Hi!  My name is Melissa Keefer and I will be teaching Food & Nutrition 1 for the 2025-2026 school year.  This is my 14th year in education, and my 11th in the Fort Mill School District.  Through the span of my teaching career, I have taught grades K-12, with the bulk of my career being spent in middle school.  I earned my undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and later went on to earn a graduate degree from the University of South Carolina.  I am a product of Fort Mill Schools, having graduated from Fort Mill High School myself.  I so appreciate the opportunity to give back to the community that helped shape who I am today!  When not in the classroom, I love spending time outdoors with my husband and three children.  I love to hike, read, and kayak!

Classes Taught: Food & Nutrition

ricel@fmsdmail.org 

Chef Dante Passeri has always had a passion for the kitchen. While in high school in Pennsylvania, he enrolled in a CTE Culinary Arts program, which set the foundation for his career. After completing the program, he moved to Myrtle Beach, SC, to pursue his education at the International Culinary Institute of Myrtle Beach. There, he earned two associate degrees—one in Culinary Arts and another in Baking & Pastry Arts. During his time in culinary school, Chef Passeri embraced every opportunity to grow. He worked prestigious events such as the Master’s Golf Tournament, studied abroad in Italy, and had the honor of learning from world-renowned chefs including Kevin Mitchell, Joe Leonardi, and Andrew Zimmern. Following graduation, Chef Passeri launched his own personal chef business, Passeribilities, specializing in handmade pasta, weekly meal prep, and upscale private dining experiences. Inspired by the high school instructor who first guided his culinary journey, Chef Passeri knew he wanted to teach the next generation of chefs. When the opportunity arose “right up the road,” he stepped into the classroom without hesitation. Though early in his teaching career, Chef Dante Passeri already sees "the hive" as a place he will call home for years to come.

Classes Taught: Culinary Arts Management 1, Culinary Arts Management 2 

passerid@fmsdmail.org