Meet the New Instructors Leading Moorpark Adult School Culinary Arts
Chefs Karina Pineda, left, and Isabella Cisneros were named as the new co-instructors of Moorpark Adult School’s Business of Culinary Arts course.
(Moorpark, California) Jan. 23, 2026—Moorpark Adult School has named Isabella Cisneros and Karina Pineda as the new co-instructors for its Business of Culinary Arts course. The two officially took over the class earlier this month from former culinary arts instructor Timothy Maloof.
Maloof led the program for several years and helped establish the foundation of the adult school’s culinary offerings.
The Business of Culinary Arts course is a hands-on class open to Ventura County residents. It introduces students to essential cooking techniques while also covering the basics of the food business, including menu planning, food safety and kitchen organization.
Students also explore what it takes to turn a food idea into a real-world venture. No prior culinary or business experience is required.
Classes meet Monday and Wednesday
Cisneros, a Simi Valley resident, is working toward a bachelor’s degree in business administration from California Lutheran University and completed a yearlong holistic health program through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.
Her professional background includes managing Vegiterranean Kitchen in Moorpark, where she oversaw day-to-day operations, staff training and customer service. She currently works closely with adult education programs as a coordinator with the Ventura County Adult Education Consortium.
She said the course is intentionally designed to welcome students at all experience levels.
“This class is designed for students at any stage,” Cisneros said. “Some arrive with prior experience, while others are new to cooking and are focused on learning the fundamentals.”
Cisneros said her education and restaurant management experience shape how she approaches instruction, particularly for students interested in turning cooking into a business.
“I want to bring that business perspective to the students who are interested,” she said.
She also said cooking connects far beyond technique.
“I love the connection it creates between people, food, and our health,” Cisneros said.
Pineda, who also lives in Simi Valley, has spent most of her life working in kitchens and food service programs.
She began cooking as a child alongside her family and later worked in school nutrition, catering and community meal programs, preparing and serving meals at scale while maintaining food safety and compliance standards.
She is a certified food manager in California and completed her formal culinary training through Moorpark Adult School.
“I’ve been cooking since I was 7 years old, and food has always been part of how my family connects and cares for others,” Pineda said.
Before becoming an instructor, Pineda was a student in the same culinary program she now helps lead.
Despite years of professional cooking experience, she said the class helped her see her skills in a new way and gave her the confidence to step into a teaching role.
“After I took this class, it helped me see my abilities differently and gave me confidence,” said Pineda, who added that her cooking has always been rooted in her family, her culture and caring for others.
As an instructor, Pineda said her goal is to help students build practical cooking skills they can use at home, in the workplace, or as a foundation for future food-related opportunities.
“Cooking is how you show love,” she said.
For more information about the Business of Culinary Arts course, call (805) 334-8421 or visit adulted.mrpk.org.