REGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 11, 2025 at 11:59 PM
June 23-26, 2025
AFT-WV is excited to announce our 28th annual weeklong educational summer program, scheduled for June 23-26, 2025 at Camp Dawson in Kingwood, WV.
This program is offered through the joint efforts of AFT-West Virginia, the Union Leadership Institute of the American Federation of Teachers, and West Virginia State University. The program is offered in the belief that training for union activists is essential to the development of a strong, pro-active union, and that active union members complement both pre-K-12 and higher education. Summer School 2025 will be held at Camp Dawson, located about 35 minutes from Morgantown, WV. Space is limited and the event fills up quickly, so register ASAP!
Graduate Credit
Three hours of graduate credit from West Virginia State University will be available to program participants who attend the full duration of Summer School 2025. Credit will be gained through coursework completed during Summer School 2025. The cost of the three hours of graduate credit from West Virginia State University is $230. Graduate credit cost is the responsibility of each participant. Registration information will be sent to participants after they are confirmed for attendance.
2025 Course Offerings
1. Leadership Skills & Advocacy Strategies
This course provides participants with a series of interrelated work to develop the skills and knowledge to support successful programs. It focuses on developing and executing solution-driven programs at the local level that will strengthen local education advocacy and promote meaningful change in education. The course will discuss the challenges in today's education environment; public attitude toward education issues; community outreach and influence; and federal, state, and local laws and policies. The course will offer strategies to help educators navigate these challenges and empower themselves, their local union and their profession.
2. Foundations of Effective Teaching
This research-based program consists of modules on effective teaching and learning strategies in the classroom. Topics include making the physical space of the classroom conducive to learning, the inclusion of technology, effective and innovative lesson plans and classroom management. Participants will collaborate daily with different veteran educators to learn time-tested best practices. This course requires the participant to bring their own technology device (iPad, tablet, smartphone, laptop, etc.)
3. Thinking Mathematics
Thinking Math is a standards-based, research-based approach to the teaching of mathematics. Teachers who participate in a Thinking Math course will be exposed to a variety of teaching techniques and math strategies that will help students understand math concepts and will find correlation with the math curriculum adopted in their county/district. This course includes strategies for bridging gaps in student achievement, research on the understanding of numbers across grade levels, mental math skills, multiplicative arrays, and the distributive property.
Tentative Agenda
Summer School begins on Monday with a general session followed by classes. We will start the day with an All-Institute session each morning and classes will be held until 4:30 pm.
The event begins as follows:
Monday, June 23
11:30 am- 2 pm Registration
1 pm Orientation
2- 4:30 pm Class time
Tuesday, June 24 - Wednesday, June 25
8:30- 9:30 am All-Institute Session
9:30 am- 4:30 pm Class time
Thursday, June 26
8:30 am- 2:00 pm Class time
2:00 pm All-Institute Program
Closing Ceremonies
Participant Registration Fees and Local Costs
Individuals must pay a $80 individual registration fee. There will be no refunds for cancellations and no-show.
If Summer School reaches capacity and registration is closed, there will be a waitlist option in case of cancellations.
AFT-WV Summer School participation is limited to dues-paying members in good standing only.
Room and board for the week is covered by your local union and AFT-WV.
Please contact your local president to alert them to your interest in attending, as space is limited and local unions are responsible for a $220 registration fee per participant. Locals must pay a $130 fee per commuter. The number of participants sent by a local is at the discretion of the local president. After obtaining approval from your local president, you will be provided a code to enter into the online registration form to indicate your local has approved your attendance. Please refrain from sharing the approval code without the local president's consent.
Call AFT-WV at 1-800-222-9838 if you do not know who your local president is or need their contact information.
If you work in a county or at an institution that does not have a chartered local, contact Jennifer Wood at 1-800-222-9838.
Location:
Camp Dawson
240 Army Road
Kingwood, WV 26537
Due to the security regulations at Camp Dawson, you must provide your driver's license and vehicle plate information in the registration form. Camp Dawson security will ask to see your photo identification upon entry to the base.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE - May 5, 2025
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
If you have questions about Summer School, contact your staff representative, local president or call 1-800-222-9838.