Dr. Susan Moore Johnson, the Pforzheimer Professor of Teaching and Learning at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, led the outstanding list of speakers and presenters at ACI’s Fifth Annual Summer Institute held this year in Bloomington, Illinois.  Johnson, author of numerous articles and books including Finders and Keepers:  Helping New Teachers Survive and Thrive in our Schools, spoke at length to beginning teachers about key factors in effective schools and the importance of finding a good fit.  Guest speakers also included Karen Roddie and Vanessa Coca from the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research who presented an analysis of the most recent “Potholes Report” showing the importance of teacher conversation on student decisions to go to college.  Finally, rounding out this year’s slate of speakers was the 2008 Illinois Teacher of the Year, Ruth Meissen, a graduate form ACI’s Rockford College, who emphasized the importance of “one” teacher who might make the difference in a child’s life of learning. 

ACI’s Summer Institute is a two day conference dedicated to retaining teachers in high-need schools by providing innovative and interactive sessions focused on strategic areas of teaching and learning including classroom management, English language learning, response to intervention, differentiating instruction, leadership, assessment and multicultural education. 

According to one participant, “This was an excellent opportunity for new teachers to be encouraged and affirmed.  We learned that we have common challenges and that there are many resources to help us.”

• Back to Headlines