10 Reasons TNI Is the Best Educator PD Event of the Summer

Have you heard about The National Institutes (TNI)? 

If not, let us introduce you to your dream professional development experience. TNI for math, literacy, and world language educators will inspire and rejuvenate you with a mix of collaborative learning, usable classroom takeaways, dynamic Power Talks, no-pressure networking, and some much-deserved relaxation.

But you don’t have to take our word for it. Here are the top 10 reasons to go to TNI, curated from the words of past TNI guests. Enjoy!  

1. The Shared Ideas

When you’re with “your people,” it doesn’t take long for the ideas to start flowing, and at TNI, you’ll hone your own thinking, learn from each other, and leave with powerful insights to take back to your students and colleagues.

“It was great getting to meet, talk, and share ideas and experiences with people from all levels of the district!” says math teacher Lisa Coates. 

“After TNI, I am excited to share all the information I have learned with my colleagues,” says preschool special needs teacher Leslie R. Sparks.

On top of sharing ideas with other innovative educators, you’ll also bond over shared values, like the ones literacy coach Esmerelda Hernandez shares from the LITERACY FOR ALL: TNI. 

2. The New Friends 

Whether you find like-minded folks in your breakout sessions, introduce yourself to them in the lunch line, or take full advantage of the legitimately fun social events, you’ll walk away from TNI with solid new friendships.

“TNI was a wonderful opportunity to meet new people and connect with other teachers from across the country,” says special education teacher Karen Sloan. “It was amazing to hear how teachers in districts like mine, as well as very different from mine, were making math education their own. I left after four days of PD feeling like I had spent time with true friends.”  

3. The Pampering

Educators are some of the hardest-working people around, and that’s why, from the gourmet food to the luxurious setting to the built-in decompression time, you’ll leave TNI feeling 100% pampered.

“Carnegie Learning treated us like kings and queens,” affirms math interventionist Holly Cheshire. “I had such a wonderful experience.”

“These conferences make me feel special and important,” agrees county math coordinator Lisa Hindman. “Teaching is not a glamorous job, but I’m walking away from TNI feeling like a valued professional. It made me proud of what I do and has recharged me for another school year!”

Still need convincing that we think teachers deserve star treatment? Check out 8th-grade math teacher Kriss High's Instaworthy food pic.

 4. Dynamic Power Talks

Why, yes, that is assistant principal Meagan Pride posing with Malcolm Mitchell, Superbowl champ, literacy advocate, and 2022 TNI Power Talk presenter.

We know you’ve probably sat through your share of speakers who don’t recognize or even fully understand the excellent work you do. So we choose speakers who are leaders in the field because they work closely with educators and understand your unique challenges and triumphs. You’ll leave feeling seen, challenged, and pumped! 

“The speakers were phenomenal!” says interventionist Holly Cheshire. “The energy! The best I heard in 16 years."

“The keynote speakers were absolutely amazing!” echoes elementary math curriculum specialist Kelli Arthur. “If I could bottle this feeling I have as I leave today and sell it, I would be rich!” 

We're excited to share that our 2024 Power Talk presenters will be critically acclaimed author, educator, and coach Willie Spears and friEdTech CEO Amy Mayer!

5. The Dancing

The energy that speakers, facilitators, and guests like you bring to TNI might just have you busting a move. 

While there aren’t any organized dance parties at TNI, it's not uncommon for people to spontaneously boogie down. And this is one of the things we love most about TNI. Why? Because being around people this jazzed about teaching is invigorating! Plus, educators should be allowed to play as hard as they work.

In fact, our Power Talk speakers are known to ask volunteers to dance during their presentations, as math and science teacher Renee Williams' tweet captured. Because dancing in front of 500 people you’ve just met is nothing compared to the courageous things you do every day.  

6. The Deep Dive Into Content

At TNI, we know that teachers learn the same way their students do: with active, inquiry-based deep dives into content. So that’s what we do. 

Our collaborative PD sessions are the detailed, hands-on learning you need to strengthen both pedagogical practice and content knowledge. They’re evidence-based, heavy on practical application, and thoroughly engaging.   

“The smaller sessions were all useful and informative,” reports math teacher Daniel Cepeda. “I got exactly what I needed from each one, and I learned something from EVERY facilitator. The Carnegie Learning team knows their stuff.” 

“My only regret is that I wasn't able to clone myself and attend all of the sessions that were presented,” says assistant principal Troius Tillmon. “And reports from the sessions I didn't attend were phenomenal.”

While we’re not quite ready to provide cloning services at the 2024 Institutes, we are working hard to ensure that every session you attend will be more than worthwhile. Why? Because we know your time is valuable, and you’re at TNI to up your game.   

7. The Swag

Who doesn’t love SWAG? And at TNI, we make sure you get the best stuff out there. Just look at this haul from instructional specialist Julissa Gomez! 

From fanny packs (have you heard that they’re cool again?) to coffee cups that actually keep your coffee hot to our perennially popular t-shirts, we take our goody bags seriously because sometimes it’s the little things that keep us going.  

8. Immediately Usable Strategies

No matter how theoretically engaging professional learning is, for it to be truly valuable, educators need techniques, strategies, or other takeaways that they can put to use immediately.

That’s why we plan every collaborative learning session to be both research-driven and practical. Sure, it’s great to know why a new approach to assessment or a fresh discussion technique is evidence-based, but it’s even more important to understand how to implement it in your classroom, school, or district. 

“I can use every single thing that I have learned to better myself and my school all around,” says 3rd-grade math teacher Courtney Harvey. “And I can definitely take back what I have learned and present it to my fellow staff members and help our school community improve in so many ways.”

“So detailed, fresh, and informative,” agrees math teacher Laurie Taylor. “I’m taking back valuable and useful ideas to help me and my students achieve the highest success!” 

9. The Energy

It’s inevitable that with all the shared ideas and new friendships—not to mention the dancing—the energy at TNI is second to none. And that’s the point. We want you to soak up all that powerful TNI energy until you feel amazing and then take it home with you.  

“There are no words powerful enough to express how energized I feel right now,” says preschool special needs teacher Leslie R. Sparks. “You all have lit a fire that was extinguishing within me as a teacher. I am empowered, motivated, and excited to be the best teacher I can be for my students.”

“I am both overwhelmed and energized right now,” concurs director of secondary mathematics Katrina Cushenberry. “I am feeling empowered and ready to empower.” 

“This is just what I needed to refresh my soul, recharge my ideas, and remind me why I do what I do!” agrees coordinator of curriculum Tonji Bowen. 

10. The Community Building

The communities formed and strengthened at TNI are vast and multifaceted.

And while you’ll forge new connections with educators from across the country, some of the most magical bonds built at TNI are among folks who work together but don’t have the time to get to know each other. The experience of bonding with people you see almost every day is powerful, as educational leader Priscila Dilley’s tribute suggests. 

“Bringing a large number of teachers kindled and recharged our departments’ morale, determination, and friendships,” shares math teacher Sean Kelly. “It was fantastic.”

Especially for newer teachers still finding their footing, the time to connect with each other and their more experienced colleagues is invaluable.

“I know my younger teachers took many valuable resources from the Institute and that our students will benefit from the opportunity provided to them,” shares Director of K-8 Assessment John Waugaman.

As Waugaman suggests, the lessons learned at TNI will reverberate through your school community, starting with the kids we serve, which is why we do PD in the first place.  

Ready to join us for the professional learning event of the summer? We can’t wait to welcome you to TNI in July.