September FCS Update

Division of Community Colleges & Workforce Preparation

Welcome Back to School

I trust your year has gotten off to a great start!  This is the first fall in over 25 years that I have not had the August "crunch" to get things ready-to-go for the start of a school year.  I remember well the work it took to be a high school/middle school FCS instructor in addition to getting classroms and labs ready to go along with all of the other "pieces" of our curriculum!  Thank you for all of your hard work to help Iowa students access quality FCS programs in our state!

This year, I'll be sending monthly updates about Iowa Family & Consumer Sciences education and career and technical education. I sent out a few updates last spring and will do my best to keep updates to one mailing that you can keep and go back to as needed.   And always, if you know of someone in your region who is not getting my messages that should be, please send me their email and I will get them added. My list currently has over 520 FCS educators (along with a handful of CTE consortium contacts and some community college instructors)! Please take a few moments to be informed about what's happening and as always, let me know what I can do to help you!

CTE Redesign

On Thursday, May 26, 2016, Gov. Branstad signed into law House File 2392, setting a new vision for students in Iowa to graduate (see more).  It is an exciting time to be a part of CTE in Iowa.  For more on how this impacts FCS instruction, see my IFCSE conference presentation here.  Rules are being written as I write this and a FAQ page will be out on the DE CTE page in the near future.  

Your Signature Line:

As you think about your program contributions as a part of CTE, a suggestion to help market our programs as a part of successful CTE programming would be to sign your emails with Career and Technical Educator as well as Family & Consumer Sciences as your specialty area. This helps unify our programming as part of Perkins funding and a prat of the significant content that we provide to all students across the state and nation.

Message and request from FCCLA:

Career and Technical Student Organiations are an important piece in developing a strong FCS progam. Sarah Dillinger, Iowa FCCLA Vice President of Membership and Development has a request for information about FCCLA involvement in FCS programs across the state.  Check her message here and complete the this survey to help her with her goal.  And to find out more about what Iowa FCCLA has to offer your students, check out their new website.

FCCLA  sarah Sarah Dillinger. Iowa FCCLA, Vice President Membership and Development

CTE National Presidential Scholars

The DE has created an online nomination process for the National Presidential Scholars nomination.  We are asking for your help in identifying students who would be strong candidates for one of the 5 CTE students nominated by Director Wise from Iowa.  Schools normally nominate students through ACT/SAT scores, but this does not always pull out the students who are CTE students.  

Please do one or more the following:  Nominate CTE students that qualify yourself or nominate CTE students that qualify as a CTE group from your school/district.  Use this link.  The deadline is October 14, 2016.  

Intermediary Work-Based Learning Network

To increase work-based learning opportunities for students, a statewide Itnermediary network was established across Iowa. Regional Intermediary contacts are located in each community college region and can help you connect with business and industry. These connections could be internships, job shadows, tours, speakers, etc.  Contact your regional representative here and find out how they can assist you in building connections between education and business/industry.

RESOURCES:

I have started collecting additional resources for you for grants and materials!  Check these out for your own professional development and for classroom dollars or curriculum materials.  AND send me your ideas as well for me to add!  See below for some other items to help you in your programming!

Smart Snacks and FCS

Smart Snacks in School Nutrition Standards are a Federal Requirement for all foods and beverage sold outside the National School Lunch Program and Breakfast Programs during the school day (defined as the time before school, during school, and 30 minutes after).  This includes fundraisers, school stores, vendng machins, a la carte, etc. Collaboration with school straff, school groups, and food service is key to successful compliance.  Want to learn more? Iowa Department of Educations' Bureau of Nutrition Health Services has created a resource, Smart Snacks Information for FCS Educators with answers to common quations.  For any additional questions or more information, please contact Carrie at carrie.scheidel@iowa.gov.

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Articulation Project

 TEACG

Here is a link to a recent webinar and materials regarding a model in Lincoln, NE between Lincoln Public Schools and the local Community College to provide eudation to high school sudents to build the ECE (Early Childhood Education) workforce.  This can be a stepping stone to your own agreements with your local community colleges for connecting to FCS national standards and FCCLA competitive events.  This is a great national connection that NASAFACS is looking to expand.  

Super Power Summit

The Super Power Summit is an event that empowers teams of middle school students to live an actie lifestyle and to choose healthy food options, all while being advocates for school wellness. Middle schools are invited to send a team for an interactive day full of fun activities, empowering presentations, and networking.

There is no cost to attend the summit, mileage, parking, and sub-pay reimbursement will be available. meals will be provided at no charge.  Teams that attend will have the opportunity to apply for a $500 sub-grant to support school wellness initiatives.  

To view the agenda visit the registration page.  Space is limited to 30 teams.  Deadline to register is Spetember 21st!   For any additional questions or more information, please contact Carrie at carrie.scheidel@iowa.gov or 515-281-4758.

American Sewing Guild Special Central Iowa Event

The Central Iowa Chapter of the American Sewing Guild has invited FCS educators to register for a special event.  See details here.

Fall Best Practices Conference

Iowa ACTE and the Department of Education have worked to prepare an inspiring one-day state conference for you! The Iowa Association for Career and Technical Education Conference is Thursday, September 29th at the FFA Enrichment Center on the DMACC Campus in Ankeny. The Best Practices theme will showcase outstanding CTE educators/classrooms from across the state. Kate Kreamer from AdvanceCTE will give the Keynote address and Steve DeWitt from ACTE will give an update on CTE Legislation. There will also be many exhibitors. Perkins-applicable registration is $100 which includes a catered hot lunch with morning and afternoon snacks. We hope the one-day format will work well into your schedule! Spread the word! Get several CTE teachers from your school to register and attend! Register here. Attending this conference will hopefully make your job easier! Plan to attend to improve your professional knowledge, competence, skill and effectiveness!

Professional Associations

IACTE    ACTE's (Association for Career and Technical Education) mission is to promote and support quality career and technical education for everyone through leadership, advocacy, communication, professional development and partnership. I serve as the ACTE Region III Policy Committee representative for the state of Iowa and the Department's laision to Iowa ACTE.  Please stay informed as this has great impact on the work that you do. Membership in Iowa Family & Consumer Sciences Educators (IFCSE) includes the state membership to Iowa ACTE, and we are fortunate that the Executive Director is a former FCS educator and FCCLA advisor. If you have not been to conference or have missed joining, please see their websites (ACTE,  IFCSE) for information on becoming a member. With CTE gaining ground as strong academic base for any student, this group is the advocate and your tie to information about policies on federal CTE funding Perkins and other legislative issues that impact our programs at the state and national level.  

AAFCS AAFCS (American Association for Family and Consumer Sciences) is your connection to FCS professionals across content specializations. Members provide researyc-based guidance and practical knowledge about the things of everyday life so that consumers and students can make sound decisions and enjoy a healthy, productive, and more fulfillling life.  Members also function as specialty career area researchers and contacts.  Information for the Iowa affilitate can be found at this link. 

Important dates for your calendar:

Lisa G. Stange, NBCT, MA Ed
Career and Technical Education Program Consultant
Family and Consumer Sciences
Bureau of Career and Technical Education
Division of Community College & Workforce Preparation
Iowa Department of Education
Grimes State Office Building
400 East 14th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
515-242-5032 (O)
515-414-0864 (C)
lisa.stange@iowa.gov
Twitter: LGStange
www.educateiowa.gov 		Family & Consumer Sciences logo