The Academy for Teacher Excellence Research Center (ATE) will host its 19th Summer Bridging Institute (SBI) July 11-15 from 9am-4pm at the UTSA Downtown Campus. The institute helps prepare teacher candidates for their first year of clinical teaching while serving as a professional development series for teachers of all experience levels. In addition to teachers, the SBI is open to university and high school students, school administrators, and parents and other community members. Registration is free.
This year marks the Institute’s return to an in-person format after two years of virtual events. While the virtual format had its advantages in terms of participation – the virtual 2020 SBI was attended by approximately 400 teachers from around the nation – SBI organizers and participants are eager to return to in-person sessions, says Emily Young, ATE Center coordinator.
“It’s kind of like coming home,” Young explained. “It just feels natural to be doing this again, because we’ve done it so many times and we’re really excited to return to our regular format.”
Meeting in person means this year’s Institute is expected to have around 100 participants, which Young says is more typical of yearly attendance. However, those who do attend will appreciate that the in-person Institute will once more span five days, instead of the three days offered virtually.
The return to the SBI’s original format is also mirrored in the material by a return to sessions focusing specifically on clinical teachers, which has been a strong priority in previous years. One such session will be led by a current clinical teacher, outlining what she’s learned in her first semester. Another will focus on helping clinical teachers prepare for their Science of Teaching Reading Exam, one of the many tests they must pass to receive their teaching certification. Although these types of sessions are specifically aimed towards clinical teachers, those aren’t the only sessions they’ll benefit from.
“All of our sessions will be beneficial for them as they go into their clinical teaching to help them prepare for what they’re about to embark on,” she said.
“All of our sessions will be beneficial for them as they go into their clinical teaching to help them prepare for what they’re about to embark on,” she said.
Indeed, Young says the sessions offered at this year’s Institute will feature a range of topics, presented by a wide array of speakers, suitable for teachers of all levels.
“I really like this year’s variety of teachers and faculty presenting,” she said. “We really have a good diversity in who we have presenting.”
Examples include keynote speaker Adriana Abundis, a Mexican American Studies teacher at Lanier High School, who will present creating positive relationships with students. Another session will be hosted by Jasmine Dean, executive director for Celebrate Dyslexia, a nonprofit dedicated to awareness and advocacy for students with dyslexia. Dean’s interactive session tries to replicate what it feels like to be a student with dyslexia, helping teachers better understand and support their students.
Building off their previous experience of virtual events, Young says this year will even feature a special session hosted by Dr. Kalpana Mukunda Iyengar, an assistant professor of practice for UTSA’s Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching Department and part of the San Antonio Writing Project. The livestreamed session will allow Iyengar, who is currently in India, to help attendees explore their personal memoirs, and help their students do the same.
Other presenters will include UTSA faculty and teachers, administrators, and community members from the San Antonio area and beyond. The institute will wrap up with a Q&A panel hosted by teachers of all experience levels. This panel will allow attendees to ask career questions whether they’re just starting as clinical teachers, or ready to tackle the role of a district administrator.
“We wanted to have a variety of teachers on this panel because we wanted to have different voices talking about what they’ve learned in their careers and what advice they would give,” Young said.
“We wanted to have a variety of teachers on this panel because we wanted to have different voices talking about what they’ve learned in their careers and what advice they would give,” Young said.
In addition to the wealth of information available at the Summer Bridging Institute, attendees can also earn up to six continuing professional education hours per day. But even beyond the professional development opportunities, Young says she finds the greatest benefit of the SBI to be the interpersonal connections and friendships that develop every year.
“It’s an opportunity to interact with other teachers who you might not otherwise have the opportunity to interact with,” she said. “It’s just a great opportunity to strengthen your network while also strengthening your skills.”
Resuming in-person sessions and expanding the scope of the SBI back to its pre-COVID levels has been a huge undertaking, Young says, and she especially acknowledges the work of Effie Mata, an education specialist with the ATE.
“She’s really the one who recruited most of these presenters, she’s the one who’s really taken the lead with putting SBI together,” Young said.
The hard work of everyone involved in the 2022 Summer Bridging Institute promises to be worth it. Those interested in registering for this free event should go to https://bit.ly/3KLvlBw.
- Christopher Reichert