The sixth annual Small Schools Summer Institute will take place in Providence, Rhode Island, the birthplace of the Coalition of Essential Schools. A powerful learning and networking opportunity designed for school-based teams, school leaders, and practitioners, Summer Institute features workshops and facilitated conversations by some of the most effective small school educators in the country (view list of CES Mentor Schools).

The Institute is open to those creating new small schools, supporting large-school conversions, or restructuring schools or classrooms and are interested in sharing and learning with a community of experienced small school educators. Learn how to implement the principles and practices of CES that create equitable, personalized, and academically challenging schools for all students.

Join us this summer to find your place in a national professional learning community focused on creating educational equity. Connect, reflect, network, and exchange ideas and strategies to take back to support the transformation of your school community. This year promises to be filled with added excitement and activities in celebration of the Coalition's 25th anniversary!

Interested in keeping apprised of additional program and logistical details? Create a CES Interactive account so that we can send you electronic bulletins with updates and information on this and other CES events.

For fees and hotel/travel information, please click the links above (which will take you to another webpage).

Interactive Keynote Address
Everyday Antiracism: An Inquiry Strategy for Educators
Mica Pollock, is editor of a new book for educators, Everyday Antiracism: Getting Real about Race in School. Everyday Antiracism includes 65 short, research-based essays written for educators seeking maximum information in minimum time. Each essay pinpoints ways educators can counteract structures of racial inequality, work against racist notions about "types of people," and equalize opportunities across racial lines. During the opening session on Monday, July 13, Dr. Pollock will demonstrate the book’s inquiry method. Each essay asks educators to examine ordinary acts they take on a daily and moment-to moment basis; to discuss the opportunity consequences those acts have for students; and to pinpoint optimal acts that can serve to equalize opportunity, counteract racism, and support student achievement in classrooms and schools.

CES Small Schools Network School Exhibits
The exhibition will showcase CES small schools through a gallery of portfolios and information. Exhibits will include school descriptions, sample course descriptions, special programs, and much more. Participants will also have the opportunity to speak with a representative of the school about what has been essential to making them powerful learning environments. The exhibition will be held on Monday from, 3:00-4:00p.m. and will be available for viewing throughout the duration of Summer Institute.

Critical Friends Conversations
Critical Friends Conversations (CFCs) are facilitated discussions centered on themes of equity and democracy in education. Through the use of protocols, CFCs offer a safe space for us to move from awareness to understanding to taking action in our schools.

African-American History Walking Tours
Ray Rickman, a well known Providence community leader, will conduct a 90 minute walking tour that celebrates the history of African Americans who lived on College Hill from 1701 to the present. Mr. Rickman will lead a lively discussion and offer a historical perspective on the people and historic buildings of Providence’s oldest neighborhood. There are two tours scheduled; one on Tuesday, July 14th at 5 p.m.; and one on Wednesday, July 15th at 1:30 p.m. (note: you’ll need to take a 20 minute walk between the hotel and the John Brown House Museum where the tour begins). Tickets are $10 per person. Space is limited to 22 people per tour. Please reserve your space during on-site registration on Sunday or Monday. Wear comfortable walking shoes.

Networking and Relationship Building
Summer Institute provides opportunities for team building and networking, including a welcome reception and dinner on Monday night for all participants, as well as a dinner cruise on Thursday evening. Summer Institute participants gather in workshops, Critical Friends Conversations, and fun and informal social gatherings to meet, discuss their work, and build a network of professional support.

Team Time: Coaching and Planning
Summer Institute provides school teams with the opportunity to work in an environment of collaborative coaching and support with other schools in the CES network. During team time small coaching groups will gather to identify high-leverage improvements that would address specific school-wide or classroom challenges, set specific learning and networking goals for the Institute, and develop action plans for implementing improvements and innovations for the year ahead. Throughout the Institute, teams will be supported in this process with tools and resources from CES and coaching support from members of CES Mentor Schools and coaches from one of our partners or centers.

