Updates/News
Building Teachers from the Ground Up: The Heart Behind Teach Kentucky’s Summer Institute
- July 20, 2025
- Posted by: Kristen Garner
- Category: Misc
Each summer, as school years end and classrooms quiet, something remarkable begins at Teach Kentucky: our Summer Institute, a six-week training program that has become the heartbeat of our mission. While our new teachers are experts in their fields — graduates from top universities with passion and knowledge — many arrive with little to no classroom experience. Summer Institute exists to bridge that gap and launch our teachers with confidence, clarity, and community.
How It All Began
Summer Institute was born out of necessity. In the early years of Teach Kentucky, we quickly realized that even the brightest subject matter experts needed support in navigating the world of classroom management, lesson planning, equity practices, and student relationships. Public education is a deeply complex, ever-changing landscape, and we knew that sending our teachers in unprepared wasn’t an option. So we built something different — something intentional.
Veteran educators, many of them alumni of our own program, now lead sessions rooted in practical strategies, real classroom stories, and unwavering encouragement. They don’t sugarcoat the challenges — they prepare our teachers to meet them head-on.
As alum Stephanie Rogers (2018 Cohort, Yale; UofL MAT 2020) shared:
“I remember how the summer before my first year teaching I finally realized all the things I didn’t know about teaching. I went to public school for 13 years and assumed that I could easily come into the classroom and be a good teacher. Wow was I wrong! I think I would have given up had it not been for Teach Kentucky and all the people around supporting me and cheering me on.”
Today, Stephanie returns each year to train and mentor others — giving back to the community that helped her thrive and staying inspired by the passion of the next generation.
Growing with the Times
Education is constantly evolving. The introduction of new technologies, the increasing awareness around trauma-informed teaching, and the push for equity in the classroom means our training must adapt too. Summer Institute has never stayed the same — and that’s by design. Each year, we reflect, revise, and rebuild based on feedback from alumni, school partners, and our teachers themselves.
Byron Williams (2023 Cohort, CSU San Bernardino; UofL MAT 2025) entered the program with years of prior teaching experience — but even so, he found Summer Institute essential:
“When I first came into Teach Kentucky, I truly didn’t know what to expect. I had been a teacher for four years prior, but never in public K–12. The biggest thing I wanted to know was: What’s the culture like? What is the environment in these schools?”
What he found was more than just answers — it was a launchpad:
“Teach Kentucky’s Summer Institute gave me much-needed preparation… no sugar coating — just the real layout of the land.”
And now, as a PLC lead, Byron sees the value of Summer Institute with even more clarity:
“The structure that Teach Kentucky provides and the connections to all the right people — that’s what makes it work. More importantly, there’s always a group devoting their efforts to these children, knowing that a better future is possible because of the work being done here and now.”
Practical, Purposeful, and Powerful
What makes Summer Institute stand out is its focus on relevance. We aren’t interested in theory without application. Our sessions focus on the realities of the classroom — and how to thrive within them.
Jilly North (2025 Cohort, Portland State; Spalding MAT 2027) shared:
“It’s one of the first times I feel like I am learning in a manner where I can specifically use the knowledge I am learning for my career.”
From day one, our teachers build lesson plans they’ll actually use. They rehearse procedures, get feedback from seasoned professionals, and connect with a community that will walk with them through their first year and beyond.
And for many, like Byron, the impact runs even deeper:
“It’s truly amazing to see how many people care so much about working in education to change the lives of students. From when I first stepped into Teach Kentucky to now as a PLC lead, I see the heart and drive that each new teacher brings… We come into this profession for one goal: to shape the hearts of these children.”
“That passion to change the lives of the next generation — that’s the most important work there is. Especially in the world we live in today.”
Looking Ahead
This week, we wrapped up our 2025 Summer Institute — and it’s hard to believe how quickly those six weeks flew by. Not only did we get to watch these new teachers grow and learn as educators, but we also witnessed something just as meaningful: the building of a strong, supportive community.
Friendships were formed that we know will last a lifetime. New teachers found mentors in those who came before them. And the message was clear — teaching, and Teach Kentucky itself, is rooted in relationships. Great educators aren’t made in isolation; they grow through connection, support, and a shared commitment to our students and to each other.
We celebrated the end of Summer Institute just as we began — with dinner at Monnik Brewery, a local favorite and longtime partner in welcoming our cohorts. It felt fitting to return to the same place where many of these new teachers first fell in love with Louisville during their recruitment weekend. That full-circle moment reminded us that Teach Kentucky is about more than preparing teachers — it’s about helping people find a home, a purpose, and a community.
Why Your Support Matters
Summer Institute would not be possible without the financial support of our community. We sincerely appreciate the foundations and individual donors who help make this program possible year after year. We couldn’t do it without your generosity and belief in what we do.
If you’d like to support Summer Institute — and help us continue recruiting, training, and retaining passionate educators for Louisville’s public schools — you can donate here:
👉 https://secure.qgiv.com/for/teachkentucky
Thank you for standing with us in building a better future, one teacher at a time.
