VATFACS INSTITUTE

6:15pm EDT

Teacher’s Toolkit

Sunday July 20, 2025 6:15pm - 7:15pm EDT

This workshop will focus on creating tools for use in the FCS classroom to enhance
student engagement. Tools will focus on improving interpersonal communication
skills, fostering collaboration within teams, enhancing active listening abilities, and
developing strategies for measuring mastery.

Speakers

Diane Breinig

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

Loudoun County FCS Teacher and Teacher Cadet Curriculum Trainer.

Allison Burns

ECE Instructor at Susie G. Gibson Science and Technology Center, Bedford County Public Schools

FCS/ECE Teacher

Sunday July 20, 2025 6:15pm - 7:15pm EDT
York

Educational Session

global Y

7:20pm EDT

Teacher’s Toolkit

Sunday July 20, 2025 7:20pm - 8:20pm EDT

York

Speakers

Diane Breinig

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

Loudoun County FCS Teacher and Teacher Cadet Curriculum Trainer.

Allison Burns

ECE Instructor at Susie G. Gibson Science and Technology Center, Bedford County Public Schools

FCS/ECE Teacher

Sunday July 20, 2025 7:20pm - 8:20pm EDT
York

Educational Session

9:00am EDT

The Big Payback

Monday July 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

York

The “Big Payback” from the IRS happens for most taxpayers every tax season when they file to receive their refunds. Do your students understand why some taxpayers receive refunds while others must pay?

Speakers

Christopher L. Anderson, MBA

Senior Stakeholder Relationship Manager, Internal Revenue Service

Christopher Anderson, MBA is an IRS Senior Relationship Manager responsible for program growth for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs in Virginia. Chris earned his MBA from James Madison University (JMU). Go Dukes! His background... Read More →

Monday July 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
York

Educational Session

global Y

10:15am EDT

Behavioral Economics: What Money Does to Your Mind

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

York

This session is great for FACS teachers or personal finance, financial skills, or consumer education! See behavioral economics in action through a series of NGPF activities included in an entirely FREE curriculum. These activities will show how cognitive biases impact our money decisions.

Speakers

Patrick DeRosa

Associate Director, Center for Economic Education, George Mason University

I am the Associate Director of the Center for Economic Education at George Mason University, which is part of the Virginia Council on Economic Education network. My goal is to help teachers enhance their skills in teaching students how to become more economic and financially literate... Read More →

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

Educational Session

global Y

1:15pm EDT

Shift- Five Essentials to Transform your Classroom

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

York

We are living in a time where everything is moving faster. As the world continues to evolve, our methods to educate and empower the next generation must also evolve- all while not losing our bottom line. This interactive session will walk through five time-tested principles to innovate your methods, transform your classroom and empower a generation.

Speakers

Dr. Dwayne Whitehead

President, The Whitehead Group

Dr. Dwayne is a global thinker, communicator, and educator with a passion for transforming lives through the power of leadership. Dr. Dwayne’s reach spans the arts, education, business and finance, government, and religion. He is the President of The Whitehead Group. TWG is a for-profit... Read More →

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

Educational Session

2:30pm EDT

Understanding Childhood Trauma and Its Impact on Learning and Behavior

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

York

Designed for educators, this workshop delves into the definition and sources of childhood trauma, explores its profound effects on brain development and learning, and helps identify behavioral indicators in students. Through collaborative activities, including case study analyses and role-playing, participants will gain practical, trauma-informed strategies to create supportive and inclusive classroom environments. Equip yourself with the knowledge and tools to make a meaningful difference in the lives of students affected by trauma.

Speakers

Dr. Dwayne Whitehead

President, The Whitehead Group

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

Educational Session

3:45pm EDT

What's the FACS? Engaging lessons & teaching strategies for family & consumer sciences courses

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

York

Family & Consumer Sciences is already interactive and engaging. The challenge with students is when unit objectives that are not hands on are taught, and students begin to dis-engage. In this session, participants will learn how to use different lesson plan activities for various family & consumer sciences courses. Materials will include how to implement and use project-based assessments, warm-up activities, technology platforms, group activities, and class assignments which promote student engagment.

