Peabody College offers ‘summer school’ for teachers

Wyatt Center at Vanderbilt's Peabody College (Vanderbilt/Daniel Dubois)

Higher education and K-12 professionals will converge on Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College campus in June for a grown-up version of summer school—the Peabody Professional Institutes (PPI).

Five week-long institutes run June 10-28. Each provides educators and school administrators a unique, intensive learning experience led by faculty from Peabody College, the top ranked college of education and human development in the United States.

“Peabody College has long had a commitment to engage with practitioners,” said Camilla P. Benbow, Patricia and Rodes Hart Dean of Education and Human Development at Peabody. “Our summer institutes through PPI offer participants the latest evidence-based knowledge in their fields in a context that fosters networking opportunities and a chance to share real-world experience and practical solutions.”

This year’s institutes are:

Achievement Gap institute, focusing on understanding and developing tools for closing the achievement gap;

Beginning Teachers in Independent Schools, offering professional development for new or early career teachers;

Higher Education Management, providing meaningful ways to enrich the participant’s home institution;

Independent School Leadership, examining resources for the complexities of leading an independent school; and

Senior Academic and Enrollment Services Professionals, which explores contextualizing enrollment services within internal and external environments.

“It’s January and I’m still seeing the benefits of my summer PPI course,” Andrea Denton, seventh grade teacher at Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville, said. “My teaching techniques are more interesting and my classroom is better managed. I am a better teacher of my subject because after PPI I am more confident in the classroom.”

Attendees apply and are selected through a competitive application process, which is under way through March 29, 2013. Fees include program and instructional materials, most meals and refreshments, housing in a Vanderbilt living-learning lodge and social events.