Laura Spiegelhalter
DuPont Manual
High School
Louisville, KY

Miranda Goodlett
Mercer County
High School
Harrodsburg, KY

Billie Kelly
Clark Moore
Middle School
Richmond, KY

Emily Lane
Madison Southern
High School
Berea, KY

Shannon Foster
Wayne County
High School
Monticello, KY

Dr. Jackie Jensen : Why did you decide to become a family and consumer sciences teacher?

Laura Spiegelhalter : I wanted to be involved with high school students in teaching about life skills and lessons. I started out in social work. As a school social worker, I realized the impact that a teacher has on students. Teachers get to see students every day, and an FCS teacher gets to teach about the things that will most affect students in the near future.

Miranda Goodlett: I decided I wanted to become a FACS teacher in 7th grade.  I had my first class and instantly fell in love.  The more classes in high school I took the more passionate I become about teaching.  I truly love teaching.  I feel blessed to come to work each day and touch the lives of my students.

Billie Kelly : I knew I wanted to be a teacher when I was deciding on a major. I wanted to teach something I would enjoy. I thought about my personal interests and talents, and FCS was a perfect fit.

Emily Lane : I didn’t decide to become a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher until college.  I was in every Family and Consumer Science class during high school, and the things we learned about in class became my hobbies- I love to quilt and make clothes, cook, and all the other subjects I learned about.   During college, I decided to take some exploratory education courses, and during these I decided I wanted to teach.  I am so glad I did, because now I get to go to work and participate in things I love!

Shannon Foster : When I first started attending EKU, I majored in psychology because I have always enjoyed working with people. As I started learning more about different majors, I felt that family and consumer sciences education was a better choice for me. I could work with others while teaching them vital life skills.  

Dr. Jackie Jensen : What do you like best about your middle/high school students?

Laura Spiegelhalter : I teach high school students. The thing I like the best is watching them become young adults. They have to face a lot of challenges in today's society. I enjoy hearing their views on life.

Miranda Goodlett : I love teaching high school.  I think that each of us has a purpose in life.  I believe with my whole heart that teaching Family and Consumer Science in high school is mine.  I love seeing students grow throughout their 3 years in high school and seeing them transform to the adults that they will soon become.

Billie Kelly : Students make me feel so young and energetic. I feed off of their energy. They love my subject and I have so much fun teaching them the things they can really use in life.

Emily Lane : I teach high school, and my students are so much more enjoyable than I thought they would be.  Every time someone asks what I do for a living, I always hear, “I can’t believe you teach high school.  How do you put up with them?”  You hear so many negative comments about high-schoolers, and I really don’t understand why.  My students have always been helpful, sweet and go above and beyond what I ask them to do.  I also love their creativity when working on real-life projects.  They surprise me every single time they work on an assignment with their intelligence and ideas.

Shannon Foster : I enjoy teaching in a high school setting. FCS is an excellent choice for many of the students who prefer hands on learning. I also love collaborating with the preschool and allowing my students to interact with the children as they prepare for future careers. 

Dr. Jackie Jensen : Why are the courses you teach important for students' lives?

Laura Spiegelhalter : I teach multiple courses including Foods, Money Skills, Fashion and Interiors I, Fashion and Interiors II, and Relationships and Parenting. All of these courses have real life curriculum. The students never ask, "Why do I need to know this?" or "When will I ever use this?" It is so clear that everything we teach will help them now and in the future, especially with the relationships and parenting class. Students’ beliefs about relationships and sex are so far off. It is nice to see them learn that it is okay to respect themselves. 

Miranda Goodlett : I teach classes that will help students be prepared for everyday life.  I teach students to care for themselves and their families.  I teach them how to balance a fulltime career and a family. The classes I teach  help students take their interests from the classroom into careers for the future.

Billie Kelly : I tell my students that they can use everything we learn. They will not have to wait until later in life to apply the material. We learn about relationships, communication, nutrition, and money skills. These topics are so relevant in the day-to-day life of teens.

Emily Lane : The courses I teach are so important to students because they will use the content everyday in their life.  I have taught Foods, and my students will someday cook meals for their families.  I teach Fashion and Interior Design; my students will soon design their dorm rooms or wherever they choose to live, and care for their clothing.  I teach Money Skills; my students will need to become productive citizens that are not a drain on society.  I teach Parenting; all of my students, even if they do not become parents, will be caregivers in some aspect.  Family and Consumer Sciences also prepare students for so many career options: chef, restaurant manager, child care director, preschool teacher, interior designer, and many more.   The Family and Consumer Sciences curriculum is the most applicable content taught in schools today.

Shannon Foster : They get to learn real skills and see a finished, desired outcome. 

Dr. Jackie Jensen : What did you like about attending Eastern Kentucky University?

Laura Spiegelhalter: Everything! I loved the campus, the staff, the town, but my professors made it home. The instructors worked with me in every way possible to make sure I got the best education that was tailored to my specific needs. EKU made sure that we would be ready to teach in the real world before we graduated from the program.

Miranda Goodlett : I really enjoyed the atmosphere of EKU’s campus.  I loved getting to know the staff in the Burrier Building and feeling like I belonged there.  In addition, being on Eastern Kentucky’s campus made me feel like I was at home and I felt that I became part of an even larger family.

Billie Kelly : It is an awesome university with caring, committed teachers. The campus is beautiful and easy to navigate. The FCS department was like a family to me while at EKU.

Emily Lane : I liked Eastern Kentucky University mainly because of my major classes.  The professors were intelligent and helpful, and I learned so much, especially in Susan Kipp’s classes.  They truly prepared me for my career. 

Shannon Foster : I liked Eastern for a variety of reasons. I enjoyed the FCS courses a great deal, especially child development classes. Further, I started dating my husband who was also an EKU student. 

Dr. Jackie Jensen : What advice do you have for others who are interested in becoming an FCS teacher?

Laura Spiegelhalter : Do it. If you are thinking about becoming an FCS teacher, just do it. Many schools are currently looking for FCS teachers, and there are not enough to go around. With the wide variety of FCS classes to choose from, you will have fun and enjoy teaching. I feel support from others all over the state.

Miranda Goodlett : I would encourage all future Family and Consumer Sciences teachers to love what you do.  Be passionate about what you teach and the students you are teaching.  Love your students and make them feel special to be in your class.  

Billie Kelly : It is a wonderful, fulfilling career and one of the best decisions I ever made for myself! I have been teaching 19 years and it feels like I just started. I love my profession and am so proud of my degree and experiences at EKU!

Emily Lane : Join FCCLA if you are in high school.  Talk with other teachers in the field.  Observe Family and Consumer Sciences classrooms.  It is a great career; very challenging but a lot of fun!

Shannon Foster : My advice would be to actually observe and talk with FCS teachers in different settings to see if the career is for you. I was lucky because my first resource teacher was excellent! I model a lot of my teaching after her. You have to be organized and a "go-getter" in order to achieve all that’s expected in the teaching profession.

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