VATFACS INSTITUTE

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7:00am EDT

Registration

Wednesday July 23, 2025 7:00am - 12:00pm EDT

Atlantic Foyer & Catwalk

Wednesday July 23, 2025 7:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Atlantic Foyer & Catwalk

7:45am EDT

Breakfast and Virginia Association for Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences, Inc. Annual Business Meeting

Wednesday July 23, 2025 7:45am - 8:45am EDT

Rappahannock & James Ballroom

Please arrive on time because a plated breakfast will be served from 7:45 a.m. to 8 a.m. Breakfast service will end at 8 a.m.

The VATFACS, Inc., Annual Business meeting will begin at 8 a.m.

The purpose of this session is to conduct the annual meeting for the Virginia Association for Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences, Inc. (VATFACS). Materials referenced during the meeting may be viewed below.

Wednesday July 23, 2025 7:45am - 8:45am EDT
Rappahannock & James Ballroom

Breakfast Session

8:45am EDT

Best Practices - Roundtable Session

Wednesday July 23, 2025 8:45am - 10:45am EDT

Cape Colony

This educational session would be beneficial for any educator or administrator attending the Professional Development Institute.

Related Career Cluster:

Speakers

Dr. Amber Tiernan

Teacher, Prince William County Public Schools

FCS Teacher

Wednesday July 23, 2025 8:45am - 10:45am EDT
Cape Colony

Educational Session, Best Practices

8:45am EDT

A Dozen Reasons to Use the AAFCS Industry-Based Credentials (IBCS) in FCS Programs (Roundtable Presentation)

Wednesday July 23, 2025 8:45am - 10:45am EDT

Cape Colony

The AAFCS pre-professional credentials assess the knowledge and skills in the Family and Consumer Sciences content areas and are central to career areas involving human service; consumer services, protection, and advising; education and training; and social and community services. The credentials are appropriate for programs in secondary and post-secondary education, youth-based leadership development, community-based education, and employer-based staff development. The AAFCS Pre-Professional Credentials validate student achievement of technical skills in eleven career content areas and in leadership development. Join this roundtable to learn more about how to incorporate AAFCS credentials in your secondary or postsecondary program to measure student success and maximize results.

Related Career Cluster:

Speakers

Helen Fuqua

Associate Director, CORE Competency, AAFCS

Helen Fuqua works with pre-professional and professional credentialing, education and research at AAFCS.

Wednesday July 23, 2025 8:45am - 10:45am EDT
Cape Colony

Roundtable, Best Practices

8:45am EDT

Recipe for Success: Cooking Up Funds for Culinary Programs

Wednesday July 23, 2025 8:45am - 10:45am EDT

Cape Colony

Join us for this lively best practices roundtable and interactive workshop designed to uncover practical approaches to fundraising for culinary programs. Participants will collaborate to share real-world successes, challenges, and innovative strategies—from grants and sponsorships to community partnerships—and learn how to craft persuasive proposals that capture funder interest. Through open discussion and hands-on exercises, attendees will leave with new insights, proven tactics, and a roadmap for long-term fundraising success.

Speakers

Chef Scott Horne

Chef Instructor, Smithfield High School

Chef Scott Horne is a dedicated culinary arts educator at Smithfield High School in Isle of Wight County. Drawing on years of professional kitchen experience, he inspires his students to explore creativity, master culinary techniques, and embrace the shared human connection found... Read More →

Wednesday July 23, 2025 8:45am - 10:45am EDT
Cape Colony

Roundtable, Best Practices

9:00am EDT

Exhibitor Showcase

Wednesday July 23, 2025 9:00am - 4:00pm EDT

Atlantic Foyer & Catwalk

Looking for additional resources or information to support your inside and outside of class activities? Make sure to visit all the exhibitors and learn about their products, services, and resources.

Meeting with exhibitors would be beneficial for any educator or administrator attending the Professional Development Institute.

