Avil Snow, Food Science teacher at Heber Springs High School, and Mrs. Alice Mullis, a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher from Georgia, attended the 99th Annual Conference and Expo of the American Association of Family and Consumer Science (AAFCS), which was held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin June 19-21.

This year's theme was "Evolving Technology: Impact on Individuals, Families, and Communities". Over 900 Family and Consumer Sciences professionals from across the United States attended this year's national conference that kicked off AAFCS's Centennial Celebration. Next year the 100th anniversary will be held in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Ms. Snow and Mrs. Mullis were invited to attend the conference by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, and the National Science Teachers Association to participate in their Food Safety and Food Science Exhibit.

"Science and Our Food Supply" is a curriculum that was developed by the FDA and NSTA for teachers to use in middle and high school classrooms to teach students about food science and food safety. During the Expo Ms. Snow and Mrs. Mullis worked with FDA/USDA representatives Mrs. Louise Dickerson and Ms. Brandy Maes handing out classroom curriculum and reference guides, videos, brochures, classroom posters, student games, DVDs, and numerous other teacher resources. Ms. Snow and Mrs. Mullis presented mini sessions to teachers on how to use the materials they received.

Since attending the "FDA/NSTA Professional Development Program in Food Science" held in Washington, D.C. and Salt Lake City, UT in 2006, Ms Snow has presented hands-on food safety labs and food science teaching materials to over 150 Family and Consumer Sciences teachers in Arkansas.

A select group of 40 teachers from middle schools and high schools are chosen each year to attend this workshop where they are taught how to use the curriculum, participate in actual food science labs at the University of Maryland, and participate in field trips to the USDA Farm and FDA Headquarters.


The Sun-Times Bi-Weekly :: 107 N. 4th, Heber Springs, AR 72543

http://www.thesuntimes.com/articles/2008/08/06/school_news/school01.txt