By Emily Banks Wooten
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‘Be Connected’ is the theme for this year’s Texas Family Career Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) and several students reported on the innovative program for the Rotary Club of Livingston recently.
Livingston ISD’s CTE (Career & Technological Education) Coordinator Blake Thornton provided the program and brought Teacher/Advisor Laura Gokey and three FCCLA students: Afnan Rehman, who serves as the Region IV vice president of records; Sofia Fitzgerald, who serves as the Region IV president; and Emma Bradley, who serves as the state vice president of projects.
“Being the CTE Coordinator is kind of like being a grandparent. I get to do all the fun stuff and then send them back home to mom and dad,” Thornton said, as he introduced the three students who have been active in FCCLA all four years of high school.
“The ‘Be Connected’ theme emphasizes the importance of interpersonal connections between members. We encourage members to ‘Be Connected’ to each other to aide in developing social and communication skills and to improve the FCCLA experience as a whole for individual members and those around them. Students are encouraged to collaborate on competitive projects, create lasting friendships, and make connections with businesses at conferences that will aid them in future endeavors,” Bradley said.
“We all serve on our local leadership team. As we fulfill our officer duties, we plan conferences and lead and help our members grow into future leaders through FCCLA, which is the ultimate leadership experience and is available to students enrolled in family and consumer science classes all around the country,” Bradley said.
Fitzgerald explained a little about family and consumer sciences, or FCS, classes.
“Family and consumer sciences, or FCS, classes bridge the gap between traditional education and practical skills needed in today’s world through work-based learning and by providing real-world experience in curriculum. In FCS classes, students learn interpersonal and practical skills that will aid them in any future career. Here at Livingston High School, we offer culinary arts and education plus training tracks that teach students communication skills, foster collaboration, model professional conduct, and so much more. FCCLA’s basis in FCS education means that students involved in FCCLA are learning these skills and values in the classroom and during extracurricular hours,” Fitzgerald said.
Rehman and Fitzgerald touched on some of the benefits of participation in FCCLA.
“FCCLA creates a safe environment for students which promotes learning and engagement. Since our students have to pass to participate in events and conferences, members are more motivated to put effort into schoolwork and their education. We allow students to take the lead in their projects and their lives,” Rehman said.
“FCCLA benefits the school and its students by providing scholarships and promoting future careers in FCS pathways including education and training, human services, hospitality and tourism, and visual arts and design, as well as teaching life skills,” Fitzgerald said.
“We also provide students with opportunities such as attending conferences, like the Texas FCCLA Regional Leadership Conference, the Texas FCCLA State Leadership Conference, and the National Leadership Conference where students can compete, learn new skills in workshops, and connect with other members,” Rehman said.
“Our students take these opportunities and use them to do great things. In the past competing season, we had 30 teams compete at the Region IV conference (in Galveston). We had five first place teams, five second place teams, one third place team, six fourth place teams, and one fifth place team. Of these, 19 teams went on to compete at state (in Dallas), with one first place team, one second place team, and one fourth place team. At state, the top two teams in most events, excluding only Texas proficiency events, advance to nationals. We also had a student win first place in the talent show. We had the privilege of taking five students to the national conference in Seattle, Wash. Our national competitors were Brooke Harbeck, Donnie Gokey, and the team of Cole Gann and Asia Terry. Donnie placed 10th with a gold medal, Brooke placed 14th with a silver medal, and Asia and Cole placed seventh with a silver medal,” Fitzgerald said.
Bradley spoke about the FCCLA advisors.
“Not only are our members amazing, but our advisors are too. Our advisors are Chef Cayla Young, Mrs. Laura Gokey and our newest advisor, Chef Regan Riddle. Chef Young serves on the Texas FCCLA Visionary Committee and is one of the four total members of the Texas FCCLA Advisor Training Team. Mrs. Laura Gokey is an Emerging Leader for the Educators Rising Organization, who has a research cohort that is making an effort to alleviate the teacher shortage in high schools through teacher preparation. Chef Riddle is embracing her new role as an educator here with open arms and is already learning all there is to know about FCCLA and encouraging members to compete,” Bradley said.
“This year, our national leadership conference is in Orlando, Fla. This is a very exciting event that we would like to see more members attend. We have had competitors advance to national for three years in a row now, with a total of five teams. We have also had the privilege of being able to bring some of our officers with us. We would like to see our number of national competitors continue to increase this year,” Rehman said.
“Thank you all for your support. We cannot emphasize enough how grateful we are for all the things that you do for us. We look forward to another record-breaking year with our competitors and the induction of new region and state officers. Thank you for taking the time out of your day and allowing us to come talk to you about the exciting year ahead for FCCLA,” Bradley said in closing.
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