The big news: More than 160 educators participated in the 2026 Summer Institute, an annual four-day professional development event facilitated by the Center for Teaching and Learning.
• Classes took place at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, with limited options online.
• This year’s theme was “Clues to Excellence: Unlocking the Secrets of Success.”
What happens at Summer Institute? Participants attended classes developed and presented by other Idaho Education Association members.
• Topics ranged from collaboration in early childhood special education to ethical AI use to narrative writing and beyond — more than 60 sessions in all.
• Monica Washington, the National Education Association’s director of teacher quality, gave the keynote speech on the first day of sessions.
• Sessions are free for IEA members, including lodging and meals. Non-member educators may attend for a fee (or join IEA).
• Participants may earn up to four professional recertification credits through University of Idaho.
What members are saying:
• “I like the collaboration with other educators and the tools to put in my toolbox,” said Brandyn Hartley of the Lewiston Education Association. SI gave her a chance to learn from other educators: “Just being able to listen to what they do in their classrooms and take those ideas to our classrooms.”
• This was the first Summer Institute for Sarah Kammer, a former aspiring educator who graduated from the University of Idaho in December and has been substitute teaching while searching for a permanent position. She was excited to learn tried-and-tested strategies for behavior management. “As general educators, we don’t always get insight into that kind of thing, and then it’s trial by fire when we go to a classroom,” she said. “So it was really cool to get more insight into things like this that you don’t necessarily get in normal university classes.”
• Wendy Norman of the Rigby Education Association loved “Unlock a Traveling Trunk – Elementary: Lewis and Clark and Hispanic Heritage,” which uses historical artifacts to help students connect with history. “The biggest thing is resources,” she said about her favorite aspects of Summer Institute. “New resources that I can use to update my classroom and to help my school get some positive things happening there.”
What they did in their down time: It wasn’t all just class time. Members organized a ghost tour of historic downtown Lewiston and a much-needed cooldown at a nearby water park.
How you can get involved: Check the Center for Teaching and Learning’s website in the coming months for opportunities to submit a class proposal for the 2027 event. Next year’s Summer Institute will be held July 27-30.
Scenes from Summer Institute
Check out candid classroom shots — or watch your fellow members be transformed into characters from the board game Clue.
