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May is Mental Health Awareness Month!
This year’s theme, More Good Days, Together, highlights the power of connection in supporting well-being. Across our Commonwealth Listening Tour, we consistently heard that student mental health support is more important than ever. Addressing behavioral and mental health needs is essential to student learning and overall well-being, and teachers, school leaders, and central office staff continue to call for additional supports. To help build awareness and strengthen practice, the VDOE Career and Learning Center offers on-demand modules and conference presentations focused on improving student behavioral health. Additionally, the VDOE Office of Behavioral Health and Student Safety webpage highlights ongoing initiatives and resources supporting student well-being across the Commonwealth. Together, we can help create more good days for students and educators alike.
James River Association Summer Professional Learning Opportunities
This summer, the James River Association invites educators to step outside the classroom and dive into the ecology, data, and future of the James River. The professional development workshops are designed to empower teachers with hands-on, immersive experiences—from earning certified paddling skills and exploring freshwater mussel habitats to conducting real-world field science aboard the Spirit of the James. Whether you are looking to integrate Problem-Based Learning into your curriculum, design innovative green infrastructure projects, or master new data-driven labs, these sessions provide the tools, resources, and inspiration you need to bring the science of the river directly to your students. Learn more today from the James River Association.
North Tier: Time for you: A Summer of Professional Learning
This summer take some time to learn things that did not fit into your super-busy school-year schedule. With North Tier’s 100% online courses, you can build your expertise with the unique blend of instructor-led guidance and "work-when-you-can" flexibility. The courses are a wonderful way to learn more while gaining 30 recertification points, or optionally, 2 graduate credits. Register today. Online courses begin June 1 and end on July 19.
SURN Online Summer Learning
Join SURN on June 14-19 for online, asynchronous professional learning opportunities! Each course in the online learning series is organized into five modules with opportunities to explore relevant topics. K-12 teachers and instructional leaders can expect to spend 4-6 flexible hours online each week, engaging in activities that help build their foundational understanding and practical strategies and skills. To view the list of SURN courses and to register, visit Online Summer Learning.
The Poe Museum Professional Development Opportunity
The Poe Museum will be hosting two professional development workshops this year. The in-person workshop will be hosted on June 15 and a virtual workshop will be on June 17. These workshops are completely free for educators. Register today!
Math Summer Institute for Teachers
Join the Virginia Department of Education, Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Education, and several Virginia school divisions on June 15–16 for the Math Summer Institute! Designed for teachers, this two-day event will explore research-based strategies for implementing HQIM curriculum models. Learn alongside nationally recognized speakers and passionate educators through hands-on sessions, collaboration, and practical classroom ideas you can use right away to increase student engagement and achievement. Learn more today!
SURN Leadership Conference
The 28th annual SURN Leadership Conference held on June 15-16, brings together school and district leaders to look, listen, and learn as they explore problems of practice. This year’s theme, Learning Leaders IMAGINE, invites leaders to visualize education from a different perspective. The keynote speakers, session leaders, and staff will focus on helping leaders imagine schools where leaders innovate and create as they meet the changing needs of students. Register today or see SURN for more information.
Content Teaching Academy
Registration is now open for the Adapted Physical Education Content Teaching Academy at James Madison University. This professional learning experience will take place June 22-25, and offers practical, research-based strategies for designing and delivering instruction aligned with the Virginia Physical Education Standards of Learning. The Academy will focus on inclusion strategies, specially designed instruction, and high-leverage instructional practices to increase access, engagement, and success for all learners. It is designed for physical education teachers, paraeducators, and health and physical education supervisors. A $400 stipend is provided upon successful completion. Register or learn more today.
Moton Museum Teacher Institute
History, civics, or government teachers seeking additional resources and support for teaching the Civil Rights Era are invited to participate in the Moton Museum’s immersive three-day teacher institute, taking place June 24–26. Educators will investigate the role of judicial review throughout America’s history, Jim Crow Recreation for Black Americans, primary resource analysis techniques, and Moton Museum history. In partnership with John Marshall House and returning to Twin Lakes State Park, the institute includes food, lodging, and online coursework for a suggested 60 recertification points. The registration fee will be reimbursed upon successful completion of the course through a $250 stipend. Register today!
Immersion in Action: Free PD Workshop for World Language Teachers
Registration is now open for Immersion in Action, a one‑day workshop for world language teachers held on June 26 at Washington and Lee University. Participants will observe live full-immersion language classes, unpack what they see with colleagues, and then design and try out their own immersion-rich lessons. Registration is free and applicants will be accepted on a rolling basis beginning May 26 with the goal of balancing regional representation. Participants may purchase meals on site.
Zearn Math Summer Intensive Series
Zearn’s Summer Intensive Series helps rising Grade 1-9 students build a deep understanding of the foundational math concepts to support grade-level learning in 2026-27. Each 4-to-6-week series of adaptive digital lessons and instructional materials is designed to flexibly support summer math learning during in-school programming, tutoring or at home. Download and customize a lesson tracker for students to track their progress and celebrate their hard work with a certificate. Access the challenge today!
Biotech in a Box
Biotech in a Box continues its commitment to hands-on STEM education by providing biotechnology themed experiment kits aligned with the Virginia Standards of Learning. Each kit includes all equipment, supplies, and solutions needed for hands-on laboratory investigations in the classroom. In addition to the kits, four thermal cyclers are available for teachers who would like to explore polymerase chain reactions with their students. To learn more about individual kits, visit the Biotech in a Box website.
Virginia Colleges & Universities
Early Childhood Endorsement Opportunities
Longwood University offers the required coursework for both the Early Childhood Special Education Endorsement and the Special Education Add-on Endorsement in a convenient online format. Register for a Zoom information session on May 26 at 6 p.m. or contact professionalstudies@longwood.edu for more information.
2026 Summit of the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC)
MERC will bring together hundreds of stakeholders across educational research, policy, and practice in the Richmond region on June 25. The program features 40 presentations across 18 interactive breakouts on a variety of topics pertinent to public PK-12 schools, such as: chronic absenteeism, mental health, artificial intelligence, collaborative leadership, teacher retention, supporting students with disabilities and more. Participants will receive a certificate for seven hours to be used for professional learning credit. Learn more today.
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