Summer Institute

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The ATC Summer Institute is a seven-week intensive training program that prepares Fellows to teach in high-need areas of Arkansas. Fellows gain foundational skills in four core areas of development: instruction, relationships, equity, and emotional resilience. As much as possible, Institute combines authentic classroom experience in a summer school setting with professional learning communities, guest speakers, and community partnerships to facilitate the most transformative learning environment possible both for teachers and summer school students.

Institute Vision

The ATC Summer Institute facilitates the growth, resilience, and professional development of Fellows and equips them to be empowered, equitable educators by developing their individual and collective teacher efficacy. Summer Institute is designed to provide Fellows with the skills, knowledge and beliefs to affect change in rural schools and communities. We believe through this process, our Fellows will be able to build community inside and out of the classroom resulting in measurable academic growth for students, outcomes-aligned professional growth for Fellows and leadership development for ATC.

Institute Mission

The ATC Summer Institute sets the conceptual, pedagogical and organizational foundation for Fellows’ three-year teaching commitment. Utilizing a cohort model, Institute is a seven-week intensive learning experience at the nexus of theory and practice. Fellows engage in sessions aligned with the four ATC development outcomes and individualized coaching from their Summer Mentor to cultivate the knowledge, skills and mindsets used in planning and teaching a rigorous, time-bound unit. Culminating in a growth presentation, Institute equips Fellows to strategically plan and prepare for their first year of teaching through reflection and goal-setting.

Summer Staff Positions

As Co-Facilitators for ATC Summer Institute, you will work in collaboration with the Director of Institute and Institute team to plan, prepare, and co-facilitate a series of professional development sessions aligned to ATC’s development outcomes. 

Positions Available:

  • Instruction Co-Facilitators (leading sessions on planning, pedagogy, and classroom skills)
  • Equity Co-Facilitators (leading sessions on DEI, racial affinity spaces, and emotional resilience)

Application Deadline: TBA

Compensation: $4,000-$4,500 (depending on experience)

Required Qualifications: To fulfill position requirements, all candidates must…

  • demonstrate backwards planning through effective goal-setting and progress monitoring
  • have experience leading adult learning or managing adults
  • have experience working in rural and low-income communities
  • commit to all required training and the Summer Institute schedule
  • have strong time/stress management, conflict resolution, and organizational skills
  • be professional in all interactions with a customer service oriented disposition
  • be deeply committed to educational equity in the state of Arkansas
  • have an AR teaching license and 3+ years of teaching experience K-12
  • have experience using the Arkansas TESS rubric to reflect on professional practice
  • have experience mentoring novice teachers

Preferred Qualifications: To fulfill these responsibilities, we prefer candidates who…

  • have previous experience working with Arkansas Teacher Corps
  • have previous experience working at a similar summer training program, e.g., ATC or TFA Institute
  • are proficient with Google Drive applications (Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc)
  • Instruction & Skills Co-Facilitator
    • have extensive experience designing and facilitating adult learning in diverse contexts
    • are proficient with Google Classroom, Google Meet, Zoom, Microsoft Teams or other video conferencing platforms
  • Equity Co-Facilitators
    • have experience leading adult learning around emotional resilience and social identity development
    • have experience facilitating racial affinity spaces

Duties: Co-Facilitators will be responsible for…

  • Completing required training and personal development, including prework, training retreats, training calls, and weekly check-ins with the Director of Summer Institute to reflect on session outcomes and identify opportunities for professional growth.
  • Creating session plans aligned to your scope/sequence. In collaboration with the Director of Summer Institute and your co-facilitator, you will review draft sessions and align them to your scope/sequence. The Director of Summer Institute will review each draft and provide feedback before Summer Institute begins.
  • Ensuring sessions are responsive to Fellow feedback. In collaboration with the Director of Summer Institute and your fellow co-facilitator, you will create the learning arc of sessions outcomes and ways to evaluate what is learned, making adjustments to sessions based on weekly Fellow survey feedback.
  • Preparing session materials, including reviewing and internalizing final session agendas, creating posters/charts, reviewing slide decks, and communicating logistical information to the Director of Logistics to ensure proper setup of physical and virtual spaces for each session.
  • Co-facilitating sessions throughout Summer Institute with other members of the Institute team. Sessions will vary in length and pacing; some sessions will have longer chunks of time during the first week of Institute, while others will have shorter chunks of time spaced out over each week.
  • Collaborating with summer staff to ensure continuity by sharing all session materials (pre-work, readings, forms, slide decks, etc., via Google Drive ), goals and outcomes before sessions begin during morning meetings.
  • Serving as a role model and warm facilitator with clear expectations, embodying professionalism, enthusiasm, and a positive outlook. An optimistic attitude, and solutions-oriented approach to all situations is the highest priority.

