|
The ultimate professional development conference for educators — exploring Culinary, Architecture, Tourism & Hospitality in the first half, and Fashion, Retail, Textiles & Interior Design in the second. *Agenda subject to change. Wear comfortable clothing — lots of walking, presentations, and site visits. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Participating Teachers |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
F = Full Conference (4 Days: Tuesday, June 9th — Friday, June 12th) Total Culinary (Days 1–2): 20 • Total Fashion (Days 3–4): 22 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Before You GoHotel • Attire • Photography • Travel |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Stay connected with fellow attendees Join the WhatsApp group exclusively for attendees for real-time updates, announcements, and conversations. 
|
A four-day program took 28 educators from 13 states inside landmark New York experiences — from the José Andrés Group at The Ritz-Carlton to Calvin Klein, Mood Fabrics, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
NEW YORK, NY — June 15, 2026 — WindowsWear hosted its FCS National 2026 Teacher Professional Development Conference from June 9 to 12, a four-day immersion connecting Family and Consumer Sciences educators with the people, places, and institutions that define New York City’s culinary, architecture, tourism, hospitality, fashion, retail, textiles, and interior design industries. The program paired morning presentations and standards-aligned professional development with afternoons of site visits, tastings, and behind-the-scenes access across Manhattan.
“Our goal was to put educators directly inside the industries they teach — in the kitchens, showrooms, and design studios where this work actually happens,” said Jon Harari, CEO and Co-Founder of WindowsWear. “What they experienced this week is what they’ll carry back into their classrooms.”
Dining with the José Andrés Group at The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad
The conference opened in spectacular fashion at The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad, where attendees were hosted by the José Andrés Group for a tour and lunch spanning The Bazaar, Bazaar Meat, Nubeluz, and Zaytinya. Guided by Hallie Leitter, Senior Manager of Sales & Events, educators experienced how world-class hospitality and culinary storytelling come together under one roof.
Inside Calvin Klein’s Retail Design & Experience
[ IMAGE: Calvin Klein session at 1460 Broadway with Benoit Tordeur ]
At 1460 Broadway, Benoit Tordeur, SVP of Visual Experience & Production at Calvin Klein, walked attendees through the brand’s approach to retail design and the in-store customer experience — a rare look at how a global fashion house translates identity into physical space.
A Conversation with Couturier Bach Mai and Chuks Collins
[ IMAGE: Bach Mai, 2025–2026 Designer-in-Residence, with educators ]
Educators met Bach Mai, WindowsWear’s 2025–2026 Designer-in-Residence, alongside 2024–2025 Designer-in-Residence Chuks Collins, for an intimate look at the creative process behind contemporary couture — from first sketch to finished garment.
A Wrap-Up at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
[ IMAGE: The Metropolitan Museum of Art — conference finale ]
The program closed at one of the world’s great cultural institutions, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, giving educators time to explore its collections and reflect on a week connecting craft, design, and history.
An Architecture Cruise Along New York Harbor
[ IMAGE: NY Harbor architecture cruise departing Chelsea Piers ]
Departing from Pier 62 at Chelsea Piers, attendees cruised New York Harbor for a skyline-level study of the city’s most iconic architecture — pairing tourism and design education with unforgettable views.
A Fifth Avenue Retail Immersion
[ IMAGE: Fifth Avenue flagships — Saks, Bergdorf Goodman, Tiffany & Co., Swarovski ]
Led by Denise Foley, a leader in brand experience, visual merchandising, and retail excellence, educators walked Fifth Avenue between 49th and 57th Streets to study the flagships of Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Tiffany & Co., Swarovski, and more.
Textiles at Mood Fabrics
[ IMAGE: Mood Fabrics showroom, Garment District ]
In the heart of the Garment District, attendees explored Mood Fabrics, one of the most iconic fabric showrooms in the world, for a hands-on look at textiles, sourcing, and material selection.
Afternoon Tea Aboard Tea Around Town
[ IMAGE: Double-decker bus afternoon tea tour ]
A British-style afternoon tea served aboard a double-decker bus tour offered a uniquely New York take on tourism and hospitality, blending sightseeing with service and presentation.
