5th Annual ATA Beginning Teacher Institute: Cultivating Learners
The ATA Beginning Teacher Institute is a professional learning opportunity for all Arizona teachers preparing for their first, second, or third year in the classroom. Specifically made for new teachers, this three-day event helps you to both learn essential strategies and build community with other new Arizona teachers.
This year's keynote speaker is Dr. Marcia Tate, who returns to the ATA Beginning Teacher Institute to provide you with strategies to energize your classroom and your students' learning! You'll explore these topics during Dr. Tate's sessions:
What can you do when students would rather socialize than pay attention to your lesson? When students appear to lack motivation, how do teachers ensure that learning sticks? How can you best respond to learning loss caused by the pandemic? In this session, Dr. Tate will address those questions and also share:
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- Instructional strategies designed to maximize memory
- How to engage all students and addresses common behavior problems
- Classroom activities for various grade levels that teachers can implement immediately
- Action plans for incorporating each strategy to accelerate learning
Teacher Expectations and Student Achievement
More than 50 years of research shows us that you get what you expect. If you don't expect much for your students, you won't get much from them. In fact, students tend to live up or down to the expectations afforded them by the important people in their lives. During this session, Dr. Tate will share 15 interactions that teachers should use to convey their high expectations to all students, including:
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- calling on all students
- taking a personal interest in their lives
- praising their academic work
- remaining cool and calm when correcting misbehavior
Opening Keynote Speaker: Sarah Brown-Wessling, NBCT
Sarah Brown Wessling is the 2010 National Teacher of the Year and the Chief Council of School State Officer’s Director of the National Teacher of the Year Program. Sarah is also a 25-year veteran of the high school English classroom and former Teacher Laureate for the Teaching Channel. She has been a National Board Certified Teacher since 2005 and served as the Vice Chair for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Executive Board. She is a frequent speaker and facilitator of professional learning around the country and a devoted writer.
Emcee for the Event: Juliana Urtubey, NBCT
Juliana Urtubey, NBCT has used her platform as 2021 National Teacher of the Year to advocate for a “joyous and just” education for all students, one that is inclusive and celebratory of all students’ identities, families and communities. Juliana is a National Board Certified Teacher and holds a bachelor’s degree in bilingual elementary education and a master’s degree in special bilingual education from the University of Arizona.
Breakout Sessions facilitated by Arizona Teachers of the Year:
Michelle Doherty 2017, Kareem Neal 2019, Lynette Stant 2020, Sara Wyffels 2021, Nancy Parra-Quilan 2022, Efrain Casillas 2024, Emmett Burnton 2025 and 2019 Ambassador of Excellence, Dr. Maria Barker.
Join us for the 5th Annual Beginning Teacher Institute to fill your toolbox, expand your teacher community, and energize your next school year!
Additional Information
All times listed are in MST/Phoenix, AZ time.
Dates & Locations
Event Time
Jun 16, 2025, 10:00 am - 04:30 pm
Jun 17, 2025, 09:00 am - 04:30 pm
Jun 18, 2025, 09:00 am - 12:00 pm
Check-in Time
Jun 16, 2025 at 09:00 am
Jun 17, 2025 at 08:00 am
Jun 18, 2025 at 08:00 am
Venue
Registration Fee
$ 100.00
Registration with Lodging Accommodation Fee
$ 400.00
Registration Deadline
May 12, 2025