As the Logistics Coordinator for Summer Institute, you will manage the summer intern, coordinate session spaces and housing, and oversee daily Institute operations, such as taking attendance, administering and recording surveys, providing Fellow technical support, and planning and coordinating after hours social events. Your duties will focus on the design, set-up, and execution of Summer Institute logistics and cohort culture

Application Deadline: TBA

Compensation: $4,000-$4,500 (depending on experience) plus housing

Required Qualifications: To fulfill position requirements, all candidates must…

  • demonstrate backwards planning through effective goal-setting and progress monitoring
  • have experience leading adult learning or managing adults
  • have experience working in rural and low-income communities
  • commit to all required training and the Summer Institute schedule
  • have strong time/stress management, conflict resolution, and organizational skills
  • be professional in all interactions with a customer service oriented disposition
  • be deeply committed to educational equity in the state of Arkansas

Preferred Qualifications: To fulfill these responsibilities, we prefer candidates who…

  • have previous experience working with Arkansas Teacher Corps
  • have previous experience working at a similar summer training program, e.g., ATC or TFA Institute
  • are proficient with Google Drive applications (Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc)
  • have experience designing surveys 
  • have experience managing and reporting on data qualitative and quantitative data
  • have experience coordinating events for groups

Duties: The Logistics Coordinator will be responsible for…

  • Completing required training and personal development, including prework, training retreats, training calls, and weekly check-ins with the Director of Summer Institute to reflect on Fellow outcomes and identify opportunities for growth.
  • Coordinating move-in and checkout and respond to ongoing housing needs. During in-person components of Institute (the second week and the last week), housing will be provided by ATC. In conjunction with the Director of Summer Institute, you will coordinate room assignments, move-in and checkout procedures, and develop protocols to respond to any housing concerns that may arise throughout the summer.
  • Helping Fellows record professional development hours. Working in conjunction with the Director of Summer Institute and the Crowley Ridge Co-op, you will create Shoebox accounts for Fellows and record professional development hours for the duration of the summer.
  • Coordinating and sending weekly learning blasts. Learning blast will be created and sent via Mailchimp and will include the upcoming week’s schedule, Fellow shoutouts, pre-work and links to logistical documents such as absence forms, surveys, Fellow handbook, etc.
  • Maintaining the Summer Institute weekly calendar. You will work with the Summer Team to ensure that the weekly schedule is updated.
  • Troubleshooting technology issues, including assisting guest facilitators with technology needs and working one-on-one with Fellows experiencing problems with Google Drive.
  • Serving as a role model and warm presence with clear expectations, embodying professionalism, enthusiasm, and a positive outlook. An optimistic attitude, and solutions-oriented approach to all situations is the highest priority.

As an Arkansas Teacher Corps Summer Mentor, you will be the first point-of-contact for a Mentor Group of four to six Fellows as they gain foundational knowledge and develop skills to be effective teachers. Mentors will work collaboratively with Summer Staff staff to build and sustain a supportive, growth-oriented culture for Fellows to improve their practices. Mentor groups will be organized as much as possible by grade and content, but mentors may coach teachers of any content area and grade level. That said, ATC is looking to hire 7-8 mentors with the following experience (or openness to coaching in these areas):

  • Secondary ELA (grades 9-12)
  • Middle School ELA (grades 4-8)
  • Secondary Science (grades 7-12)
  • Middle School Science (grades 4-8)
  • Secondary Math (grades 7-12)
  • Middle School Math (grades 4-8)
  • Elementary Education (grades K-6)
  • Career Tech Education (may include business technology, PLTW, and/or FACS)
  • Humanities (may include history, art, music, drama, health, and/or Spanish)

Mentors will report to the Director of Coaching and will have opportunities to grow in the areas of team management, session design/facilitation, communication skills, conflict management, emotional intelligence, and personal investment. Mentors will work part-time in the spring semester in preparation for Institute and full-time from May through July.