Youth Participation
We strongly encourage youth participation at Summer Institute. Youth are considered full and active participants of the Institute. There will be a Youth Summit in which students participate in team building exercises, set goals for the week, and receive training that will empower them to make change in their schools. This year, youth and staff from the High School for Recording Arts, a CES Mentor School, will lead Summit participants through a hands-on day long songwriting and recording arts session that explores political and social themes. Participants will have the opportunity to learn how to express themselves and make a positive contribution to their schools and communities. In addition to the day-long session, youth have the opportunity to attend two three-hour workshops facilitated by youth or of interest to youth. The Institute also provides formal and informal time for youth to network and develop friendships with other youth from across the country. On Wednesday, July 15, there will be a special youth-only lunch. Each school team is expected to chaperone their youth attendees; CES will provide chaperone guidelines to all school teams attending with youth participants.

Dinner Cruise on the Narragansett Bay
Join us the evening of Thursday, July 16, for a dinner cruise on the Narragansett Bay. Begin your evening on the boat by sipping your favorite beverage while taking in the picturesque sunsets reflecting off the waters, enjoy a delicious dinner buffet featuring the Chef's specialties and seasonal treats, then dance to popular music while enjoying spectacular views of the Bay. All Summer Institute participants are invited to attend. Sign up and receive tickets for this wonderful cruise during on-site registration on Sunday afternoon and Monday. Buses will depart the hotel at 5:30 pm (board at 5:15) and return at 10:00 pm.

Meals for the Week
During the week of Summer Institute, breakfast, lunch, and break snacks will be provided. We provide a Monday night Welcome Dinner and a Thursday evening dinner cruise. On all other evenings, you will be free to have dinner and sightsee on your own in Providence.

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Mica Pollock, the author of Colormute: Race Talk Dilemmas in an American School and the editor of Everyday Antiracism: Concrete Ways to Successfully Navigate the Relevance of Race in School, will be presenting an interactive workshop at the Summer Institute opening keynote session on Monday, July 13.

Paula Evans is Head of School at the Community Charter School of Cambridge, a public charter school for grades 7-12, in Cambridge, MA. Previously, she was the Director of the New Teachers Collaborative, a freestanding teacher education program based at the Francis Parker Essential School in Devens, MA.

Deborah Meier, long-time CES practitioner and CES board member

Dennis Littky, co-director of Big Picture Learning

Kara Bobroff, Native American Community Academy

Rosamaria Calderon, Civitas School of Leadership

Luis Genao, Global Neighborhood Secondary School

Peggy Kemp, Fenway High School

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Sunday, July 12: Summer Institute registration in the afternoon at the Westin Providence.
Monday, July 13: Registration continues in the morning, followed by the opening and welcome, time for school design teams to meet and set goals, an interactive keynote from Mica Pollock, and an opening reception and dinner.
Tuesday, July 14: Six-hour workshops or two three-hour workshops, followed by team time.
Wednesday, July 15: Three-hour workshops, inquiry session, SSN lunch meeting, youth-only lunch and team time.
Thursday, July 16: Three-hour workshops, team time, Critical Friends Conversations, and a dinner cruise.
Friday, July 17: Closing session and lunch.

Schedule subject to change as events are added.

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On Tuesday, July 14, Summer Institute attendees have the opportunity to attend either one six-hour intensive workshop OR two three-hour workshops led by CES Small Schools Network members. Additional workshops led by SSN members on the essentials of creating small schools will be offered on Wednesday, July 15, and Thursday, July 16.

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Panel and Town Hall: 25 Years of Changing Schools, Changing Lives
During this closing event, we will reflect on and learn from the ways that CES schools have touched and transformed the lives of children, youth, families, and practitioners. As a catalyst for discussion and action, a panel of CES founding school leaders including: Deborah Meier, Dennis Littky, and Paula Evans and “next generation” school leaders including Luis Genao, Rosamaria Calderon, Kara Bobroff, and Peggy Kemp will reflect and explore the opportunities, access, and equity that CES schools and educators have created in the past and present. We will use this time and space to seek new ways to improve, grow, and sustain this work over the next 25 years and beyond.

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Please contact the CES National office for more information at 510-433-1451 or info@essentialschools.org.