Friday, May 4, 2018

NC Career and Technical Education Teacher Wins National Award

<p>A middle school teacher in Winston-Salem/Forsyth schools has won national recognition from the American Association of Family &amp; Consumer Sciences as the organization&rsquo;s national teacher of the year.</p>
Raleigh, NC
May 4, 2018

A middle school teacher in Winston-Salem/Forsyth schools has won national recognition from the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences as the organization’s national teacher of the year.

Winning the honor is Jenny Watson, a family and consumer sciences teacher at Southeast Middle School in Kernersville. The AAFCS Teacher of the Year award recognizes exemplary teachers who use cutting-edge methods, techniques, and activities to promote family and consumer sciences in elementary and secondary education. Watson will be honored June 25 at the AAFCS 109th Annual Conference & Expo in Atlanta, Ga.

Watson was the Family and Consumer Sciences teacher of the year for North Carolina this past year, and a member of the state board of directors nominated her for the national honor. 

“For me, it’s almost overwhelming,” she said. “It’s very humbling, and it’s very exciting that I was chosen out of all the states.” 

Watson’s award-winning family and consumer sciences program, "COUNTing on Kindness," focuses on improving student’s communication, relationship, problem-solving, and self-improvement skills throughout the lessons and service learning projects. 

Trey Michael, director of Career and Technical Education for the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, said Watson exemplifies the best of CTE teaching in the state’s schools.

“She’s inspiring to her students and helps them develop skills that will serve them well as they pursue their own careers,” Michael said.

Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) education helps students gain career preparedness as they acquire readiness to participate in a rapidly changing workforce and global economy. It comprises eight core areas:

  • Consumer Education and Resource Management
  • Early Childhood Education and Services
  • Family and Interpersonal Relationships
  • Food Production and Services
  • Foods, Nutrition and Wellness
  • Housing, Interiors and Design
  • Parenting Education and Human Development
  • Textiles, Apparel and Fashion

FACS Education currently offers one middle school course and 17 high school courses that comprise five career pathways within five national career clusters.

About the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction:
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction provides leadership to 115 local public school districts and 160 charter schools serving over 1.5 million students in kindergarten through high school graduation. The agency is responsible for all aspects of the state's public school system and works under the direction of the North Carolina State Board of Education.

 

 

Related Topics: