VATFACS INSTITUTE

10:15am EDT

Cupcakes and Chocolate

Monday July 21, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am EDT

Come learn how to make cupcake decorating and chocolate making fun and easy to do in the classroom.

Related Career Clusters:

Speakers

Nancy Appleby

Chocolatier, Camerons Coffee and Chocolate

Nancy Appleby is a Chocolatier who currently works for Camerons Coffee and Chocolates. Nancy was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina where she fell in love with Baking and Pastry.

Monday July 21, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
Mariner A

Educational Session

1:15pm EDT

Beyond Bivalves

Monday July 21, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm EDT

Mariner A

Come have a shuckin' good time with Chef Sean and learn all about Oysters. Attendees will learn the History, how to prepare different styles, and even get a chance to try shucking on their own.

Tom's Cove Aquafarms in Chincoteague Island is sponsoring this session, and donating all oysters and clams for demonstration and consumption.

Related Career Clusters:

Related courses include but are not limited to:
Nutrition and Wellness, 36 weeks
Food Science and Dietetics
Introduction to Culinary Arts
Culinary Arts I
Culinary Arts II

Speakers

Sean Appleby

Chef Instructor, Marshall High School

Chef Sean is a teacher at Marshall Highschool. Sean attended Johnson and Wales University in Charlotte, Nc. Opening several restaurants there his faveorite was Sea Level where he worked the raw bar. He found a passion for oysters there and shucked over 600,000.

Monday July 21, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm EDT
Mariner A

Educational Session

2:30pm EDT

Cooking Up Careers: Youth Registered Apprenticeships for Future Chefs

Monday July 21, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT

Mariner A

Join us for a 60-minute information session designed to help educators and culinary professionals understand and implement Youth Registered Apprenticeship programs for high school culinary arts students. Featuring insights from a Virginia Works representative—Virginia’s overseeing authority for apprenticeships—this session will cover essential program components, regulatory requirements, and strategies for developing strong industry partnerships. Attendees will leave equipped with practical knowledge, resources, and next steps to launch or enhance a successful culinary apprenticeship experience.

Related Career Clusters:

Related courses include but are not limited to:
Nutrition and Wellness, 36 weeks
Food Science and Dietetics
Introduction to Culinary Arts
Culinary Arts I
Culinary Arts II

Speakers

Dr. Jai Girard

Director of Education & Workforce Development; ProStart State Coordinator, Virginia Restaurant Loding and Travel Association

Dr. Jai Girard is the Director of Education and Workforce at the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging, and Travel Association. With over 15 years of extensive experience in the hospitality industry, Dr. Girard brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role. Dr. Girard's professional... Read More →

Monday July 21, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
Mariner A

Educational Session

3:45pm EDT

Unlocking Retail Careers with RISE Up: Exploring Opportunities and Credentials

Monday July 21, 2025 3:45pm - 4:45pm EDT

Mariner A

Join RISE Up Curriculum & Instruction Manager Barbara Collins from the NRF (National Retail Federation) Foundation for a journey to discover the value of a retail career and the multiple exciting career opportunities in the industry. From HR to IT – and from social media to sales – retail has it all! And retail is everywhere, supporting 56 million jobs across the country and 25% of all jobs in Virginia. Come learn about the instructor resources RISE Up provides and how the credentials can help your students prepare for these jobs and build their careers – in retail – and beyond. Attend this session and receive a link for complimentary access to the RISE Up credential of your choice.

Related Career Cluster:

Related courses include but are not limited to:
Introduction to Fashion Careers, 36 weeks
Fashion Careers I
Fashion Careers II

Speakers

Barbara Collins

RISE Up Curriculum & Instruction Manager, NRF Foundation

Ms. Barbara Collins serves as the Curriculum & Instruction Manager for the RISE Up program at the NRF Foundation. Since joining the Foundation in 2019, she has contributed to a variety of initiatives, including the NRF Foundation Honors and campus and university engagement projects. In her current role, she plans, manages and directs development, implementation and upkeep of curricula, assessments, teacher training materials and supplemental education products for the RISE Up program.Prior to her tenure at the NRF Fo... Read More →

Monday July 21, 2025 3:45pm - 4:45pm EDT
Mariner A

Educational Session

9:00am EDT

ServSafe Food Protection Manager - Renewal Testing Only

Tuesday July 22, 2025 9:00am - 11:30am EDT

Mariner A

Pre-registration and an additional fee are required for this exam.

Conference attendees who need to renew their ServSafe Food Protection Manager credential will have the opportunity to take the ServSafe Food Protection Manager Exam during the Tuesday morning credentialing block. The test will be provided in a paper, in-person format. Prepayment and preregistration with VATFACS is required.

Related Career Cluster:

Speakers

Dr. Jai Girard

Director of Education & Workforce Development; ProStart State Coordinator, Virginia Restaurant Loding and Travel Association

Tuesday July 22, 2025 9:00am - 11:30am EDT
Mariner A

Credentialing Session, Credentialing Block

1:30pm EDT

The Future of Education in the Culinary Arts Industry

Tuesday July 22, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm EDT

Mariner A

The future of education in the culinary arts industry

Course objectives:
Assessing the students or/and apprentices' needs for their education.
The role of the educator to better support students or/and apprentices.
Define, demonstrate and evaluate their education progress in the Culinary industry.
Thrive to a better future.

Related Career Clusters:

Related courses include but are not limited to:
Nutrition and Wellness, 36 weeks
Food Science and Dietetics
Introduction to Culinary Arts
Culinary Arts I
Culinary Arts II

Speakers

Hugh J. Cossard

Director of Education & Chef Instructor, Metropolitan Culinary Arts in Arlington.

Director of Education & Chef Instructor at Metropolitan Culinary Arts in Arlington.

Tuesday July 22, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm EDT
Mariner A

Educational Session

2:45pm EDT

ProStart Curriculum Update

Tuesday July 22, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm EDT

Mariner A

In this session, culinary educators and program administrators will gain insight into the latest updates to the ProStart curriculum. Participants will learn about new content areas, teaching methodologies, and resources designed to help high school culinary students succeed in both the classroom and the industry. By the end of the session, attendees will have the tools and confidence to seamlessly incorporate these updates into their own instructional plans.

Related Career Clusters:

Related courses include but are not limited to:
Introduction to Culinary Arts
Culinary Arts I
Culinary Arts II

Speakers

Dr. Jai Girard

Director of Education & Workforce Development; ProStart State Coordinator, Virginia Restaurant Loding and Travel Association

Tuesday July 22, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm EDT
Mariner A

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

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

VATFACS INSTITUTE

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