What is a Teaching Spark Summer Institute? 

Teaching Spark Global is the brainchild of Leilani Barnett, who after taking teachers to Europe more than a dozen times began noticing the way her programs in Italy rejuvenated teachers' spirits, energy, and love for their profession. Thus, Teaching Spark Global was born, and our team of master teaches, coaches, and nationally-known administrators began to form!

Our Summer Institutes are a gift to both teachers and their schools systems with built-in inspiration and professional development! Schools may use the tour and training as a reward with no strings or opt for our commitment contract plan, through which schools are guaranteed an effective teacher for a period of time they select (we suggest three to five years). The teacher's registration makes clear this is not an offer of continued employment, but a reward for those good teachers schools want to retain year after year.

All details beyond selecting the plan desired and naming the teachers who will be sent are taken care of by the Teaching Spark Team, so this recruitment and retention effort requires no extra employees, no administrative overtime, and no financial risks!

Teaching Spark Summer Institute helps districts and schools reward educators with the kind of incentives usually reserved for corporate rockstars. Your teachers will be wined and dined throughout the trip as they experience Italy with benefits usually associated with the rich and famous -- private local guides, amazing meals in some of the city's most historic and delicious restaurants, and reserved airport transfers to and from their charming hotels or apartments, all in the city center, of course! The Teaching Spark experience is designed to spoil teachers the way they deserve and leave them feeling appreciated by their schools, districts, or state departments of education.

In addition to seeing sights such as Michelangelo's David, Florence's amazing duomo, and the world's greatest collection of Renaissance art, teachers will meet in small subject-based groups with an assigned master teacher for idea-generating lesson-planning sessions, using what they've experienced each day in this enchanting Italian city, the birthplace of the Renaissance.

Like all of Teaching Spark's programs, the summer institute will empower teachers to use their full set of higher mental faculties and fall in love with the profession of teaching!

Equally important for administrators, for those districts opting for the commitment contract option, sending teachers to the Institute will save your organization thousands of dollars usually spent in the perpetual cycle of recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding new educators every year. In fact, we believe districts who choose this option will save between $7,000 and $150,000 for each participating teacher!  

And, imagine the public relations and recruiting benefit of being "the school that sends its teachers to Europe!"

Schools, Districts, or States may send between one to 240 teachers to one of the eight Institutes offered in 2024 and 2025. Registration is now open for the summer of 2024 and 2025. But, act fast as spaces will fill quickly.

Schedule your discovery call today to learn more about Teaching Spark Institutes today!