By Melissa Edstrom, President, Teachers of Home Economics Specialist Association

Home economics teachers are a resilient and dedicated group of educators. The Teachers of Home Economics Specialist Association (THESA) is proud to represent and support them in British Columbia. Our members infuse challenging fun in their classes as they foster inquisitive learning about practical skills their students will use for the rest of their lives. Our classes celebrate and explore technical skills, including cooking and sewing. They also encourage examination and reflection on timely, complex issues involved in our daily lives, including social, emotional, environmental, and ethical matters on an individual, local, and global scale.

Since THESA’s existence, it has offered many benefits to its members. We work hard to support teachers in bringing authentic, meaningful content and perspectives to home economics and the applied design, skills, and technologies curriculum across K–12 classrooms. Our subject areas deal with daily life topics, which are ever-evolving and need to be constantly adapted to. Some of our provincial specialist association (PSA) goals include supporting our members by closely monitoring and responding to educational change as it affects home economics education and advocating for inclusive practices and pedagogy, including anti-racism and decolonization. We provide relevant resources to our members, send out quarterly newsletters, and have a very active social media presence, including a supportive Facebook group. THESA offers a yearly conference that is attended by a large percentage of our membership, as well as smaller professional development opportunities throughout the year. Three scholarships are awarded to members annually and we provide chapter grants to local home economics specialist associations throughout the province.

Our PSA has evolved, but I feel like the core of what THESA is has remained the same. I asked members of our Facebook group to let us know what they appreciate about THESA or how THESA has supported them and their practice over the years. They mentioned the resources and how those were helpful, but mostly they shared about how wonderful it is to be a part of this community. They shared that our members are open, supportive, and caring. They talked about the incredible collaborative support our members show each other—they feel heard and understood, they feel like someone has their back, and they are inspired by each other. One member shared, “THESA is an incredibly supportive and open community—I’ve been awed many times by how willing everyone is to share resources, ideas, and class successes, as well as offer advice (or reassurance that you aren’t the only one with X problem!). Without PSAs it would be nearly impossible for some of us to network with other home ec. teachers!”

I agree whole-heartedly. For me, THESA has provided a community where I feel emboldened to dig deep, deconstruct, and shape my practice for the betterment of myself, my students, my community, and my planet. We truly are better together, and I am excited to see what another 50 years holds for THESA.