Windsor Charter Academy Summer Institute
May 26-29, 2026
Windsor Charter Academy’s Summer Institute offers a high-quality, affordable professional development opportunity for educators. This four-day institute features engaging STEM-focused sessions exploring how AI supports teachers, effective AI prompting, Canva, coding, and high-impact math and science instructional practices. Participants will learn how to design AI-ready assignments, strengthen inquiry and differentiation, and better support diverse learners using practical, classroom-ready tools and instructional strategies. Summer Institute also includes a full-day AVID Reading training that enhances literacy instruction through structured thinking routines that promote deeper comprehension, discussion, and academic ownership.
Summer Institute courses may be used to fulfill licensure renewal hours, meet horizontal advancement requirements, and promote professional growth. To earn horizontal advancement credit, participants must attend two 2-hour sessions to meet the minimum 0.25 credit requirement. Attendance at only one 2-hour session does not meet the minimum seat-hour threshold for credit.
Registration for WCA’s Summer Institute is open!
Visit the WCA Summer Institute webpage to view course offerings, read session descriptions, and complete your registration.
The registration cost is $5 for every two hours of training. A 4-hour session is $10. Please note that no refunds will be issued for any session.
Sessions will be held at Windsor Charter Academy Middle & High School.
All sessions are capped at 30 participants. Once sessions are full, no other registrants will be accepted.
Registration closes on April 6th at 4:00 p.m.
Participants must attend at least two 2-hour sessions to earn 0.25 credit. Each additional pair of 2-hour sessions earns an additional 0.25 credit.
We hope to see you at Windsor Charter Academy’s Summer Institute. It's a great way to network and expand your professional skill set!
Register for Courses
Fluency First: Rethinking Math Facts
Instructors: Kim Rudolph, Instructional Coach
Automaticity with basic math facts is essential for success at every grade level. In this session, educators will explore effective, research-informed intervention strategies that move beyond memorization and skip-counting songs to build true fluency and understanding. Participants will learn how to support students who struggle with math facts through intentional practice, strategic routines, and targeted instructional approaches. Leave with practical tools to help every student develop confidence, accuracy, and readiness for grade-level math learning.
Date, Time, and Location: May 26th from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. in HS Room #184
Target Audience: K - 8 math teachers
Cap: 30 participants
Materials to Bring: Computer
Cost: $5
AI-Powered Inquiry: Students Asking Smarter Questions
Instructor: Amber Sullivan, High School Science Teacher
Transform how students use AI—from shortcut to thinking partner. In this interactive session, secondary educators will practice concrete strategies for teaching students to leverage AI for inquiry, critical thinking, and meaningful feedback. Participants will learn how to move classroom conversations beyond “what not to do” and into clear, practical guidance that positions AI as a learning co-pilot rather than an answer machine. Leave with ready-to-use approaches that strengthen questioning, reflection, and academic ownership.
Date, Time, and Location: May 26th from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. in HS Room #186
Targeted Audience: Secondary teachers
Cap: 30 participants
Materials to Bring: Computer
Cost: $5
Designing Safe Student AI Spaces
Instructor: Angie Shaler, Elementary School Innovation Lab Teacher
Explore how to turn AI into a safe, engaging, and personalized learning partner for K–8 students. In this hands-on session, educators will learn how to design controlled AI workspaces that promote responsible use while still encouraging creativity and curiosity. Participants will also discover time-saving teacher productivity tools and practical strategies for setting clear boundaries that empower students to learn with confidence. Walk away ready to build AI experiences that are guided, intentional, and instructionally meaningful.
Date, Time, and Location: May 26th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in HS Room #187
Targeted Audience: K-12 teachers
Cap: 30 participants
Materials to Bring: Computer
Cost: $5
Block Party! Coding Fundamentals for Every Teacher
Instructor: Kel Madigent, Middle School STEM Teacher
Have you ever wanted to learn the basics of a language in a day? With block coding, you absolutely can! Go beyond the one-pager and empower students to elevate their projects with cross-content knowledge accessible for all ages. Also, you get to play with robots!
Date, Time, and Location: May 26th from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. in MS Room #147
Targeted Audience: K-12 teachers
Cap: 30 participants
Materials to Bring: Computer
Cost: $10
Bridge Builders: Designing Instruction That Launches College-Ready Juniors
Instructor: Mia Dellanini, Director of High School Education, and Rachel Preece, High School Assistant Principal
Concurrent-enrollment teachers will examine the real academic demands of junior-level college coursework and honestly assess whether their current instruction prepares students for entry into college at this level.