Participants will be able to leave with lesson plan resources to be able to use with their students and teachers in their department. Materials are adaptable to be used for various courses under the CTE umbrella.

Speakers

Dee Harris

CTE lead teacher, ACPS

20+ years Family & Consumer Sciences Educator. I am currently teaching at Alexandria City Public Schools. I teach Child Development and DE Advanced Early Childhood Education. I am a CTE lead teacher for our CTE department

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

Educational Session

global Y

6:00pm EDT

Board Game Social Night

Monday July 21, 2025 6:00pm - 8:00pm EDT

York

This is an after hours social night. The intent is to make new connections at the conference in a fun and interactive way. It can be hard to meet new people at conferences like this- but still so important. Board games are fun, relatively stress free way to meet new people and try out new games.

Speakers

Sarah Ummen

FACS Teacher, Fairfax County Public Schools

I teach Family and Consumer Sciences at Poe Middle School in Fairfax County Public Schools. I am going into my 8th year of teaching. I love board games, sewing, cooking, watercolor, ceramics, audiobooks, and kayaking.

Monday July 21, 2025 6:00pm - 8:00pm EDT
York

Educational Session, Activity

global Y

9:00am EDT

12th Edition Experiencing Education Teacher Cadet Curriculum Update

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

York

This session is designed for teachers trained in the 11th Edition Experiencing Education Teacher Cadet Curriculum who are currently teaching the Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow course.

Speakers

Diane Breinig

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

Loudoun County FCS Teacher and Teacher Cadet Curriculum Trainer.

Dr. Amber Tiernan

Teacher, Prince William County Public Schools

FCS Teacher

Kimberly Wilson

Retired FCS Teacher and Teacher Cadet Curriculum Trainer, Alexandria City Public Schools

FCS Teacher and Teacher Cadet Curriculum Trainer

Emily O'Connor

Executive Director, VATFACS

Certified Teacher Cadet Curriculum Trainer

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

Credentialing Session, Credentialing Block

1:30pm EDT

Introduction to PBL +: Bridging Academic and Personal Success

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

York

Speakers

Dr. Jorge Valenzuela

Education Coach, Lifelong Learning Defined

Jorge Valenzuela is a highly sought-after and well-regarded performance and education coach, author, and speaker at Lifelong Learning Defined. He got his start in education and has helped countless educators improve their instructional leadership and teaching skills. Jorge specializes... Read More →

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

Educational Session

2:45pm EDT

Empowering Instructional Leaders: Strategies for Providing FCS Teachers Better Feedback

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

York

This session provides school leaders strategies they can use to raise confidence for teachers by being more intentional about when and how to provide feedback by structuring conversations around what they observe in learning walks or formal observations using simple universal guidelines. A feedback tool will also be modeled and provided.

Audience: Principals, Instructional Coaches and District Instructional Leaders

Speakers

Dr. Jorge Valenzuela

Education Coach, Lifelong Learning Defined

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

Educational Session

4:00pm EDT

Exploring the Modernized Career Clusters and Their Role in FCS Programs

Tuesday July 22, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT

York

Explore the modernized Career Clusters to enhance your role in delivering high quality career preparation instruction and work-based learning opportunities. We will examine the new components of the cluster framework: Cross-Cutting Clusters, Sub-Clusters, Clusters, Cluster Groupings, and Career Ready Practices and discuss how they are incorporated in the FCS curriculum.

Speakers

Helen Fuqua

Associate Director, CORE Competency, AAFCS

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

Tuesday July 22, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
York

Educational Session

global Y

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 overwhleming! Let's look a some ways to break it down and make it a little more "palatable" for our FCS students.

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

global Y

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.

Speakers

Lisa Barnett

Curriculum Consultant, CEV Multimedia

Lisa Barnett, iCEV Curriculum Consultant, developed her passion for Career and Technical Education from her experience as both a CTE teacher and administrator. She served as the CTE Coordinator for Botetourt County Public Schools for 10 years. Prior to serving as a CTE Coordinator... Read More →

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

Educational Session

global Y

VATFACS INSTITUTE

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