Midwest Network

The Midwest Regional Network has held several virtual professional development sessions for FCS educators. 

The resources for those sessions are provided below.  

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Session 1: 

Building a Strong Network:  14 Years of Summer Support for Family & Consumer Sciences Teachers

Presented by:  Delaine Stendahl and Amy Stewart

This presentation highlights the 14-year history, purpose, and measurable impact of an annual summer workshop that brings together Family & Consumer Sciences teachers from across the United States, and offers practical strategies for educators—especially those struggling in their programs—to support colleagues, create peer‐mentoring relationships, and build sustainable professional networks that improve retention, classroom outcomes, and program viability; attendees will leave with concrete next steps for outreach, peer observation, shared resources, and low‐cost virtual and in‐person collaboration models can implement immediately to strengthen local and national FCS communities.

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Session 2: 

Teach Tomorrow:  OER Lessons Today

Presented by:  Dorann Avey

Discover how Open Educational Resources (OER) can strengthen your classroom instruction without increasing your workload or budget. In this session, you’ll learn what OER is, where to locate high-quality resources, and the types of
ready-to-use lessons available across grade levels and subjects. We’ll also explore how OER materials align to standards, how you can legally adapt them to fit your students’ needs, and the practical benefits—flexibility, relevance, and cost savings—that make OER a powerful addition to everyday teaching.his presentation highlights the 14-year history, purpose, and measurable impact of an annual summer workshop that brings together Family & Consumer Sciences teachers from across the United States, and offers practical strategies for educators—especially those struggling in their programs—to support colleagues, create peer‐mentoring relationships, and build sustainable professional networks that improve retention, classroom outcomes, and program viability; attendees will leave with concrete next steps for outreach, peer observation, shared resources, and low‐cost virtual and in‐person collaboration models can implement immediately to strengthen local and national FCS communities.