is a nonprofit organization formed by a group of volunteers who are passionate about education and the community of Fort Madison, Iowa. The goal of the Test Kitchen Education Foundation is to provide a safe environment and qualified assistance for students who need extra help with homework for required subjects, test preparation and advice with college entrance requirements. To reward their efforts, students will enjoy a healthy and delicious meal prepared by area chefs.
Test Kitchen Education Foundation
Test Kitchen Education Foundation
is a nonprofit organization formed by a group of volunteers who are passionate about education and the community of Fort Madison, Iowa. The goal of the Test Kitchen Education Foundation is to provide a safe environment and qualified assistance for students who need extra help with homework for required subjects, test preparation and advice with college entrance requirements. To reward their efforts, students will enjoy a healthy and delicious meal prepared by area chefs.
Elliott Test Kitchen
The Elliott Test Kitchen is located in historic downtown Fort Madison, Iowa, and it is also the home of the Test Kitchen Education Foundation. The Elliott Test Kitchen was created to provide area students and educators with a comfortable place to gather during after-school hours to celebrate education and great food. The Elliott Test Kitchen is equipped with two modern kitchen areas for students and teachers to gather and dedicate their time to academic tasks in an atmosphere that feels like home. The great ambiance, relaxing atmosphere, smell of great food and the availability of modern technology will make students excited to return. The Elliott Test Kitchen is also a great gathering place for several different types of events. Celebrations, meetings, culinary lessons, and other special occasions help to support the operational costs of the Test Kitchen Education Foundation.
For The Community
The Test Kitchen Education Foundation was inspired by an idea of James T. Elliott IV, a successful businessman who was a mathematics teacher early in his career. He always considered his teaching job to be his most satisfying endeavor because it fueled his passion for improving lives by creating positive outcomes for students, families, and communities. Due to Mr. Elliott’s past work as a teacher, his love for and ties to the rural communities in Iowa, he now embraces the need to create a place to celebrate education in an innovative way. His generosity has made possible the creation of the very first Elliott Test Kitchen in Fort Madison, Iowa, under the guidance of the Test Kitchen Education Foundation.
The mission of the Elliott Test Kitchen is to inspire passion for life-long learning and appreciation for healthy food.
Our Mission
Our Mission
Our Mission
Our Vision
We see the Elliott Test Kitchen as a place where academic achievements and culinary creations are celebrated.
Kumar Wickramasingha: Founder
Kumar is perhaps best known in Fort Madison and southeast Iowa for his culinary expertise. He is also a friend and business associate of James Elliott and shares his vision of serving our students in need of assistance by providing them with a safe learning environment. Kumar also believes in empowering educators who are passionate about teaching to go above and beyond in helping students prepare for the future.
Kumar arrived in the United States in 1986 from his native country of Sri Lanka. He was fortunate to meet George and Jean Alton, both teachers in the Fort Madison Community School District. The couple invited Kumar to share their home and gave him an opportunity to pursue higher education. With their love and passion for learning, he was able to get the education he needed, which enabled Kumar to fulfill his American dream of becoming the owner of a well-known local restaurant and later to become a leader in a successful statewide healthcare organization.
To show his gratitude for the opportunities provided to him in Fort Madison, he wants to “pay it forward” by giving back to this community which he loves and treasures. Making the vision a reality in rural Iowa towns begins with the opening of the very first Elliott Test Kitchen in Fort Madison, Iowa. An investment in our youth is the best investment for the future.
Brian Mendez: Development Director
Brian Mendez is a 30-year teaching veteran of the Fort Madison Community School District. He and his wife Kim, an elementary teacher, have 2 children, Claire and Seth. Brian is a lifelong resident of Fort Madison. After graduating from Fort Madison High School in 1986, Brian attended Southeastern Community College and then Western Illinois University, obtaining his Bachelor's Degree in 1990. In addition to teaching, Brian has coached Track and Cross Country for 30+ years.
Upon leaving the teaching profession, Kumar invited Brian to join him at the Elliott Test Kitchen in his quest to help area kids academically as well as exposing them to the art of cooking and cuisine. Brian could not pass it up!
Brian looks forward to being a part of this awesome organization and is grateful for the opportunity to begin a new chapter of his career in education.
Board of Directors
Paul Schulte • Mary Jo Scheetz • Timm Lamb • Brent Zirkel • Kim Ensminger
Doug Snaadt • Mio Santiago • Jim Plate • PJ Marshall
Kevin Rink • Timm Lamb • Jim Sholl • Donna Peterie • Paul Schulte • Mary Jo Scheetz • Mary Kurtz
Educational Consultants
Brent Zirkel is currently the Elementary Principal at Mary Welsh Elementary in Williamsburg, Iowa. Before that, Brent served as the Associate Principal at Fort Madison Middle School. Brent also taught Spanish at Fort Madison High School for 12 years. He has a BA in Geography and Spanish Education, an MS in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Bilingual Education (ELL), and is certified as a Pre-K-12 Administrator and Special Education Supervisor.
Brent is also a co-founder of Cadre Learning, LLP: an innovative partnership of educational specialist and consultants dedicated to bridging the technology gap in order to modernize teaching for the 21st Century. Brent has been honored five consecutive years with the Terry Branstad Inspiring Teacher Award for serving as a motivational force to some of Iowa’s top performing high school students.
Brent enjoys spending time with his wife, Michelle, and two sons, Brevin and Bram. He is an avid fan of Survivor, the TV show, and is a true believer in progress through struggle. Brent sees education as the greatest opportunity to build a better tomorrow by positively impacting the lives of his students.
Andrew Troxel has recently moved back to his hometown of Richland Center, WI to teach Social Studies at the high school level. Before that, Andrew served as the Technology Integrator for Fort Madison Community School District in the Teacher Leadership System and as a Curriculum Specialist at the high school. Andrew has seven years of teaching experience in Social Studies and was a finalist for the Iowa Teacher of the Year. He has a BA in Secondary Education and Broadfield Social Studies from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, as well as an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instructional Technology from Iowa State University.
Andrew is also is one of the co-founders of Cadre Learning, LLP, a company that specializes in educational consulting and technology integration training. Andrew has received the Iowa Governor’s Scholar Influential Teacher award and the Western Illinois University Most Influential Teacher award.
Andrew is happily married to his wife, Jillian, for and has two children, Rosalyn and Liam.