Related Career Clusters:

Wednesday July 23, 2025 9:00am - 4:00pm EDT
Atlantic Foyer & Catwalk

Exhibits, Activity

11:00am EDT

VATFACS, Inc. Awards, Scholarships, and Exhibitors Luncheon

Wednesday July 23, 2025 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Rappahannock & James Ballroom

VATFACS, Inc. will recognize the award and scholarship winners during the luncheon. The 2025-2026 VATFACS, Inc. Board of Directors will be installed.

Related Career Clusters:

Speakers

Catrina Cheek

2025 President, VATFACS

Collabration among seasoned and nolvitity FCS educators.

Wednesday July 23, 2025 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
Rappahannock & James Ballroom

Luncheon and Keynote

12:45pm EDT

Food Safety in FCS classroom

Wednesday July 23, 2025 12:45pm - 1:45pm EDT

York

Teaching food safety can present challenges! Students often find it boring or feel it's over their head. The numbers, the terms, and the overall wording used in food Safety can be overwhelming! Let's look a some ways to break it down and make it a little more "palatable" for our FCS students.

Related Career Clusters:

Speakers

Chef Sandra Hawk, ret.

Instructor/Proctor, Southern Hospitality Training Services Of Virginia

Sandra Hawk is a retired culinary arts educator from Buckingham County Va. She taught all levels culinary arts for almost 24 years. She was recognized as a Prostart teacher of the twice, Buckingham CTE teacher of the year twice, and her program was recognized as a Sullivan top 100... Read More →

Wednesday July 23, 2025 12:45pm - 1:45pm EDT
York

Educational Session

12:45pm EDT

How to Purchase the Best Knife for YOU

Wednesday July 23, 2025 12:45pm - 1:45pm EDT

Cape Charles A

Information on what to look for and how to purchase a quality knife based on ergonomics, price points, and comfort.

Related Career Cluster:

Related courses include but are not limited to:
Family and Consumer Sciences Exploratory I, 18 weeks
Family and Consumer Sciences Exploratory II, 18 weeks
Family and Consumer Sciences Exploratory III, 18 weeks Nutrition and Wellness, 36 weeks
Life Planning, 36 weeks
Individual Development, 36 weeks
Independent Living, 36 weeks
Food Science and Dietetics
Introduction to Culinary Arts
Culinary Arts I
Culinary Arts II

Speakers

Brian Hay, CEC, CCE, Sommelier

Culinary School Specialist, ZWILLING

Brian Hay, CEC, CCE, CSW, CSS, Sommelier Brian Hay has been working and learning in the food service industry since the late 1980's. As a young child in Ontario, Canada, he was a faithful viewer of "The Galloping Gourmet", one of television's earliest cooking shows. He moved on... Read More →

Wednesday July 23, 2025 12:45pm - 1:45pm EDT
Cape Charles A

Educational Session

12:45pm EDT

Putting the Finance in FCS

Wednesday July 23, 2025 12:45pm - 1:45pm EDT

False Cape B

I would like to give a presentation on how teachers can incorporate "Personal Finance" into their FCS courses. I will provide lesson plan ideas, resources to interactive activities, and more!

Related Career Clusters:

Speakers

Amanda Grimm

F.C.S. teacher, Rockbridge County High School

Amanda Grimm is a Family & Consumer Sciences teacher at Rockbridge County High School in Lexington, VA. She is also an adviser for the school's chapters of FCCLA, Educators Rising, and YStreet. Ms. Grimm is passionate about teaching Personal Finance and is one of the state's Teacher... Read More →

