Alexandria, Va. – During the 2020 Virtual Conference on June 26th, the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) recognized Kayla Correll, CFCS, a Family & Consumer Sciences Teacher at Greendale High School in Greendale, Wisconsin, as the AAFCS 2020 National Teacher of the Year.
Goodheart-Willcox Publisher has been an AAFCS partner as an exhibitor at AAFCS events for 40 years, and a proud sponsor of the AAFCS Teacher of the Year award since 2008. The award recognizes exemplary teachers who utilize cutting-edge methods, techniques, and activities to provide stimulus and visibility to family and consumer sciences (FCS) in elementary and secondary education.
Correll was honored at the first virtual AAFCS conference in a virtual 2020 Teacher of the Year (TOY) Recognition event with the AAFCS staff and Goodheart-Willcox Publisher sponsor in front of conference member and non-member participants. As the current pandemic impacts the health and safety among us, the Annual Conference was transformed from an in-person conference into a 2-day conference via Zoom, which allowed many new attendees from all over the world to register and participate.
Correll’s FCS program, " Culinary Career Pathway program," was created in 2011 to meet the needs of students in Greendale, Wisconsin by opening doors that set them up for post-secondary success. Students interested in the hospitality industry now have the opportunity to take a series of 5 pathway courses, earn 2 nationally-recognized certifications, earn 12 credits at the local technical college, participate in youth apprenticeships and school-based enterprises, and earn college scholarships through participation in state and national culinary competitions.
With the course restructuring in 2017, the program now includes five pathway courses, two industry-recognized certification exams, a transcripted credit agreement with the local technical college, multiple service-learning opportunities throughout the community, multiple field trips to businesses in the hospitality industry, and professional chef mentors for the students in the pathway. Her efforts have also earned the student culinary team two back-to-back state championships.
About the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) Based in the Washington, D.C., area, AAFCS was founded in 1909 as the American Home Economics Association and is the only association for family and consumer sciences students and professionals across multiple practice settings and content areas. For 111 years, AAFCS has focused its mission on providing leadership and support for professionals whose work assists individuals, families, and communities in making more informed decisions about their well-being, relationships, and resources to achieve optimal quality of life. Through research, experiential education, and technology, our members help people develop the essential knowledge and skills to lead better lives, be work and career ready, build strong families, and make meaningful contributions to our communities.
About Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Family and consumer sciences or FCS is the field of study focused on the science and the art of living and working well in our complex world. The field represents many areas, including human development, personal and family finance, housing and interior design, food science, nutrition, and wellness, textiles and apparel, and consumer issues.