💡 President's Message 💡
Hello FCS INNOVATORS!!!!!
I am Catrina Cheek, your VATFACS President, and I am so excited to Invite each and everyone to our 2025 VATFACS PDI which is being held at the Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront from July 20-23, 2025. This will be a great opportunity to “Empower Your Innovation” as we are Revolutionary, Bold, and Trailblazing. You will gain new strategies and new friends along with forging ideas to incorporate into a new school year. This year the board has been working nonstop to ensure your experience at the upcoming PDI should not disappoint you. We are working on creating avenues of resources for each content area taught in FCS that will increase student engagement and community involvement.
Don’t forget to RENEW your MEMBERSHIP. Now is the perfect time to continue investigating your and your students' futures. As We grow as an organization, we will continue to bring more INNOVATIVE techniques and strategies that will help increase academic awareness and success. Also, I shall not forget our SCHOLARSHIP opportunities that are geared to “EMPOWER” future or current FCS educators. Both “MEMBERSHIP” and “SCHOLARSHIP” links are available on our website.
The 2024-25 Strategic Plan outlines to transform community partnerships that embody economic evolution by identifying trailblazing global occupations that support Family Consumer Science curricula. The focuses are to grow professionally with the high demand for developing highly qualified students to enter the workforce, help identify teachers with cross-content similarities for a more inclusive student, and to promote leadership strategies within the organization to help support all FCS educators.
Remember, It Is You Who Is Needed. If you are interested in being a mentor, please click on the link below.
FCS CTE Mentor Form”
https://forms.gle/Y1EzsXSHtP4ZdRpRA
FCS Mentee Form:
https://forms.gle/c121TUvxx2o6wso26
With A Thankful Heart,
Catrina Cheek
2024-2025 VATFACS, Inc. President
“The first step in teaching students to innovate is making sure that educators have opportunities to be innovators themselves.” - Suzie Boss, Bringing Innovation to School: Empowering Students to Thrive in a Changing World
Dr. Jorge Valenzuela
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 in emphasizing instructional innovation through action research and is a trusted deliverer of reputable professional training in collaborative team building, core instruction, project-based learning, STEM pathways, entrepreneurship, and life skills integration across the curriculum. He partners with corporate executives and superintendents and provides professional development on behalf of ASCD, Corwin, Premiere Speakers Bureau, and Solution Tree. He has authored several books and is the Lifelong Learning Defined podcast host.
Dr. Dwayne Whitehead
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 initiative that offers leadership resources to individuals, churches, and businesses. His academic studies include theology, business, and theatre performance. He holds an earned doctorate in education from St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Susan von Schaack, Vice President
Susan earned a Master of Education Degree from Marymount University, a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics from Montclair State, and an Associates Degree in Applied Science in Pre-NK Education. von Schaack taught Family and Consumer Sciences in Fairfax County Public Schools for over 29 years before retiring in 2019. Along with teaching, she was very involved in leading extracurricular clubs as well advising for FCCLA. She even led a state FCCLA officer to both state & national competitions. von Schaack is currently on the Board of Directors for the Alumni & Associates with the FCCLA, Vice President of the Virginia Associate for Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences, and commits time to assist with Virginia Educators Rising.
Tammy Cassell, Reporter
Tammy Cassell is a FCS teacher/FCCLA Adviser at Gate City High School with Scott County Schools. She lives in Rye Cove with her husband, Mike - a train engineer. She has a son John-Logan who works for the power company as an A-Lineman a daughter who is a domestic violence counselor and a court liason and her husband Jacob who is a mechanic for Tempur Mattress. The Cassells live on a working farm that houses horses, cattle, chickens, and dogs. She loves gardening and spending time with her pets. She is passionate about FCCLA and enjoys taking members to State and National Competitions. Cassell obtained her associate's degree in Home Economics Education from Hiwassee College, Madisonville TN, her Bachelor's degree from East Tennessee State University in Johnson City TN in Music and Home Economics Education, and her Master's in Educational Leadership (CTE concentration) from Western Governors University.
Erin Clampitt, Social Media Coordinator
2024 VDOE Creating Excellence Award Honorees Announced
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), Office of Career and Technical Education (CTE) is pleased to announce the 2024 Creating Excellence Award Honorees representing 16 exemplary CTE programs and partnerships who were honored during the awards luncheon hosted in conjunction with the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) in June 2024.
Congratulations to Chesterfield County's Early Childhood program at the Career and Technical Education Center at Courthouse. The outstanding FCS Educator there is LaToya Harvey-Harrington.
Summaries of these outstanding programs and partnerships can be viewed in the 2024 Creating Excellence Awards program. If you have questions about the Creating Excellence Awards program, please contact the Office of Career and Technical Education, at cte@doe.virginia.gov or by telephone at (804) 750-8129.
Did you know that VATFACS, Inc. is the sole provider of FCS professional development for FCS teachers in Virginia? In order for this to continue to happen, we need you!
Join in on the fun and be part of our committees? There are various ways to get involved with the 2024-2025 VATFACS Conference planning, constitution and bylaws revisions, mentoring new and career switcher teachers, and much more! Click on the QR code below to complete and interest form.
Thank you!
Did you know your VATFACS membership also includes membership to Virginia ACTE (VA ACTE)?
What is that?
VA ACTE is the organization that advocates, supports and serves all CTE programs in Virginia. They help to influence public policy related to CTE programs, put on professional development, give awards and grants and support all program areas.
Save the Date for the 2025 Professional Development & Leadership Seminar - January 8-10, 2025, at the Richmond Marriott Downtown! Registration is now open.
