As Jack Wallen works on his box to store the cookies, Callum Johnson and another student watches closely.

MARSHALL – Char Bzdok stood in front of a class of 18 children with a spoon and plate in her hand, showing it off to the group of students.

“At the end, if you’re good, I’ll let you eat off your frosting pallets,” she said. “What is a frosting pallet? It’s where you guys will put your frosting when you make your cookies!”

On Friday, Bzdok hosted a “Hooked on Cookies: Summer Edition” event, where children ages kindergarten through sixth grade came by to decorate boxes and cookies they brought home to their family. Working with Marshall Community Education, Bzdok usually comes to Marshall about once a month.

Before starting her business Ms. B’s, Bzdok taught various high school subjects for 25 years. Her passion for teaching started in high school chemistry in Little Falls.

“I got a pat on my back from my chemistry teacher telling me I’m just doing a great job, and that just that fired me up,” she said.

After teaching in Minnesota, Bzdok got hired by the U.S. Emissary to teach chemistry to students in Kathmandu, Nepal, for five years. Spending so long there made her realize that while she still loved education, she wanted to take those skills and incorporate them with her passion for baking, which she did with her grandma since she was 5 years old.

She decided to go all in, starting her own business where she teaches students baking and giving them an outlet to be creative, as well as incorporating lessons in science and chemistry into the classes. Under her new small business, Bzdok taught a much younger audience than the high school classes she used to, but in her opinion that has some benefits.

“They’re passionate about learning,” she said. “They’re so cute too, sometimes they come up and give me a hug.”

Bzdok has been teaching community education courses across roughly 45 school districts, incorporating science, math and reading into cooking courses. In the summer, she teaches 10 courses a week, with preparation on the weekend. Despite the heavy workload, she says she should have started long ago.

“Her life and passion is sharing these interests and hobbies with communities and youth all over the state. So we’re lucky to have her, and we’re very excited,” said Jasmine DeSemet, the city of Marshall Community Education coordinator.

Marshall’s Community Education puts on roughly 50-60 community education events a summer. Three of those are with Bzdok. On Aug. 14 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Bzdok will host another — brand new this year — Cupcake Wars event. Anyone from kindergarten to eighth grade will design, frost and decorate their own cupcakes, with prizes awarded to everyone.