NHSBBQA - CONSTITUTION

National High School BBQ Association®

Organizational Charter & Educational Constitution

ARTICLE I – NAME & IDENTITY

This organization shall be known as the National High School BBQ Association® (NHSBBQA®), hereinafter referred to as the “Association.”

The Association serves as the national governing and educational body for High School and Middle School BBQ, Live Fire Cooking, and Food Sport programs aligned with Career & Technical Education (CTE).

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE & EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVE

Section 1 – Core Purpose

The purpose of the National High School BBQ Association® is to positively impact students, schools, educators, and communities by using barbecue and live-fire cooking as an applied learning platform to deliver high-quality Career & Technical Education (CTE).

The Association exists to:

• Prepare students for college, career, and life

• Support and empower teachers and schools

• Build community pride and service

• Create safe, structured, school-aligned learning environments

Section 2 – Education First Philosophy

Education is the primary mission of the Association.

Competition:

• Is optional, not mandatory

• Serves as a byproduct of learning, not the objective

• Reinforces classroom instruction, professionalism, teamwork, and accountability

Winning competitions is secondary to:

• Skill development

• Safety

• Character

• Leadership

• Career readiness

The HSBBQ League philosophy is that youth development outweighs competitive outcomes.

ARTICLE III – PROGRAM MODEL (HYBRID STRUCTURE)

The NHSBBQA® operates as a hybrid educational model, combining:

A. Little League–Style Community Structure

• Local school-based teams

• Parent and volunteer involvement (BBQ PTA)

• Equal access and inclusion

• Emphasis on fun, safety, and development

B. CTSO-Aligned Educational Framework

• CTE-aligned curriculum and competencies

• Teacher-led instruction

• Industry-recognized skills

• Career pathway exploration

• Optional competitive benchmarks

This structure ensures schools may fully participate without ever competing, while still gaining full educational value.

ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 – Membership Classes

The Association recognizes the following classes of membership:

1. School Charter Members

   • Public or private middle schools and high schools

   • Operate under a School Charter Agreement

   • Teacher-led and school-approved

2. Student Members

   • Enrolled students participating through a chartered school

   • No governance authority

   • Primary beneficiaries of the Association

3. Educator Members

   • Teachers, instructors, and school administrators

   • Serve as program leaders and mentors

4. Volunteer Members (BBQ PTA)

   • Parents, guardians, community mentors

   • Subject to background checks and safety training

5. Sustaining & Sponsor Members (School Board of Barbecue)

   • Industry, businesses, and donors

   • No governance authority

   • Support scholarships, equipment, and programming

This mirrors the HSBBQ League’s clear separation between governance, players, and supporters.

ARTICLE V – STUDENT ELIGIBILITY & PARTICIPATION

• Students must be enrolled at a chartered school

• Participation is curricular or co-curricular, not extracurricular-only

• No student is denied participation due to:

  • Skill level

  • Socioeconomic status

  • Prior experience

Participation is based on learning, safety, and conduct, not competitive ranking.

ARTICLE VI – GOVERNANCE & BOARD STRUCTURE

Section 1 – National Governance

The Association shall be governed by a National Board of Teacher and State Directors, responsible for:

• Educational standards

• Safety policies

• Brand and trademark stewardship

• National partnerships

• State Association oversight

Section 2 – State & Local Structure

• State High School BBQ Associations operate as licensed divisions

• Schools participate through charters, not franchises

• Authority flows:
  National → State → School → Teacher → Student

This mirrors the Local League governance model of Little League.

ARTICLE VII – ROLE OF TEACHERS & SCHOOLS

Teachers are the center of the Association.

The NHSBBQA®:

• Supports teachers with curriculum, safety protocols, and training

• Does not replace school authority

• Does not mandate competitions

• Aligns with TEKS, Perkins V, CTSOs, and district policies

Schools retain full academic control.

ARTICLE VIII – SAFETY, ETHICS & STUDENT PROTECTION

The Association maintains:

• Mandatory safety training

• Live-fire safety protocols

• Adult background checks

• Incident reporting systems

• Student-first conduct codes

Student safety and wellbeing supersede all programming decisions, consistent with youth organization best practices.

ARTICLE IX – COMPETITIONS & EVENTS

Competitions:

• Are optional educational demonstrations

• Reinforce professionalism and assessment

• Are governed by published rules and safety standards

• Do not determine a school’s standing or membership status

Schools may participate without ever competing.

ARTICLE X – FINANCIAL & NONPROFIT INTENT

• Funds are used exclusively for educational purposes

• No earnings benefit individuals

• Scholarships, equipment grants, and teacher support are prioritized

• Transparency mirrors nonprofit youth organization standards

ARTICLE XI – INCLUSION & ACCESS

The National High School BBQ Association® does not discriminate on the basis of:

• Race

• Gender

• Religion

• Disability

• National origin

• Socioeconomic status

Programs are designed to be scalable, accessible, and community-based.

ARTICLE XII – AMENDMENTS

This Charter may be amended by:

• Supermajority vote of the National Board

• Input from State Associations

• Alignment with educational mission and law

EXECUTIVE STATEMENT

The National High School BBQ Association® exists to educate first, inspire second, and compete last.
We are not building cooks—we are building students, leaders, and communities through fire, food, and purpose.

© National High School BBQ Association® (NHSBBQA®)

All rights reserved.