2026 Summer Institute
The 2026 Summer Institute
Did you know that in Arizona 67% of students who enrolled in K-12 schools for the 2025-2026 school year were students of color? Yet K-12 instruction often under-represents the voices, perspectives and contributions of people of color in school curricula. By contrast, academic studies show that in culturally responsive classes students develop a stronger sense of personal empowerment, perform better academically and graduate at higher rates.
In the 2026 Summer Institute, AZ educators as well as pre-service teachers will probe deeply into what it means to be an advocate for both ethnically diverse and gender nonconforming students in their classrooms, from examining personal hidden biases to redesigning curriculum to reflect the natural “assets” that their diverse students bring to the classroom, and much more.
The 2026 Summer Institute takes place over 8 days — June 8, 9,11 and 12, and June 15, 16, 18 and 19, for 90 minutes each day, and is available to all K-12 Arizona educators and pre-service teachers who apply and are admitted into the program.
Teachers who complete the program receive a $100 stipend and 12 CEUs.
During the 8 days, a maximum of 30 educators engage in highly collaborative and interactive sessions, which include lectures, discussions, and opportunities to experiment with new tools and lesson plans.
Participants not only walk away with new tools, resources, leadership skills and new understandings of the contributions that people of color and gender diverse people add to the American tapestry, they also have a transformational experience about who they are as educators for all of their students.
Take a few minutes to fill out the application.
ROSAmerica presenters for the Summer Institute 2026
What the participants had to say about last year’s Summer Institute…
“I definitely want to start with how much I loved all of our different presenters and sessions that gave us a chance to learn about different cultures, people, teaching styles, and communities across the country. My biggest takeaways were that culturally diverse resources with activities and interactions are super important. Giving students chances to share—even if that’s outside the curriculum, like through icebreakers as we get more comfortable—is valuable.”
“Acknowledging community heroes and ensuring that students’ stories and histories are represented helps them understand that their struggles are worthy of study and celebration. It’s also essential to use diverse and inclusive sources—listening to testimonies and oral histories and reaching out to the community for collaboration. That strengthens curriculum design and makes learning relevant, rigorous, and respectful. ”
“We’ve gained so many materials and insights in poetry, technology, and curriculum design. It’s been an eight-day experience of grace—moving from myself to my students, connecting with them, seeking help where needed, and getting intentional about teaching. That will make my classes more interesting this year. I really enjoyed this and am grateful for the opportunity.”
“From these sessions, I’ve gained tools to help them open up and make their voices heard. I’m grateful to have such supportive administrators who encourage and visit our classrooms to give feedback. Bringing these new resources into my classroom will elevate not only my students but also my colleagues.”
“The poetry workshop had to be my favorite. It gave kids chances to put their voices out there and know that their voices matter and are heard. For myself, I saw how many people resonated with experiences I’ve had, and I can only imagine how much our students can resonate with each other. Finally, building that bridge to community is essential—so we can highlight the strengths pg. 2 and values of each person. Our classrooms are so much more than ‘show up, read your book, and leave.’ We need to take that to heart and make it meaningful.”
“Allowing students to demonstrate their voices through creative means like poetry, podcasts, and videos is also valuable. I’m not super tech-savvy, so that’s something I’ll work on as an educator. “Bottom line: as educators, we make a powerful impact on our students. We don’t always know what they go through at home, so it’s our duty to create supportive, safe, and empathetic environments in every way we can.”
“I’m from Nogales, Arizona, near the Mexico border. During these eight sessions, I really enjoyed the content the presenters shared. This was my first time in this training, and it was truly eye-opening.”
“In this political climate, my number one takeaway is to focus on humility and our common humanity through empathy. That first day’s message—leading with empathy and remembering that this is another person—was powerful. Shouting and yelling get us nowhere. How can we find common ground?”
“Definitely centering students’ lived experiences by designing curriculum that reflects their cultures, communities, and intellectual traditions adds meaning and connection to the learning. It’s also important to start with authentic questions—especially ones that matter to the communities our students come from.”
“…I think most of the time we jump straight to planning—what to do, how to teach, what topics to cover. But these past 8 days showed me that being a better teacher starts from within. When we reflect on ourselves—our weaknesses, where we need help, and where we’re strong—it helps us grow.”
“I’m originally from India and have been teaching in U.S. public schools for about twelve years. Hearing from the presenters has changed my vision and perspective. I’ve realized how much impact we can make in our classrooms by bringing variety and relevance. I teach high school students, and they often don’t express themselves unless prompted.”
“As a person of privilege, I must boldly speak up about the painful realities of American history. I’ll seek out and share the hidden, authentic voices of BIPOC and APIDA individuals to dismantle ignorance, one interaction at a time. Change happens through relationships and individual stories.”
“I’ll continue cultivating my own cultural competency, addressing blind spots and biases, and adjusting with sensitivity and sincerity when I get it wrong. Finally, that poetry session reminded me how much I love the beauty, vulnerability, and power of writing. I’ll set aside time to write each week—it’s cathartic and deeply human.”
ROSAmerica is grateful for grants from the Salt River Project and Build-Tek, as well as donations from our network of friends, family, education activists, etc.
