked because that’s Chef Shiller. I had my first two semesters with him. I thought he was great.”