Member Spotlight
This month’s member spotlight is Jen Schmidt. Jen is in her fifth year teaching Family and Consumer Sciences at Maple Middle School in Northbrook. Previously she taught as a Learning Specialist for grades 1-8. Her course offerings this year include 6th grade FCS, Garden to Table, Foods 1, Foods 2, Intro to Design and Child Development. Jen is also the Board Games & More sponsor at Maple and has been on her school’s Parent Teacher Advisory Committee for the past four years. She has served on the ILAFCS Board for several years as a Board Member at Large. As the only FCS teacher in her school district, Jen enjoys being part of the ILAFCS board because it helps her stay connected and current with others in the Family and Consumer Sciences field.
Outside of work Jen likes to spend time with friends and family, including her husband, two kids, and their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Izzy. Her free time often revolves around activities that they can enjoy together such as traveling, golf, and trying new restaurants.
Jen feels incredibly fortunate to have made the switch to FCS during her teaching career and is thrilled to be a part of an organization that provides such amazing support to FCS educators!
NEW Website for ILAFCS
Check out our new ILAFCS website here. Our goal is to update this Google site easily so we can share up-to-date information with our membership. We will be adding details about our spring conference, other professional development opportunities, and more. You can also find archived ILAFCS newsletters here.
AAFCS Membership Survey
Please take this AAFCS Membership Survey by September 16. The value that AAFCS membership brings to you is important. They kindly ask for your feedback on how AAFCS is meeting your needs and how they can improve in the future to continue offering valuable resources and support.
AAFCS Leadership Academy Applications
Interested in strengthening your leadership skills? The AAFCS Community on Building Leadership Capacity is presenting the AAFCS Leadership Academy for new professionals who wish to design their own leadership plan in order to secure their preferred future as leaders in AAFCS. (Preference given to those with BS degree or greater with 7 years or less of membership in AAFCS). The 2025 Leadership Academy will begin with virtual sessions starting in March 2025 and then hold in-person sessions prior to and during the 2025 Annual Conference. Activities of the Academy will continue throughout the following year with conference/Zoom calls, additional interactive learnings, networking with fellow participants to complete two selected projects which benefit affiliates and and interacting with mentors. Find out more here or scan the QR code.