Wednesday July 23, 2025 12:45pm - 1:45pm EDT
False Cape B

Educational Session

12:45pm EDT

Stand Up, Speak Up, Start Up: The SCAD Guide for Creative Entrepreneurs

Wednesday July 23, 2025 12:45pm - 1:45pm EDT

Mariner B

From the world’s leading university for creative careers, "Stand Up, Speak Up, Start Up" is the brilliant new guide designed to help emerging entrepreneurs cultivate their gift of invention and pursue their dreams. In each of the book’s six chapters, readers encounter an archetype that embodies a distinct trait of accomplished The Ally, The Believer, The Hacker, The Warrior, The Storyteller, and The Shepherd. Each archetype is explored through the personal stories of enterprising visionaries — including ingenious SCAD alumni who have forged their own paths, from innovating sneaker customization for NBA all-stars to revolutionizing almond farming. While many of the world’s top entrepreneurs share a talent for identifying, pitching, and creating fresh ways of doing things, honing one’s gift of invention is the key to adding unique value. Stand Up, Speak Up, Start Up explores how creative talents — such as the gifts SCAD students and graduates use to animate, design, tell stories, produce films, and more — can also be employed to launch a new startup and to add value to an existing business.

This educational session would be beneficial for any educator or administrator attending the Professional Development Institute.

Related Career Clusters:

Speakers

Kimya Rainge

Educator Outreach Manager, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)

Kimya Rainge is a marketing and sales driven INTERPRENEUR who loves to build relationships and launch new brands. She is an exception to the rule, a game changer and history maker whose passion revolves around helping young entrepreneurs rise. Kimya possesses more than 20 years... Read More →

Wednesday July 23, 2025 12:45pm - 1:45pm EDT
Mariner B

Educational Session

12:45pm EDT

Vocabulary on Fire

Wednesday July 23, 2025 12:45pm - 1:45pm EDT

Mariner A

5 Ways to Level Up Your Vocabulary Lessons

Visual Vocab
Hexigonal Vocabulary Thinking Practices
Vocabulary Sorting and Explanations
Vocabulary Foldables
Group Games

This educational session would be beneficial for any educator or administrator attending the Professional Development Institute.

Related Career Clusters:

Speakers

Angela Stouffer

FACS Teacher, PWCS

Vocabulary on Fire: New ways to level up your vocabulary lessons

Wednesday July 23, 2025 12:45pm - 1:45pm EDT
Mariner A

Educational Session

12:45pm EDT

Where is My Curriculum Framework?

Wednesday July 23, 2025 12:45pm - 1:45pm EDT

Cape Henry C

The CTE Resource Center, your source for Virginia’s public school CTE curriculum, will show how to access your curriculum and any associated resources from the Center’s new website and through Canvas/Virtual Virginia, as well as explore resources for workplace readiness.

This educational session would be beneficial for any educator or administrator attending the Professional Development Institute.

Related Career Clusters:

Visit the CTE Resource Center Website.

Speakers

Kevin Reilly (actual Center rep TBD)

Director, CTE Resource Center

The CTE Resource Center is a grant-funded project of the Virginia Department of Education administered by Henrico County Public Schools.

Wednesday July 23, 2025 12:45pm - 1:45pm EDT
Cape Henry C

Educational Session

2:00pm EDT

Empowering our FCS Family

Wednesday July 23, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT

Mariner B

Do you have to fight to have FCS in your school? Well, we all do! There are different degrees to which we must continually be trailblazers for FCS. Do you need to set up a kitchen? Are you worried about funding? Don't know where to start in establishing an FCCLA Chapter? This session will equip you with a FCS Plan, a marketing and implementation plan that gets all on board. We'll explore the many avenues for building your program and working to enhance its success. Bring your own ideas to add to the mix and think about how your FCS elevator pitch is emerging and evolving.

This educational session would be beneficial for any educator or administrator attending the Professional Development Institute.

Related Career Cluster:

Speakers

Laura M. Daniel

Teacher, Wetsel Middle School/Madison County Public Schools

With a passion for CTE, especially in curriculum writing, Laura has 17 years of teaching experience. She has taught high school FACS in parenting and life planning for three years, followed by 14 years in her ever-evolving current position in middle school FACS & Business. She is... Read More →

Wednesday July 23, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Mariner B

Educational Session

2:00pm EDT

Glow Up the Future: Past Vibes, Next Moves

Wednesday July 23, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT

False Cape B

Discover surprising facts you might not know about the founding of Family and Consumer Sciences. Learn how to use topics and lessons from the past to move classroom discussions and activities forward. Consider this your lesson in upcycling vintage FCS! Many of the original societal concerns of the Ellen Richards and the other forward thinkers of this time, are still the same topics we see today - healthy, nutritious food, proper child development, etc. The early beginnings focused on incorporating science into lessons. We are the O.G. STEM! Come away with new knowledge and activities!