Date, Time, and Location: May 26th from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. in HS Room #184
Targeted Audience: High School Concurrent Enrollment Instructors
Cap: 30 participants
Materials to Bring: Computer
Cost: $10
Using Seesaw to Differentiate and Guide Instruction
Instructors: Anne Watson, Elementary School Dean of Students
Discover practical ways to use Seesaw to personalize learning and strengthen instructional impact. In this workshop, teachers will engage with the Using Seesaw for Differentiation, Instruction, & Growth course while collaborating with colleagues to share ideas, reflect, and apply new learning. Participants will explore how Seesaw tools can support differentiation, guide student learning with intention, and respond to student data. Leave with strategies and ready-to-use approaches that help meet the needs of diverse learners.
Date, Time, and Location: May 27th from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. in HS Room #184
Targeted Audience: K-1 teachers
Cap: 30 participants
Materials to Bring: Computer, curriculum manuals or online access to instructional materials, and access to relevant student data
Cost: $5
From Ideas to Impact: Canva in Action
Instructor: Angie Shaler, Elementary Innovation Lab Teacher
Unlock the full creative power of Canva for teaching and learning. In this dynamic session, educators will explore Canva’s AI-powered design tools for image generation, video creation, infographics, presentations, and more. Participants will learn how to streamline lesson materials, elevate student projects, and foster creativity across content areas. Whether designing instructional resources or empowering students to create, this session will show how Canva transforms ideas into engaging, professional-quality learning experiences.
Date, Time, and Location: May 27th from 8:00 to10:00 a.m. in HS Room #186
Targeted Audience: K-12 teachers
Cap: 30 participants
Materials to Bring: Computer
Cost: $5
Integrate, Don't Intimidate: Thoughtful AI Use in the Classroom
Instructor: Kel Madigent, Middle School STEM Teacher
Feeling overwhelmed by the rapid rise of AI in education? This session is designed to demystify AI tools and transform the way you approach them in your subject area. We’ll move past the fear of misuse and focus on purposeful, responsible integration through the formation of a stoplight system that eliminates ambiguity and empowers students to make ethical choices from the start. Say goodbye to intimidation and hello to thoughtful integration!
Date, Time, and Location: May 27th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in MS Room #147
Targeted Audience: K-12 teachers
Cap: 30 participants
Materials to Bring: Computer
Cost: $5
Gemini's Toolbox: Empowering Teachers and Students with Next-Gen AI
Instructor: Kel Madigent, Middle School STEM Teacher
Feeling the pressure to use AI but unsure where to begin? Start right here! This session is a zero-overwhelm guide to integrating Gemini, the powerful AI assistant that already fits perfectly into your Google Classroom environment. We will focus exclusively on practical, everyday uses of Gemini to help you, whether it's adding innovation to your lesson plans or searching for professional development opportunities.
Date, Time, and Location: May 27th from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. in MS Room #147
Targeted Audience: K-12 teachers
Cap: 30 participants
Materials to Bring: Computer
Cost: $5
Thinking Like a Mathematician
Instructor: Kim Rudolph, Instructional Coach
Design math instruction that builds thinkers, not just calculators. In this session, educators will learn how to address all eight Common Core Standards for Mathematical Practice within a workshop model of instruction. Participants will explore how explicit thinking strategy instruction deepens mathematical understanding and supports meaningful problem-solving. Through modeled lessons and discussion strategies, teachers will gain practical approaches for engaging all learners in mathematical discourse, preparing students to make sense of math, succeed on assessments, and apply problem-solving skills beyond the classroom.
Date, Time, and Location: May 27th from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in HS Room #186
Targeted Audience: K-8 math teachers
Cap: 30 participants
Materials to Bring: Computer
Cost: $5
AI-Ready Assessment & Assignment Design
Instructor: Mia Dellanini, High School Principal, and Amber Sullivan, High School Science Teacher
Design assignments that stand strong in an AI-powered classroom. In this session, middle and high school educators will explore how to intentionally redesign assessments and assignments using three key frameworks: AI-resistant, AI-transparent, and AI-enhanced. Participants will examine how pedagogical choices drive design, ensuring rigor, authenticity, and student ownership. By the end of the session, each participant will leave with at least one redesigned, ready-to-use assignment or assessment aligned to their instructional goals.
Date, Time, and Location: May 27th from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in HS Room #184
Targeted Audience: Secondary teachers
Cap: 30 participants
Materials to Bring: Computer
Cost: $5
AI for Access: Supporting Students with Increased Needs
Instructor: Valerie Perciante, Middle School Assistant Principal
Create more accessible, responsive learning experiences with the support of AI. In this session, educators will explore how AI tools can strengthen instruction for students with increased learning needs, including special education populations. Participants will learn practical strategies for differentiation, scaffolding, and feedback while maintaining high expectations and instructional rigor. Walk away with actionable approaches that use AI to remove barriers, increase independence, and support every learner’s success.
