Happy New Year FCS Superheroes!
My name is Toshieba Ragland, and I am thrilled to be serving as your VATFACS President for the 2023-2024 year. I hope everyone has taken time during this holiday winter break to relax, regroup, and reload for the new year. Even with your extraordinary powers, abilities, and talents, superheroes deserve a break too!
You are halfway through the school year, and you are thinking of more ways to excel in and outside the classroom. Equip yourself with what you need by attending the PDI 2024.
Thank you to everyone who attended our 2023 PDI in Harrisonburg, VA! We had an unBEElievable institute, and some awesome sessions as well. If you were unable to attend this past year, we
are hoping you will mark your calendars for the 2024 PDI, July 20- 24. Our heroic, I’m a FCS Educator; What’s your Superpower? is being held at the Hotel Madison & Shenandoah Conference Center, in
Harrisonburg, VA!! We are courageously excited for this institute. The FCS heroes on the board are working very diligently to help make this institute one you will never forget! Please remember, there is power in numbers! Your determination, compassion, integrity, resilience, and a strong sense of duty to the CTE profession doesn’t go unnoticed. As one of Virginia’s FCS Superheroes, you have a voice to make real change. It is of vital importance to join or renew your VATFACS membership and sign up to be a driving force by becoming a part of our superhero committees. There are many opportunities to become an FCS superhero! Visit our web page to check out all the ways you can serve on the VATFACS Champion Board of Directors. Thank you for your commitment, sacrifice, and selflessness as you perform all duties on a day-to-day basis.
“You are stronger than you believe. You have greater powers than you know.”
—Antiope to Diana, Wonder Woman movie
Thank you and I look forward to seeing you soaring round Harrisonburg in July 2024!
Your Wonder Woman President signing off!
Sarah Ummen, Poe Middle School, Fairfax County Public Schools
What do you teach this current 23-24 school year?
Middle School (6-8) FCS
If you acquired a "SUPERPOWER", what would it be and why?
If I could have any superpower it would be selective mind reading in English. I would want to be able to read anybody's mind and understand what they want/ need. I think this would help so much with understanding everyone no matter their native language, difficulty speaking, or other impairment.
Tell us something fascinating about your educational teaching journey.
Teaching has given me the confidence to be myself and be just a little bit weird.
Amy Wells, Irving Middle School, Fairfax County Public Schools
What do you teach this current 23-24 school year?
FACS - 8th grade
If you acquired a "SUPERPOWER", what would it be and why?
If I could choose a super power, it would be the ability to clone myself, especially during the sewing unit! Each student has their own level of ability, and they need individual guidance when learning to sew, so the ability to be in multiple places at once would be the perfect superpower!
Tell us something fascinating about your educational teaching journey.
I always knew I would be a teacher, but I never thought I would teach FACS. I'm so glad "found" FACS - it is the perfect subject for me because of my love of helping young people gain skills for life.
Alyese Justis, Arcadia High School, Accomack County Public Schools
What do you teach this current 23-24 school year?
Nutrition and Wellness, Culinary Arts I
If you acquired a "SUPERPOWER", what would it be and why?
The ability to see into the future. To have knowledge of what’s to come and try to prepare solutions for any challenges that arise.
Tell us something fascinating about your educational teaching journey.
My teaching journey seemed to have been meant to be as I am teaching in the same high school and the same FACS classroom I was taught in! It was so nostalgic to walk in my first day of work and to see that the former teacher (who taught me) still has my senior portrait displayed. She felt she passed the torch down to me.
2023 ACTE Region II Awards of Excellence
