VATFACS INSTITUTE

6:15pm EDT

Story-Based Math: Developing Number Sense Through Children’s Literature

Sunday July 19, 2026 6:15pm - 7:15pm EDT

Bring early math to life through stories and real-world connections! In this engaging session, participants will explore how children’s literature can be paired with hands-on activities to teach counting, number recognition, and simple financial choices. Walk away with practical ideas that make number concepts meaningful, interactive, and fun for young learners.

Related Courses:
Early Childhood, Education, and Services I (19153-I/8285)
Early Childhood, Education, and Services II (19153-II/8286)
Introduction to Early Childhood Education (19153-36/8234)

Speakers

Lynnette Coles

Teacher Trainer, Take Charge Today

Lynnette Coles is a Training Team member of Take Charge Today, housed at the University of Arizona. She is a 20-year veteran educator, currently working in Prince George's County Public Schools in Maryland. She taught Financial Literacy for Teens in the classroom for 17 years, and... Read More →

Sunday July 19, 2026 6:15pm - 7:15pm EDT
Cape Henry C

Educational Session

global Y

7:20pm EDT

From First Job to Career Pathway: Financial Skills Students Need at Every Stage

Sunday July 19, 2026 7:20pm - 8:20pm EDT

Cape Henry C

Students often encounter careers as a single job title with an average salary, leaving them unprepared to understand how financial decisions, benefits, and opportunities change over time. This interactive session models a classroom strategy that helps students explore careers as progressive pathways rather than one-time choices.

Using a specific career pathway as a model, participants step into the role of students who begin in an entry-level position and make realistic financial decisions related to housing, transportation, healthcare, and daily expenses. Participants then revisit these decisions at later career stages, analyzing how changes in income, benefits, schedules, and job responsibilities expand—or limit—financial options.

Related Courses:
Independent Living (22904-36/8219)
Individual Development (19260-36/8210)
Life Planning (19257-36/8227)

Speakers

Lynnette Coles

Teacher Trainer, Take Charge Today

Sunday July 19, 2026 7:20pm - 8:20pm EDT
Cape Henry C

Educational Session

9:00am EDT

Adding Electricity to Hand Sewing Projects Part 2

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

Cape Henry C

Attendees will learn the fundamentals of incorporating battery-powered lights into sewing projects through practical, hands-on instruction. This session will explore basic wiring and placement techniques, creative design applications, and simple strategies for safely integrating lighting into wearable or decorative projects. Participants will also receive helpful tips to simplify the process, troubleshoot common challenges, and increase project success. A detailed supply list and recommended materials will be provided to support continued exploration beyond the session.

Related Courses:
Family and Consumer Sciences Exploratory I (19903-12/8207)
Family and Consumer Sciences Exploratory II (19904-12/8262)
Family and Consumer Sciences Exploratory III (19251-12/8243)

Speakers

Angela Stouffer

FACS Teacher, Prince William County Schools Unity Reed High School

Angela has been teaching for 33 years. She has taught grades 4 through high school and loves teaching practical, innovative skills to her students. Currently, she teaches Child Development and Teachers for Tomorrow.

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

Educational Session

10:15am EDT

Step into a New Era of FCCLA

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

Cape Henry C

Stay informed with the latest updates and insights from state and national organizations as you prepare for the 2026–27 school year.

Speakers

Bobbi Comer

FCCLA State Adviser, VA FCCLA

Connie Rhoton

FCCLA State Staff, VA FCCLA

VA FCCLA

State staff, VA FCCLA

Career Pathways provide the background for FCCLA competitions

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

Educational Session

1:15pm EDT

Check Out the New Season of Student Body

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

Cape Henry C

Discover the value of the updated Student Body national program—both in the classroom and for chapter projects. The program provides resources for the total wellness of youth, preparing them for the years ahead. Healthy individuals strengthen the families and communities around them.

Speakers

Bobbi Comer

FCCLA State Adviser, VA FCCLA

Connie Rhoton

FCCLA State Staff, VA FCCLA

VA FCCLA

State staff, VA FCCLA

Career Pathways provide the background for FCCLA competitions

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

Educational Session

global Y

2:30pm EDT

Helping Students Make Better Decisions About Careers, Money, and Life

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

Cape Henry C

Students get plenty of information about careers and money—but not the tools to make clear, confident decisions. This session helps FCS educators teach a repeatable decision-making framework that students can actually use.
Participants will walk away with a structured approach to help students:

Clarify what matters to them
Evaluate realistic options
Understand trade-offs between income, lifestyle, and goals
Move forward without needing perfect answers

The session includes a hands-on activity, "The Real-Life Decision Map," where participants step into a student's role and work through a real-world scenario that requires weighing priorities and making a choice. The tools fit naturally into career exploration, personal finance, and life skills lessons—and into the time and structure teachers are already working with.

Speakers

Charnell Thweatt

Founder, Chosen Yet Planted

Charnell is the founder of Chosen Yet Planted, a service-based business that helps individuals and organizations navigate career decisions, financial capability, and workforce readiness.
Her work focuses on the moments where people feel stuck, unsure, or overwhelmed—whether that’s choosing a career path, managing money, or figuring out next steps. She partners with organizations to deliver practical, discussion-based sessions that help people think more clearly... Read More →

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

Educational Session

global Y

3:45pm EDT

Building a Strong Foundation: Creating Positive Learning Environments in High School FACS While Mending the Bridge Between Middle and High School

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

Cape Henry C

As students transition from middle to high school, FACS plays a powerful role in building confidence, belonging, and life-readiness skills. This session explores strategies for creating a strong academic and social-emotional foundation in high school FACS programs while strengthening alignment with middle school coursework.
Participants will examine how to build a supportive, culturally responsive environment and explore how intentional collaboration between middle and high school FACS programs can boost engagement, close transition gaps, and reinforce success skills like communication, responsibility, organization, and self-management.
Attendees will leave with strategies for aligned instruction, OER-based resources, and hands-on learning experiences that bridge grade levels—designed for FACS teachers and instructional leaders, strengthening the pathway.

