September 21, 2023
NTSI 2023 - Uniting City Schools Educators
Imagine hundreds of new City Schools teachers gathered in an auditorium during summertime. The atmosphere is filled with palpable excitement and anticipation as they dive into preparing for a new year, new job, new school, and new group of students. The New Teacher Summer Institute (NTSI) creates such an environment every summer.
Nearly 400 teachers from more than 100 schools attended NTSI at Morgan State University over five days this year. The event carried the theme "City Schools 101". It served as the first in-person gathering for these teachers, offering an opportunity to learn more about City Schools, their role, curriculum, and instruction, exchange resources, and prepare for the upcoming academic year.
NTSI's eighth iteration maintained its tradition of hosting special speakers who provided insight into the teaching journey. Distinguished guests included representatives from the Baltimore Teacher Union, Chief of Human Capital Emily Neilson, Chief of Schools John Davis, Chief Academic Officer Dr. Joan Dabrowski, the Executive Director of Equity Dr. Tracey Durant, and Board Chair McFadden.
Teachers then participated in smaller group sessions led by experienced facilitators, with school-based staff members leading professional learning sessions. Informational panels featured students, coaches, and principals. A resource fair allowed partners and City Schools vendors like Kaiser Permanente and Be Well to interact with new teachers during lunch, providing information and answering questions.
The leadership behind this year's NTSI sought to maximize teachers' time together, evident in the event's success. Participant feedback demonstrated the passion and effectiveness of this year's NTSI restructuring. They emphasized the importance of educators meeting peers in similar settings to facilitate knowledge sharing and relationship building. Over 90 percent of teachers found each session valuable, citing the sense of community fostered by collaboration among new and veteran teachers. Participants highlighted the opportunity to share experiences and learn from one another.
The fellowship proved immeasurably beneficial. One participant remarked on a breakthrough: "I was finally able to understand my identity separate from my profession.”
NTSI is a vital support for new teachers – but it’s only the beginning! By matching new teachers with a new teacher-mentor, connecting them to a professional learning community, and providing them with resources throughout the year, City Schools ensures that our new teachers maintain the connections they need to succeed.