Summer Academy

Summer Academy 2025

June 9-12, 2025

Lake Buena Vista Highschool

11305 Daryl Carter Pkwy. Orlando, FL 32836

Summer Academy Info

The FEA Summer Academy is a multi-day conference geared toward emerging, new and seasoned leaders of the Florida Education Association — from locals of all sizes.

This year’s Summer Academy runs from Monday, June 9 – Thursday, June 12 2024 and will be held at the Lake Buena Vista Highschool (11305 Daryl Carter Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32836).

Conference activities are planned to meet the needs of all levels of experience.

This week-long event will feature hands-on activities to hone the skills needed to meet the challenges of locals of all sizes. Participants register for the trainings of their choice. If you are interested in attending Summer Academy please contact your Local Union President.

Summer Academy Costs

Registration: $100
Hotel registration deadline: May 7
Room Block Option 1- Embassy Suites Orlando Lake Buena Vista: $159 per night
(does not include a 12.5% tax)

Free breakfast
Self-Parking $25 per day
Incidental holds are $100 for the entire stay.
Room Block Option 2- Courtyard Orlando Lake Buena Vista at Vista Centre: $139 per night
(does not include a 12.5% tax)

Free breakfast
Self-Parking $20 per day
Incidental holds are $100 for the entire stay.

Please note: Registration is handled by your local. Members interested in attending the FEA Summer Academy should contact their local union.

Questions and Answers about Summer Academy

When and where is the 2025 FEA Summer Academy?

This year’s Summer Academy will be held June 9-12, 2025.

This year’s Summer Academy will be held at Lake Buena Vista Highschool (11305 Daryl Carter Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32836).

What will the FEA Summer Academy provide?

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn new skills, enhance skills and become more familiar with their union’s programs. Members will gain a better under-standing of the entire union movement and how they can be part of advocating and organizing for our public schools.

Who can benefit from the FEA Summer Academy?

Everyone can benefit, but space is limited. Those who attend would most benefit if they are emerging, new and seasoned leaders.

Do I have to attend all sessions for my training?

The conference is specifically designed so you can choose the area of education that best suits the needs of your local. Sessions range from one to four days.

What does registration include?

Registration includes breakfast, lunch and training materials (as applicable).

Please note: Registration does not include hotel reservations.

Top 10 Reasons to Attend the FEA Summer Academy

10. Learn the nuts and bolts of bargaining. Introduction to bargaining for the novice. We all had to start somewhere – so why not learn from the best in the field!

9. Enhance your leadership skills. Gain the knowledge essential to building stronger locals, better serving your members and developing stronger professional relationships.

8. Networking, networking, networking. FEA Summer Academy is a great opportunity to meet your peers and learn from each other, as well as find a mentor or two.

7. Share and learn organizing techniques that work. Come participate in group discussions on how to make your local thrive in today’s changing world.

6. Build strong union advocacy. Have a voice in issues affecting your profession.

5. Connect. Connect with national faculty, state staff and attendees, and with your peers all year round – attend and make those connections and be only an email, text or phone call away.

4. Tips, ideas and more! The conference provides a great way to collect new ideas and strategies for your many initiatives.

3. Politics begin at home. The 2020 election cycle will be here before you know it. This election cycle can change the face of Florida and the United States. Don’t sit on the sidelines and miss a great opportunity to elect pro-public education candidates.

2. Communicate like a pro. Develop a truly engaging and responsive communication style, leading to positive results for you and your local.

1. Yes, your local can run like a well-oiled machine! Build a stronger local, better serve your members and become a strong public education advocate in your community.

Summer Academy Course Descriptions

40-Hour Reading/Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Train the Trainer

Mon. 1-5pm / Tues. 9am-5pm / Wed. 9am-5pm / Thurs. 9am-12pm

Facilitators: Louisa Bell, Lake CEA and Dr. Sharon Walsh, Clay CEA

Registration requirements:

ESE Certified or Reading Endorsed/Reading Certified
Professional Teaching Certificate
President Approval to attend

This train the trainer class will be geared towards preparing local PD trainers to facilitate the 40-hour Reading/ESE course. The 40-hour Reading/ESE course was created to fulfill the Florida statute requirement for renewal or reinstatement of a professional certificate under rule 6A-4.0051. This course prepares educators to offer evidence-based instruction and interventions specifically designed for students with characteristics of dyslexia, including the use of explicit, systematic, and sequential approaches to reading instruction that develops phonological and phonemic awareness, decoding, and implementing multisensory intervention strategies. This course focuses on instruction in reading including oral language, phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. In addition, participants also learn about The Science of Reading as well as interventions required for students with reading challenges including ELLs, students with characteristics of dyslexia, ADHD, SLD, and additional special needs.

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Domain 1: Culture (Cross Cultural Communications) Train-the-Trainer [NEW]

Mon. 1-5pm / Tues. 9am-5pm / Wed. 9am-5pm / Thurs. 9am-12pm

Facilitators: Dr. Teresa Ward, VUE

Registration requirements:

Have local President’s approval
Have a Professional FL teaching certificate and at least 3-years of experience
Be certified in ESOL

ESOL D-1 is designed to meet the Florida ESOL endorsement requirements. Teachers working with English language learners are required to have specialized knowledge and skills for instruction of second language acquisition for students of diverse cultures and languages, and at different English proficiency levels.

Locals will need to collaborate with their district to attain approval of the 60 credit hours. Upon completion, participants will be prepared to offer this course in their local and have access to instructional materials.

