Professional Achievement 2006 - Beth E. Zitko-Peters
Beth Zitko-Peters graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.S. in Home Economics, 1970, and a M.S. in Education, 1977. Currently Beth teaches graduate and undergraduate courses at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC, in the Richard W. Riley College of Education. In her eight years at Winthrop, Beth has breathed new life into a fading and disappearing Family and Consumer Sciences program through relevant instruction, rigorous curriculum, community connections, and personal approaches. The FCS program has evolved from a handful of students to a thriving program today of over 100 FCS majors. Beth received the 2003 Presidential Citation in recognition of exceptional service to the Winthrop FCS program. Beth Zitko-Peters is the author of Personal Skills for Young Teens, a FCS middle school curriculum. This fast-paced, high-impact, user-friendly program has been in use since 1990 and is continually updated and revised. It has been adopted by the state of South Carolina and has become the FCS program in all South Carolina middle schools. The text was previously adopted in Colorado and Montana. Every summer Beth inservices FCS teachers regarding the program. Working collaboratively with universities throughout the United States, teachers receive update training for graduate credit.
In 2006, Ms. Peters received the “25 Years of Outstanding Service to Family and Consumer Sciences Award” from the South Carolina FCS Association for her work in FCS education. As FCS Supervisor and Instructional Specialist for Colorado Springs Public Schools, she received national recognition and awards for Personal Resource Development, Personal Computers, and Consumer Economics courses she authored and implemented in the district. In 1990 she received the Colorado Home Economist of the Year Award from CHEA. Beth collaborated on more than thirty professional publications including curriculum guides, textbooks and educational programs. She was the primary author for Young Living Teacher’s Resource Book, Binder, and Wraparound Edition for Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 1990 and 1994. At the 2006 AAFCS Annual Conference and Expo in Charlotte, NC. Beth presented on the timely topic of “Crises Without Chaos: Teaching Young Teen Personal Skills Needed to Prepare for Life’s Experiences.” For her creativity and vision in developing programs that meet the needs of today’s youth the Council is proud to recognize Beth Zitko-Peters.
