Our deepest thanks to everyone who attended and helped organize our Summer Training Institute!  It took place online June 26-27, 2021 and is still going on, involving more than 300 participants who attended and are still attending via extended-time zoom videos.

As the screen shot shows, there is excitement, inspiration, networking, and a love of learning, teaching, and mentoring that pervades this virtual event.   On https://gurianinstitute.com/events/gurian-summer-institute-2021/, you can see the keynotes, workshops, and other sessions of our 22nd annual Gurian Summer Training Institute.

A big thank you to the all of the keynoters and trainers who excited and taught us, and a special thanks to Eva Dwight, our Gurian Institute Conference Director, who did an awesome job providing technical and logistical organization.   This year we had an Early Childhood Track to augment our K – 12 tracks:  without Marion Hill, Natalie Alvarez, Marlene Ordaz, Ariana Lopez, Phyllis Aro-Trejo, Lauren Paiva, and all of the team members in the Greater Phoenix Urban League, Booker T. Washington, and Head Start Pilots in Arizona, this would not have happened.   Thank you all.

A special shout out as well to the Dr. Vermelle Greene, Dr. Daryl Howard, and the Task Force and Councils involved in the Achieving Academic Equity and Excellence for Black Boys Initiative in Maryland.  The Task Force and teams have done a great job in researching and producing the study, “Transforming the Culture of Maryland’s Schools for Black Boys,” and GI is honored to have participants from the 14 Pilot Schools at our Summer Institute and to certify one trainer at each school who will continue the work in the new school year.

Below are some comments we received about the Summer Institute.  This newsletter marks the beginning of our summer schedule in which we will send out a newsletter every other week.  As always, however, please write us at info@gurianinstitute.com to inquire about our services and to let us know your training and professional development needs.

“A great weekend!  The Gurian Institute is one-of-a-kind in this work, unflinching, unafraid to stand fast amidst temporary trends–you just do the work, base it in the science, and always provide practical strategies and programs.  Thank you!”

“I hope this will one day be available to all teachers everywhere!  There is so much practical knowledge and there are so many practical strategies embedded in this Gurian training.  It is a fantastic resource for teachers and parents.”

“I went to the early childhood track and really enjoyed it.  Now I will watch the rest of the videos.  The early childhood track was very good for me as I am a preschool teacher.”

“Bravo!  The organization was great and giving the extra time to watch all the videos makes this conference like three conferences in one.  I am a high school teacher.  This is my fifth time at the summer institute.  It always opens my mind and it always keeps me inspired to change systems around me.”

“Engaging and dynamic! I am an elementary teacher and counselor.  I am already familiar with brain-based education and yet I found this event super informative and very useful.”

“The distinction between aggression and empathy nurturance is eye-opening.  Now I understand both boys and girls, and everyone on the gender spectrum, so much better.  This workshop should be mandatory for everyone in the teaching and helping professions!”

“The discussions during the Saturday lunchtime about suicide prevention and the emotional lives of boys and then on Sunday about girls and STEM and the digital girl were eye opening for me.  Your perspective and approach is leading edge in my book.”

“Excellent job!  Great information!  You took in boys, girls, and the whole gender spectrum.  This is true equity.  Thank you for being inclusive of all students while also showing how important it is to focus on boys and girls’ needs.”

“Thank you so much! I’ve already tried some of the strategies I learned with the student I’m tutoring and they worked out really well!  With one of my reluctant learner boys, I had him draw and talk about what he wanted to write about. His writing was so much more descriptive! He used dialogue and figurative language.  The strategies are so helpful!”

“I came to this through our Achieving Academic Equity and Excellence for Black Boys Initiative in Maryland.  You really delivered.  I will watch some of the sessions again.  They were packed with wisdom and strategies.  Thank you!”

“For twenty six years I’ve been a teacher and in all those years I’ve usually found PD boring, I’m sorry to say, but not this event.  Light bulbs were constantly going off in my head.  This is some of the best PD I have ever received.”

Please contact us at info@gurianinstitute.com throughout the summer.  We are here to help.