WE SAY YES STORIES: MHS BAKER’S DOZEN: New Baking Club Becomes a Lesson in Leadership
WE SAY YES STORIES
BAKER’S DOZEN: Where Baking Becomes a Lesson in Leadership
Because sometimes, all it takes is a little softened butter and a teacher willing to Start With Yes.
What started with one student, one baking assignment and a batch of cookies that didn’t quite turn out has grown into a new opportunity for Mayfield High School students to learn, lead and create together.
Mayfield High School math teacher Katie McCartney, founder of the Mayfield High School Baker’s Dozen Club, first connected with Bansari Patel, MHS Class of 2026, two years ago when Bansari was assigned a baking project in her 10th-grade Spanish class.
There was just one problem: Bansari didn’t know the butter needed to be softened.
The cookies kinda crumbled, but what could have been a baking mishap became a “Start With Yes” moment. Miss McCartney took the opportunity to teach Bansari how to bake. During Bansari’s sophomore and junior years, the two spent time together baking cookies, zucchini bread, cakes and more. That simple investment of time, encouragement and guidance helped Bansari grow into a confident baker and leader.
And that experience became the inspiration for something bigger.
Today, the Baker’s Dozen Club is creating those same opportunities for current Mayfield students.
At the club’s first meeting, more than 15 students worked alongside three experienced MHS student leaders - seniors Alexa R and Sofia K and junior Vidhi P. to make three batches of chocolate chip cookies.
“The kitchen became the classroom,” said Miss McCartney, who teaches AP Pre-Calculus, Algebra 2 Honors and Geometry when she’s not baking. “The students aren’t just learning to bake something from scratch, they’re learning Portrait skills like how to follow directions, problem-solve, communicate, collaborate and the process of trial and error.”
The Challenge: Keeping the Pantry Full
The club’s biggest challenge is funding basic pantry items such as flour, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Miss McCartney has generously covered some costs herself, and the MHS Friendship Club last school year supported a heart-themed cookie project in collaboration with Kathy Morgan’s special needs class.
The Mayfield Alumni Association also recently donated $500 to support the Baker’s Dozen Club.
“We try to help academic and extracurricular groups as often as we can,” said Wayne Farinacci, president of the Mayfield Alumni Association. “It's heartwarming that Katie has taken the time to organize a club like this for our students.”
While students may say they joined the Baker’s Dozen Club for the sweets, they are discovering something much more valuable: real-world skills, confidence, leadership and the power of someone simply saying, “Yes, let’s try.”
Want to support Baker’s Dozen? Wildcat “Bogg” bags are available for purchase through October 13. Every purchase supports the Baker’s Dozen Club pantry.
