Summer Institute for California Teachers

Overview

The 2023 Summer Institute (June 26 – 28, 2023), offered through the California Collaborative, is an exciting professional development opportunity for California high school and middle school teachers interested in elevating their teaching about the Holocaust and genocide. Participating teachers will:

• Connect with leading museums, non-profit organizations, and individual experts in Holocaust and genocide education who comprise the California Collaborative. 

• Implement new curricula developed by the Collaborative, with accompanying professional development and personalized support.

• Take Action to address the surge of antisemitism and hate in California school communities as the first Teacher Cohort of the California Collaborative.

The opportunity to attend the Summer Institute is available by application.

You can also nominate a teacher here.

FAQs

• When is the Summer Institute? June 26-28, 2023 (three days)
  
  
• Who is putting on the event? The Summer Institute is led by the JFCS Holocaust Center in partnership with members of the California Collaborative.
  
  
• Where will the institute be held? The 3-day Summer Institute will take place in-person at the University of Southern California Shoah Foundation in Los Angeles.
  
  
• Who can participate? Up to 100 California High School and Middle School Teachers will be selected to attend the Summer Institute as the 2023 – 2024 Teacher Cohort of the California Collaborative for Holocaust and Genocide Education. See the application link below for more information.
  
  
• What will the institute sessions include? Interactive workshops, led by experts in the field of Holocaust and genocide studies, will provide hands-on, immersive training in new California Common Core standards-aligned lessons designed by the Collaborative. Lessons will include supporting materials and an orientation to related pedagogy, and will range from seminar-style, to roundtables, to excursion-based learning. Teachers will walk away from the Institute with lessons and supporting materials to implement with students during the 2023 – 2024 school year.
  
  
• What is the cost to attend?  The Summer Institute is offered at no cost to participating teachers due to funding from Marin County Office of Education and the State of California. Curriculum materials, three nights of accommodation and meals (Sunday dinner through Wednesday lunch) are provided by the Institute. Travel expenses (economy round trip airfare within California or round trip mileage to and from USC) are reimbursable at the end of the institute upon receipt.
  
  
• What is expected of participants? Participating teachers are expected to implement the new curricula from the California Collaborative in their classrooms in 2023 – 2024 and share the curriculum materials with a group of 5 – 10 colleagues to help expand the reach and impact of the statewide initiative of the California Collaborative for Holocaust and Genocide Education.
  
  
• What support is provided for participating teachers? Beyond the 3-day Summer Institute, teachers will participate in quarterly online sessions with a member from the Collaborative to continue to build content knowledge and receive support during their classroom implementation and peer teaching session. Additional support is available as needed.
  
  
• How do I apply? Apply here.
  
  
• Can I nominate a teacher? Yes! Nominate a teacher here.

The Summer Institute is led by the JFCS Holocaust Center in collaboration with partners from the California Collaborative. In 2023, the Summer Institute will be held at the USC Shoah Foundation.

Generous funding has been provided by Marin County Office of Education and the State of California.