The Italian Marketplace at Eataly
[ IMAGE: Eataly Italian marketplace & food hall ]
Educators explored Eataly, the celebrated Italian marketplace and food hall, examining how culinary retail and immersive food experiences are designed and merchandised.
Experiential Design at the Museum of Ice Cream
[ IMAGE: Museum of Ice Cream immersive installation ]
At the Museum of Ice Cream, attendees experienced immersive, experiential design through the lens of tourism and hospitality — a case study in how brands turn a space into an experience.
A Rooftop Networking Reception
[ IMAGE: Teacher networking reception, Vintage Green Rooftop ]
All attendees gathered at the Vintage Green Rooftop for an evening networking reception — a chance to connect, share classroom ideas, and celebrate the week together above the Manhattan skyline.
Academic Sessions & Professional Development
[ IMAGE: Classroom sessions at Berkeley College & LIM College ]
Grounding the experiences in pedagogy, the conference featured standards-aligned professional development with FCS Consultant Gayla Randel, a presentation on the fashion business by Professor Dyandra Brown of Berkeley College, and sessions at LIM College on career pathways and industry partnerships through its THREAD program. WindowsWear also led sessions on the history and current landscape of NYC fashion retail. Host campuses included Berkeley College (3 East 43rd Street) and LIM College (545 Fifth Avenue). Attendees received a certificate for 14 to 30 hours of professional development toward license renewal.
About the Conference
The FCS National 2026 Teacher Professional Development Conference welcomed 28 educators representing schools and colleges across 13 states, including Idaho, Texas, Iowa, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Kentucky, North Carolina, New Mexico, South Carolina, Virginia, California, and Montana. The program was offered as a four-day full conference or as two-day half sessions focused on either Culinary, Architecture, Tourism & Hospitality or Fashion, Retail, Textiles & Interior Design.
About the Conference
The FCS National 2026 Teacher Professional Development Conference welcomed 28 educators representing schools and colleges across 13 states, including Idaho, Texas, Iowa, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Kentucky, North Carolina, New Mexico, South Carolina, Virginia, California, and Montana. The program was offered as a four-day full conference or as two-day half sessions focused on either Culinary, Architecture, Tourism & Hospitality or Fashion, Retail, Textiles & Interior Design.
Participating Educators
Cris Bauer — Idaho Virtual Academy, Meridian, ID
Rebecca Brown — Marist University, Poughkeepsie, NY
Kimberly Bush — South Aiken High School, Aiken, SC
Laura Calvert — Waukee Northwest High School, Waukee, IA
Carmen Carter — Dallas College, Dallas, TX
Stephanie Conover — Marist University, Poughkeepsie, NY
Heather Dedie — Holman Middle School, Glen Allen, VA
Jennifer Dorado — Mustang North Middle School, Yukon, OK
Jennifer Finn — Marist University, Poughkeepsie, NY
Laura Garcia — Waukee High School, Waukee, IA
Crystal Graham — Mesa Middle School, Roswell, NM
Tara Hardeman — Mustang Central Middle School, Yukon, OK
Leslie Hulsey — Martha Layne Collins High School, Shelbyville, KY
Susan Irving — Watauga High School, Boone, NC
Sarah Larson — WF Sheyenne High School, Fargo, ND
Theresa Lauritsen — Waukee Northwest High School, Waukee, IA
Cynthia McGuire — Carl Ben Eielson Middle School, Fargo, ND
Shanin McKavish — California High School, San Ramon, CA
Dana Means — Waukee Northwest High School, Waukee, IA
Veronica Montes — Dallas College, Dallas, TX
Megan Moran — Idaho Virtual Academy, Meridian, ID
Christie Orr — Fallsburg CSD, Fallsburg, NY
Christin Roby — Mustang High School, Mustang, OK
Karen Rude — Century High School, Bismarck, ND
Erica Selby — Daviess County High School, Owensboro, KY
Hannah Spencer — Mid-Del Schools, Midwest City, OK
Lisa Walker — Daviess County High School, Owensboro, KY
About WindowsWear
WindowsWear is a fashion industry platform based in New York City, connecting students, educators, and professionals to the people and places shaping retail, design, and visual merchandising through walking tours, educator conferences, mentorship programs, membership services, and industry events.