Vest honored for strong FCS leadership skills at LPS

July 15, 2025

Kristin Vest’s positive personality and passion for family and consumer sciences helped her earn one of the state’s premier FCS awards this spring.
 
The Nebraska Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (NAFCS) paid tribute to Vest with the organization’s Leader Award. The annual honor is presented to FCS professionals who have made significant contributions to the field through their involvement with both the NAFCS and American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS). Recipients must have been NAFCS members for at least two consecutive years prior to their nomination and have compiled more than eight years of educational service.
 
Carol Erwin teaches FCS courses at Wayne State College and served as NAFCS treasurer this year. She said Vest has made a noticeable impact at Lincoln Public Schools since becoming FCS curriculum coordinator in August 2021.
 
“Many of the FCS teachers have told me that they really enjoy working with her and are glad she is their leader,” Erwin said. “She has worked tirelessly to bring them current and relevant professional development experiences that they can utilize in their classrooms. She is an amazing organizer for their meetings and curriculum development, and she does a great job with marketing and sharing the positive things that their programs are doing with their students.”

 
LPS Career and Technical Education Curriculum Specialist Jason Thomsen has witnessed that firsthand throughout the school district. He said Vest is a great director of FCS subjects because of her ability to connect with staff and promote collaboration and innovation across Lincoln.
 
“Kristin has a true passion for family and consumer sciences, which inspires a shared sense of purpose among staff,” Thomsen said. “She is dedicated to supporting FCS teachers and is always willing to go above and beyond to help in any way that she can. With a strong command of FCS content and curriculum she is able to create a clear vision for the FCS program and is a strong advocate for FCS education.”
 
Tracy Way and Sarah Hubel have also been impressed with Vest’s energy and expertise. Way is the current NAFCS president and Hubel is a former NAFCS president.
 
“What I enjoy most about working with Kristin on NAFCS projects is her positive attitude,” Way said. “She is always on top of things and follows through on whatever she has committed to complete.”
 
“I really enjoy working with Kristin on projects,” Hubel said. “She has incredible wisdom and does a great job fostering collaboration. I always want to hear her perspective because she is able to envision how things will play out at a larger level and how to make efforts sustainable for future leaders.”

 
Vest began teaching FCS classes in Shelton, Neb., in 2007 and moved to Kearney Public Schools in 2010. She became the human sciences and education career field specialist at the Nebraska Department of Education in 2017 and joined the LPS Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Department in 2021.
 
Vest has held many leadership positions both at state and national levels. She has been involved in the NAFCS, AAFCS, Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers of Nebraska (FCSTN), Association for Career and Technical Education of Nebraska (ACTEN) and Leading, Engaging, Advocating, Developing Family and Consumer Sciences Education (LEAD FCS). She has been president of both the FCSTN and LEAD FCS and was the state advisor for the Nebraska Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) organization.
 
Erwin and Way both said Vest’s communication and organizational skills have been key assets in her district, state and national roles. She works well with both rookie teachers and longtime veterans because of her professional and considerate leadership style.
 
“For those that know less, she patiently explains and gets people on board with the mission of whatever the project is and helps them figure out how they contribute,” said Erwin, who will be FCSTN president in 2025-26. “For those that may know more than her, she asks questions and listens to the answers so she can figure out where she can contribute. And as soon as she can, she volunteers where her knowledge and skills are helpful.”
 
“Kristin is a good leader because she accepts everyone for who they are and works to help individuals grow as professionals,” Way said.

 
That accommodating attitude has resulted in many memorable moments for LPS students. Vest has traveled with FCS classes on field trips to farms and fashion shows, and she has watched high schoolers win major awards at state culinary contests. She has also pored over data to ensure children have strong curriculum materials in their courses.
 
“Kristin’s passion for FCS is evident and I truly appreciate how supportive and collaborative she is,” Thomsen said. “I also appreciate how supportive she is of the FCS teachers as a supervisor, colleague, advocate and friend. When working through various initiatives, she listens, provides valuable input and is always focused on what is best for students and the FCS program as a whole. It always feels like we’re working as a team with shared goals, and that kind of leadership makes a big difference.”
 
Erwin said Vest will continue to inspire current and future FCS educators for many years to come.
 
“She is just a joy to be around,” Erwin said. “Anytime I’m on a team, when I look at the list and see that she’s on the team too, I’m just delighted because I know that she’s a doer. Things are going to happen because Kristin is there. She has contributed greatly to family and consumer sciences education in Nebraska, and I look forward to seeing everything she continues to do in the future.”

Want to learn more about our family and consumer sciences curriculum? Visit our website at https://home.lps.org/cte/ to explore LPS Career and Technical Education. 
 
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