
The
Virginia
Association
for
Teachers
of
Family
and
Consumer
Sciences
(VATFACS)
has
selected
Karis
Hicks,
family
and
consumer
sciences
(FACS)
teacher
at
Gar-Field
High
School,
as
its
Outstanding
New
Teacher
of
the
Year
for
2021.
In
2018,
after
earning
a
bachelor's
degree
in
family
and
consumer
sciences
and
teacher
licensure
from
Liberty
University,
with
a
minor
in
family
and
child
development,
Hicks
joined
the
educational
team
at
Gar-Field
High.
She
also
serves
as
the
school's
lead
culturally
aware
and
responsive
educator,
in
which
she
provides
cultural
awareness
and
anti-racism
training
to
staff.
Hicks
shared
that
one
of
her
favorite
educational
strategies
to
use
is
that
of
a
"class
family
meal."
"During
our
family
module
in
individual
development,
we
arrange
the
classroom
tables
in
one
big
table
style,
make
something
simple
like
pancakes
and
eggs,
then
as
a
class
we
share
a
meal
together.
I
feel
that
this
has
been
successful
in
student
learning
because
it
presented
a
tangible
experience
of
connection
as
a
class
'family'
to
show
how
families
can
connect
over
a
meal
at
home."
As
the
FACS
nutrition,
wellness,
and
individual
development
educator
for
grades
9-12
at
Gar-Field,
Hicks
plans
engaging
and
standards-focused
lessons
and
activities
that
she
offers
in
the
five
high
school
elective
classes
she
instructs
each
year
to
approximately
150
students.
"Ms.
Hicks
is
an
outstanding
educator
who
is
well-deserving
of
this
award,"
said
Matthew
Mathison,
principal
of
Gar-Field.
"She
is
an
exemplar
for
building
relationships
with
students
and
using
her
passion
for
family
and
consumer
science
to
engage
students.
Ms.
Hicks
makes
an
impact
beyond
her
classroom
by
inspiring
all
those
she
interacts
with.
Her
energy
and
positivity
promote
a
caring
school
climate
and
are
felt
throughout
the
Gar-Field
High
School
community.
Congratulations,
Ms.
Hicks!
Your
Gar-Field
family
is
very
proud
of
you!"