Welcome to Mr. Shurtz’ Classroom!

I am Mr. Shurtz.  This is my second year teaching at Elizabethton High School after spending the last 28 years in a kitchen somewhere.  I graduated from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco in 1995, then worked in Las Vegas and helped open the Bellagio Hotel in 1998.  I have worked in fine dining (Restaurant Picasso) and hotels (The Four Seasons company), and most recently was the executive chef at Tupelo Honey Café in Johnson City.

I am married to Rachelle who is the culinary instructor at Unicoi County Schools, have a daughter who is 3, and one on the way.