The Summer Poetry Teachers Institute is a free professional development opportunity for educators who want to incorporate more poetry in their teaching practice. Participants connect with peers and renowned practitioners in seminars, hands-on workshops, and small break-out sessions. They leave the 4.5-day experience with poetry lessons/unit plans to bring back to their classrooms and professional development credits from the Illinois State Board of Education. Since its inception in 2015, hundreds of K-12 and community college educators have formed lasting communities of poetry ambassadors who are expanding poetry education for young people in the United States and beyond.

2026 Summer Poetry Teachers Institute Details

Schedule

• Monday, July 13-Wednesday, July 15, 8:30 AM-4 PM
• Thursday, July 16, 9:45 AM-3 PM, optional reading and reception in the evening
• Friday, July 17, 8:30 AM-12:30 PM

Session Leaders and Speakers (more to be announced soon!)

• Lauren DeJulio Bell
• Lucy Biederman
• Kathy Higgs-Coulthard
• Lupe Mendez
• Faisal Mohyuddin
• Vera Naputi
• Kenyatta Rogers
• Michelle Schaub

Eligibility

• K-12 and community college educators, librarians, and administrators
• New and experienced educators, including those who enjoy teaching poetry and those who have struggled or are new to it
• Previous attendees are welcome to apply
• Registrants must be able to commit to participating throughout the entire 4.5 days

Additional Details

• Participants receive 30 hours of professional development credits from the Illinois State Board of Education
• Applicants must choose a teaching level track at the time of application (elementary (K-5), middle (6-8), high (9-12), or community college
• Applicants are notified of acceptance in late April or early May 2026
• The Institute takes place over 4.5 days (Monday-Friday) in July 2026
• Past session leaders have included Denise Duhamel, Margarita Engle, Juan Felipe Herrera, Ilya Kaminsky, Airea D. Matthews, Lupe Mendez, Naomi Shihab Nye, Patricia Smith, and avery r. young.
• Past locations have included Miami and Chicago; smaller Institutes have taken place in Columbus, Miami, and Tucson