Application Deadline: TBA

Compensation: $4,000 – $4,500 (depending on experience)

Job Responsibilities:

  • Complete required prework, training, and personal development with the Director of Coaching
  • Give weekly feedback to each Fellow on instruction, classroom management, and work/life balance through lesson and unit planning, regular observations, and weekly coaching debriefs
  • Guide Fellows in self-assessing their areas of strength and growth, personally and professionally
  • Assist in planning, promoting, and attending ATC events throughout the summer
  • Serve as a warm mentor with clear expectations, building a supportive, growth-oriented environment
  • Maintain a positive, solutions-focused and growth-oriented approach at all time

Required Qualifications:

  • have an AR teaching license and at least 1 year of teaching experience K-12
  • have experience using the Arkansas TESS rubric to reflect on professional practice 
  • demonstrate backwards planning through effective goal-setting and progress monitoring
  • have experience working in rural schools and low-income communities
  • have strong time and stress management, conflict resolution, and organizational skills
  • be professional in all interactions with a customer service oriented disposition
  • be deeply committed to educational equity in the state of Arkansas

Preferred Qualifications:

  • have previous experience working with Arkansas Teacher Corps
  • have previous experience working at or attending a similar summer training program, e.g., ATC or TFA Institute
  • are proficient with Google Drive applications (Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc.)
  • have experience engaging in and facilitating hard conversations
  • have experience with adult learning and/or leading teacher professional development
  • have experience giving and receiving feedback on performance in a professional setting

As an Arkansas Teacher Corps Summer Intern, you will be a direct assistant to the summer staff, working collaboratively and independently to the ultimate goal of Fellow and student growth. Your duties will focus on the design, set-up, and execution of Summer Institute logistics and cohort culture.

Application Deadline: TBA

Preferred Applicants: Rising juniors or seniors at a 4-year college/university (ASU a plus)

Compensation: $1,000 plus housing (and possibility of class credit)

Job Responsibilities:

  • Complete required training and personal development, including prework, training retreats, training calls, and weekly check-ins with the Director of Summer Institute to reflect on Fellow outcomes and identify opportunities for growth.
  • Help coordinate move-in and checkout and respond to ongoing housing needs. In conjunction with the Director of Summer Institute and the Logistics Coordinator, you will coordinate room assignments, move-in and checkout procedures, and develop protocols to respond to any housing concerns that may arise throughout the summer.
  • Set-up and clean-up session and meeting spaces. During in-person components of Institute, you will work with the Summer Institute team to ensure that all spaces are prepared for professional development sessions, staff meetings, and social events, including rearranging furniture, purchasing supplies, and transporting physical resources.
  • Track Fellow daily attendance. Using the daily attendance tracker provided, you will record Fellow daily attendance and update the weekly schedule to reflect which Fellows will be absent. In addition, with the Director of Summer Institute, you will process Fellow absence requests and share them with the team throughout the summer.
  • Help coordinate and execute weekly social events and family time. You will work with the Summer Institute team to plan and organize a minimum of one social event each week. These events can include things like: karaoke, group yoga, potluck dinners, game nights, movie nights, etc.
  • Serve as a  role model and warm presence with clear expectations, embodying professionalism, enthusiasm, and a positive outlook. An optimistic attitude, and solutions-oriented approach to all situations is the highest priority.

More About Virtual (Institute 2020-2022)

In the age of COVID-19, Summer Institute strives to convey the realities of a virtual classroom, building relationships with students remotely and delivering lessons on a variety of digital platforms, while putting the safety of students and Fellows first.

Read more about our virtual Institutes: Preliminary Findings Suggest Virtual Institute A Success (2020), Self-Care, Community Critical for Virtual Institute (2021)

More About Blytheville (Institute Site 2019)

More About Osceola (Institute Site 2017-2018)

More About El Dorado (Institute Site 2014-2016)