Speakers

Hawah Kamara Nyenswah

FCS Teacher, Freedom High School/Prince William County Public Schools

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

Educational Session

global Y

9:00am EDT

FCCLA Competitions: Where Leaders Are Made

Tuesday July 21, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

Cape Henry C

FCCLA competitive events aren't just about trophies — they're a direct expression of the discipline we teach every day. In this session, presented by FCCLA Virginia state staff, participants will explore how the six career pathways connect to and strengthen competitive event preparation across the full range of FCCLA competitions. Whether you're a seasoned advisor or just getting your chapter off the ground, you'll leave with a clearer picture of how to align your program's pathway focus with meaningful competitive experiences for students.

Speakers

Bobbi Comer

FCCLA State Adviser, VA FCCLA

Connie Rhoton

FCCLA State Staff, VA FCCLA

VA FCCLA

State staff, VA FCCLA

Career Pathways provide the background for FCCLA competitions

Tuesday July 21, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Cape Henry C

Educational Session

global Y

10:15am EDT

Integrating Social Work Perspectives into Family and Consumer Sciences Education

Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am EDT

Cape Henry C

Where Family Science Meets Human Need: Integrating Social Work Perspectives into FCS Education

Family and Consumer Sciences has always been about the whole person — and so has social work. In this session, participants will explore the powerful intersection between FCS education and social work frameworks, building understanding of key concepts and why they belong in our classrooms. We'll examine the social, emotional, and economic factors shaping the lives of our students and their families, and explore practical strategies for supporting student well-being without stepping outside our lane. Participants will also consider how to build intentional collaborative relationships with families, community partners, and available resources. Because FCS educators have always seen the whole child — this session gives us a sharper vocabulary for what we already do.

Related Courses:
Child Development and Parenting (19255-36/8232)
Early Childhood, Education, and Services I (19153-I/8285)
Early Childhood, Education, and Services II (19153-II/8286)
Family and Human Services I (19999-II/8265)
Family and Human Services II (19999-I/8264)
Family Relations (19259-36/8225)
Introduction to Early Childhood Education (19153-36/8234)
Introduction to Family and Human Services (19001-36/8238)

Speakers

Amy Herrmann

School Social Worker, Hanover County Public Schools

"Integrating Social Work Perspectives into Family and Consumer Sciences Education"

Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
Cape Henry C

Educational Session

global Y

1:15pm EDT

AAFCS Pre-PAC Broad Field FCS Credentialing Exam - Preregistration Required

Tuesday July 21, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT

Cape Henry C

Feedback Survey

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

AAFCS Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) credentials are comprehensive assessments of 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 Broad Field FCS credential is a Virginia Board of Education-approved industry recognized credential for teachers with an FCS endorsement who need to meet the industry credentialing licensure requirement.

Related Career Clusters:

Tuesday July 21, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
Cape Henry C

Credentialing Session, Credentialing Block

2:45pm EDT

Learning Just Got Sweeter – Print Graphics onto Cookies with Eddie®, the Edible Ink Printer

Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm EDT

Cape Henry C

For the past eight years, Kelli Gedart has been a passionate advocate for bringing innovative technology into the classroom. In this engaging session, she introduces Family and Consumer Sciences educators to the creative possibilities of the Eddie® Edible Ink Printer and Freddie® the Robotic Frosting Machine.
Kelli is passionate about helping teachers integrate hands-on technology into their programs by blending creativity, design, and culinary arts to engage students in exciting and meaningful ways. Participants will discover innovative strategies for incorporating emerging technologies that inspire student creativity, enhance learning experiences, and bring real-world applications into the FCS classroom.

Related Courses
Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow I (19151-I/9062)
Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow II (19151-II/9072)
Child Development and Parenting (19255-36/8232)
Early Childhood, Education, and Services I (19153-I/8285)
Early Childhood, Education, and Services II (19153-II/8286)
Family and Consumer Sciences Exploratory I (19903-18/8208)
Family and Consumer Sciences Exploratory II (19904-18/8263)
Family and Consumer Sciences Exploratory III (19251-36/8245)

Speakers

Kelli Gedart

Inside Sales Representative, Primera Technology, Inc.

For the past eight years, Kelli Gedart has been a passionate advocate for bringing innovative technology into classrooms. At Primera Technology, Inc., she helps educators discover how the Food Production Tech Ed Program can enhance FCS and culinary curricula. This grant-eligible program... Read More →

Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm EDT
Cape Henry C

Educational Session

4:00pm EDT

In my FCS Era: Baby Steps to Big Learning - Using 35 Years of Infant Simulation to Share the Future of Teaching

Tuesday July 21, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT

Cape Henry C

Step into your FCS Era as we blend decades of infant-simulation wisdom with the innovative tools shaping today’s classrooms. This session offers teacher-tested tips, practical strategies, and real-world insights to help your RealCare Baby or Child Care Experience Program run smoothly, meaningfully, and with maximum impact.
Learn how to streamline logistics, confidently troubleshoot common challenges, and transform simulation data into powerful, future-ready learning experiences. By honoring what has worked for more than 35 years while elevating it with modern FCS practices, educators will discover fresh approaches to deepen students’ understanding of caregiving, responsibility, and essential life skills.
Perfect for both experienced infant simulator users and educators exploring how simulation programs can enhance and modernize their FCS classrooms.

Related Courses
Early Childhood, Education, and Services I (19153-I/8285)
Early Childhood, Education, and Services II (19153-II/8286)