Date, Time, and Location: May 28th from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. in HS Room #184
Targeted Audience: Upper elementary and secondary teachers
Cap: 30 participants
Materials to Bring: Computer
Cost: $5
Level Up Your Google Workflow
Instructor: Michael Unruh, Technology Manager
Unlock the full potential of Google Workspace with advanced tools, extensions, and add-ons designed to streamline your workflow. In this hands-on session, educators will explore practical ways to enhance lesson planning, instruction, grading, and assessment using powerful Google features. Participants will learn how to increase efficiency, automate routine tasks, and leverage tools that improve organization and feedback. Leave with actionable strategies to make Google Workspace work smarter for you and your students.
Date, Time, and Location: May 28th from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. in HS Room #186
Targeted Audience: K-12 educators
Cap: 30 participants
Materials to Bring: Computer
Cost: $5
Prompting with Purpose: AI for Elementary Classrooms
Instructor: Jessica Wilson, Elementary School Principal
Help AI work the way you need it to, simply and effectively. In this interactive session, elementary educators will learn how to craft clear, age-appropriate prompts that support lesson planning, differentiation, visuals, and student-friendly content. Participants will practice prompting AI to create activities, scaffolded materials, and feedback that match elementary learning needs. Leave with easy prompting strategies that save time, support creativity, and strengthen instruction in K–5 classrooms.
Date, Time, and Location: May 28th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in HS Room #187
Targeted Audience: Elementary school teachers
Cap: 30 participants
Materials to Bring: Computer
Cost: $5
It’s All About the Prompt
Instructor: Mia Dellanini, High School Principal, and Amber Sullivan, High School Science Teacher
Discover how the right prompt unlocks the full power of AI. In this hands-on session, educators will explore four AI tools available for classroom use and practice crafting prompts that lead to specific instructional outcomes. Participants will refine prompts to generate images, lesson plans, assessments, and modified lessons aligned to learning goals. Leave with a clear understanding of how intentional prompting transforms AI from a novelty into a reliable instructional partner.
Date, Time, and Location: May 28th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in HS Room #189
Targeted Audience: Secondary teachers
Cap: 30 participants
Materials to Bring: Computer
Cost: $5
Slide, Spark, Engage! Interactive Presentation Tools
Instructor: Jessica Wilson, Elementary School Principal
Participants will explore high-impact presentation tools that transform passive slides into active learning experiences. Learn how to connect Google Slides to create engaging “riddle rooms” and interactive pathways, and explore free features of tools like Curipod and Mentimeter. Explore ways to teach students how to create and embed videos, animations, and podcasts to showcase their learning. Teachers will leave with ready-to-use ideas, example templates, and practical strategies they can immediately apply to increase student engagement and participation.
Date, Time, and Location: May 28th from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. in HS Room #184
Targeted Audience: Elementary school teachers
Cap: 30 participants
Materials to Bring: Computer
Cost: $5
Cyber Clash! Gamifying Content for Students
Instructor: Kel Madigent, Middle School STEM Teacher
Get away from dry lectures and gamify a unit in your classroom. This hands-on approach ensures students don’t just memorize terms, but internalize the nuances of content. Learn how this was developed and leave with a toolkit you can implement in your classroom. Join the battle!
Date, Time, and Location: May 28th from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. in MS Room #147
Targeted Audience: Upper elementary and secondary school teachers
Cap: 30 participants
Materials to Bring: Computer, a unit/lesson that lacks engagement
Cost: $5
Teaching Science Through Phenomena: Designing Instruction for Sensemaking
Instructor: Kim Rudolph, Instructional Coach
This session focuses on how using phenomena can transform science instruction by giving students a meaningful reason to ask questions, investigate, and build explanations. Rather than starting with topics or vocabulary, participants will explore how real-world, observable phenomena anchor instruction and guide learning over time. Teachers will examine what makes a strong phenomenon, how it supports student curiosity and coherence across lessons, and what instructional shifts help students actively make sense of what they observe.
Date, Time, and Location: May 28th from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in HS Room #186
Targeted Audience: K-12 science teachers
Cap: 30 participants
Materials to Bring: Computer and curriculum manuals or online access to instructional materials
Cost: $5
AVID Reading: Building a Culture of Thinking
Instructor: Kim Rudolph, Instructional Coach
Strengthen literacy instruction by teaching students how to do the work of readers, not just complete reading tasks. In this full-day AVID Reading session, educators will learn and practice core comprehension strategies—monitoring for meaning, questioning, inferring, determining importance, synthesizing, and problem-solving—and examine how these strategies shift reading from “find the theme” to purposeful sense-making. Participants will apply each strategy to real reading instruction, designing lessons that align to standards while requiring students to carry the cognitive burden: noticing patterns, constructing meaning, and justifying their thinking with evidence. The session emphasizes building a classroom culture where students actively think, reflect, and engage deeply with texts across content areas.
Date, Time, and Location: May 29th from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in HS Room #184/186
Targeted Audience: K-12 teachers
Cap: 30 participants
Materials to Bring: Computer and curriculum manuals or online access to instructional materials
Cost: $20