VATFACS INSTITUTE

arrow_back View All Dates

9:00am EDT

Sustainable Fashion & Consumer Responsibility: Upcycling in the Fashion Classroom

Monday July 20, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

This engaging professional development session for Family and Consumer Sciences educators will explore the growing importance of sustainability within the fashion industry and the role educators play in preparing students to become responsible consumers and future industry leaders. Participants will examine the history and evolution of sustainable fashion, consumer sustainability issues, and the environmental impact of fast fashion and textile waste.
The session will also highlight practical classroom strategies for teaching consumer responsibility through upcycling, recycling, and reusing textiles and apparel materials. Educators will receive a ready-to-use Upcycling Lab Assignment created by Courtnie A. Ward, designed to help students apply sustainability concepts through hands-on learning, creativity, and problem-solving. Participants will leave with instructional resources, classroom ideas, and industry-relevant connections that support sustainability education in Fashion and Family and Consumer Sciences programs.

Related Courses:
Introduction to Fashion Careers (19201-36/8248)
Fashion Careers I (19201-I/8280)
Fashion Careers II (19201-II/8281)
Independent Living (22904-36/8219)

Speakers

Courtnie Ward

FCS Teacher, Washington-Liberty High School/Arlington Co. Public Schools

Monday July 20, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
York

Educational Session

10:15am EDT

KFK Workshop to Working Kitchen. Kids Feeding Kids Sparking Community Impact

Monday July 20, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am EDT

York

Last year, I shared my experience from the Kids Feeding Kids workshop in Kansas City and my plans to bring the program home. This year, I’m sharing what happened next.
In Year One, my students integrated service-learning into our working kitchen by producing scalable meals for community distribution while continuing regular brigade rotations, catering, and take-home projects. Using single-batch prototypes, agile retrospectives, and strong student ownership, we developed a model that worked within an existing culinary program.
This session will highlight what worked, what didn’t, and practical strategies for embedding service-learning into a culinary curriculum. Participants will also learn about the framework for a summer educator institute designed to help culinary teachers launch their own Kids Feeding Kids initiative.

Come ready to talk shop about making service-learning operational, not just theoretical.

Speakers

Lincoln Marquis

Culinary Instructor, Bridging Communities Regional Technical Center

Following last year's session on the Kansas City workshop, this presentation reports on Year One implementation of Kids Feeding Kids. at Bridging Culinary in New Kent.Students integrated service-learning and community outreach into existing brigade operations through scalable single-batch... Read More →

Monday July 20, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
York

Educational Session

global Y

1:15pm EDT

Integrating Pork into the Classroom: Food Safety, Culinary Skills & Nutrition Applications

Monday July 20, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm EDT

York

This session equips FCS instructors with practical strategies for integrating pork into culinary, nutrition, and food science curriculum. Participants will explore ServSafe-aligned food safety principles, culturally diverse recipe applications, and classroom strategies that build knife skills, cost awareness, and equipment management. The session also highlights how pork supports farm-to-school connections and nutrition concepts across the carcass. Educators leave with adaptable lesson ideas that strengthen technical skills, food literacy, and student engagement.

Speakers

Sal Valenza

Principal, Wholesum Consulting

With nearly four decades of experience, Sal Valenza is one of the most respected leaders in K–12 foodservice and a driving force for innovation in school nutrition. A former K–12 Director and chef, Sal brings a unique blend of culinary expertise and operational leadership to support... Read More →

Monday July 20, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm EDT
York

Educational Session

global Y

2:30pm EDT

Noodles for Noobs: Low-Tech Pasta as a Teaching Tool

Monday July 20, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT

York

This hands-on session explores how simple, low-equipment pasta techniques can teach foundational culinary skills in high school classrooms. Participants will make confetti pasta, flour-cured gnudi, and rustic trahana—methods designed for limited equipment and mixed skill levels.
These techniques bring concepts like hydration, gluten development, and ingredient functionality to life while modeling student engagement strategies. Participants will taste samples and leave with practical, repeatable approaches that make complex ideas memorable and fun.

Speakers

David Miller

Program Director, Culinary Institute of Virginia

David Miller is the Program Director at the Culinary Institute of Virginia (CIV), where he has taught culinary, baking, and management since 2010. With over 15 years of industry experience, including leadership roles in award-winning restaurants and a Relais & Châteaux boutique hotel... Read More →

Monday July 20, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
York

Educational Session

global Y

3:45pm EDT

Growing Food Systems Leaders at Sweet Briar College

Monday July 20, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm EDT

York

Learn how Sweet Briar College is growing the next generation of women leaders in agriculture and food systems through hands-on experiential programs centered on the College's 26,000-square-foot greenhouse, 18-acre vineyard, and 20-hive apiary.

Speakers

Lisa Powell

Dean of the College, Professor of Environmental Science and Agriculture, Sweet Briar College

Dr. Lisa Powell is the Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dean of the College, and Chief Sustainability Officer at Sweet Briar College, and professor of environmental science and agriculture. She is an interdisciplinary scholar, who has published in such journals as Food, Cult... Read More →

Monday July 20, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm EDT
York

Educational Session