This educational session would be beneficial for any educator or administrator attending the Professional Development Institute.

Related Career Clusters:

Speakers

Dr. Amber Tiernan

Teacher, Prince William County Public Schools

FCS Teacher

Wednesday July 23, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
False Cape B

Educational Session

2:00pm EDT

Hands on Knife Skills

Wednesday July 23, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT

Cape Charles A

An in depth look and hands on skills demonstration on how to select, hold and use a knife correctly.

Related Career Cluster:

Related courses include but are not limited to:
Family and Consumer Sciences Exploratory I, 18 weeks
Family and Consumer Sciences Exploratory II, 18 weeks
Family and Consumer Sciences Exploratory III, 18 weeks Nutrition and Wellness, 36 weeks
Life Planning, 36 weeks
Individual Development, 36 weeks
Independent Living, 36 weeks
Food Science and Dietetics
Introduction to Culinary Arts
Culinary Arts I
Culinary Arts II

Speakers

Brian Hay, CEC, CCE, Sommelier

Culinary School Specialist, ZWILLING

Wednesday July 23, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Cape Charles A

Educational Session

2:00pm EDT

iCEV for Hands-on Activities

Wednesday July 23, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT

York

Participants in this session should plan to bring your laptop/device so you can see the activities and projects that are available to students that are in your classes. These activities promote team-work and higher-level thinking. Come see how iCEV is meeting the needs of today's learners.

This educational session would be beneficial for any educator or administrator attending the Professional Development Institute.

Related Career Clusters:

Speakers

Robert Limpert

Territory Manager, CEV Multimedia

I am the Territory Manager for iCEV covering Maryland and Virginia. I joined iCEV after a 30 year career in CTE. My journey started as a classroom teacher and wrapped up as a CTE Director and member of the Governor's Workforce Development Board CTE Committee. CTE has been my passion... Read More →

Wednesday July 23, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
York

Educational Session

2:00pm EDT

The Rewards and Challenges of Teachers for Tomorrow

Wednesday July 23, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT

Mariner A

Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) has a "grow your own" attitude when it comes to solving the challenge of staffing schools. Join this session to learn more about the successful partnership LCPS has with Shenandoah University (SU), and the strategies they use to capture the interests of potential teachers. Students are exposed to a world-class curriculum and hands-on experiences that focus on teaching while earning up to six (6) dual enrollment credits.

Related Career Cluster:

Related Courses:
All Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow CTE courses are aligned to Educators Rising as their career and technical student organization (CTSO).Visit Educators Rising and Educators Rising Virginia to learn more.

Speakers

Denny Keffer

Director of Extended and Distance Education, Shenandoah University

Diane Breinig

FCS Teacher at Briar Woods High School, Loudoun County Public Schools

Loudoun County FCS Teacher and Teacher Cadet Curriculum Trainer.

Wednesday July 23, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Mariner A

Educational Session

6:26pm EDT

Career Focus Teachers....This FCCLA Program is for YOU!!!

Wednesday July 23, 2025 6:26pm - 6:26pm EDT

Cape Henry C

Culinary, Fashion, Design, or ECE Teachers... FCCLA is your Innovation for Involvement!

Related Career Clusters:

Related Courses:
All Family and Consumer Sciences CTE courses are aligned to FCCLA as their career and technical student organization (CTSO). Correlated standards can be found in the "Additional Resources" section of the course framework on the CTE Resource Center website.

Speakers

Bobbi Comer

State Co-Adviser, Virginia FCCLA

Wednesday July 23, 2025 6:26pm - 6:26pm EDT
Cape Henry C

Educational Session

VATFACS INSTITUTE

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