The focus of each session is:

Session 1: Cultural Values and Beliefs
Session 2: Effects of Culture on Learning and Academic Progress
Session 3: Cultural Experience Resources
Session 4: Effects of Racism, Stereotyping, and Discrimination
Session 5: Home/ School Connections to Build Partnerships
Session 6: The Interrelationship Between Language and Culture

Students with Disabilities 1.0 Train-the-Trainer [formally ESE 20-hr. recertification]

Mon. 1-5pm / Tues. 9am-5pm / Wed. 9am-5pm / Thurs. 9am-12pm

Facilitators: Brandie Gogel, Polk EA and Robyn Silva, Polk EA

Registration requirements:

Have local President’s approval
Have a Professional FL teaching certificate and at least 3-years of experience
Be certified in ESE

SWD 1.0 is designed to meet the re-certification requirements of Senate Bill 1108. All professionally certified teachers need 20 hours of ESE instruction to recertify. Specialized skills and knowledge are needed to teach students with disabilities with the understanding of how disabilities affect students academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally.

Locals will need to collaborate with their district to attain approval for the 20 recertification hours. Upon completion, participants will be prepared to offer this course in their local and have access to instructional materials. The focus of each module is:

Module 1: ESE 101 – background and components of IEPs
Module 2: Building Relationships with Students
Module 3: Students’ Behavior
Module 4: Compliance and Responsibility
Module 5: Building Relationships with Helping Adults

Students with Disabilities 2.0 Train-the-Trainer [New ESE 20-hour recertification]

Mon. 1-5pm / Tues. 9am-5pm / Wed. 9am-5pm / Thurs. 9am-12pm

Facilitator: Helen Hamel, Marion CEA and Cristi Schank, Marion CEA

Registration requirements:

Have local President’s approval
Have a Professional FL teaching certificate and at least 3-years of experience
Be certified in ESE

SWD 2.0 is designed to meet the re-certification requirements of Senate Bill 1108. All professionally certified teachers need 20 hours of ESE instruction each recertification period. SWD 1.0 is not a prerequisite for taking SWD 2.0. Specialized skills and knowledge are needed to teach students with disabilities with the understanding of how disabilities affect students. Locals will need to collaborate with their district to attain approval for the 20 recertification hours. Upon completion, participants will be prepared to offer this course in their local and have access to instructional materials.

The focus of each module is:

Module 1: Setting the Context – identify supports, IEP law & documentation
Module 2: Characteristics of Categories (IDEA)
Module 3: Classroom Culture
Module 4: Instructional Strategies
Module 5: Behaviors

Shifting the Paradigm: Equity-Centered Conversations for Building the Leader Within

Mon. 1-5pm / Tues. 9am-5pm / Wed. 9am-5pm / Thurs. 9am-12pm

Facilitators: Dr. Primrose Cameron, FEA and Leven “Chuck” Wilson, AFT, and Dr. Lekita Howard, VUE

This interactive workshop empowers union leaders to engage in transformative, equity-centered dialogues designed to cultivate leadership from within. Participants will explore strategies to challenge systemic inequities, identify their own leadership strengths, and learn how to lead through an equity-focused lens. Grounded in the understanding that wellness and equity are interconnected, this session also emphasizes the importance of personal and collective well-being as a foundation for effective leadership. Through reflective practices, group discussions, and actionable frameworks, participants will explore how prioritizing mental, emotional, and communal wellness strengthens leadership capacity and sustains advocacy efforts. By building internal leadership resilience and centering wellness, participants will leave prepared to foster more inclusive, just, and supportive organizational cultures—while advocating for systemic change and elevating the voices of all members.

Education Staff Professional (ESP) Leadership and Learning

Mon. 1-5pm / Tues. 9am-5pm / Wed. 9am-5pm / Thurs. 9am-5pm

Facilitators: Maryanne Hyacinthe, Polk EA, Tiffany Kane, Okeechobee CEA, and Valerie Jessup, VUE

This course is open to all Education Staff Professionals who are interested in enhancing their leadership skills and expanding their knowledge surrounding Education Staff Professionals. The course will focus on areas including Education Staff Professional Leadership, Navigating Education Staff Professional Career Language, Basics for ESP Personal Safety in the Workplace, and Professional Ethics and Boundaries for Educational Staff Professionals. Join us as we learn and explore ways to lead within your local.

Strategies for Student Success (Behavior Management)

Mon. 1-5pm / Tues. 9am-5pm / Wed. 9am-5pm / Thurs. 9am-5pm

Facilitators: Patricia Randall, AFT & Jen Scorza, AFT

In this bundle of SSS modules, participants will explore the importance of making connections and building relationships when creating a learning environment that promotes a sense of belonging and school success. These modules ask participants to draw on student experiences, community resources and family support in order to build and nurture positive and healthy classrooms and school communities:

Rethinking Punishment

It is important to identify behavior that impedes learning and apply interventions that promote positive student attitudes to learning and the acquisition of social skills. Through hands-on and reflective activities, participants in this SSS module will learn how to identify the root cause of disruptive behavior by determining the questions they should ask in order to implement an appropriate intervention.

Students with Challenges

In education, currency is a medium of exchange, and any behavior students use to acquire knowledge and skills functions as currency. However, students who are “wired” differently or face traumatic experiences may not possess this currency. This session demonstrates how to meet students where they are to ensure success.

Engaging with Families as Educational Partners

We need to communicate with our students’ families, but how do we do it successfully? How do we develop an empowering partnership that works to help our students reach their highest potential? Research can provide us with answers. This SSS module outlines how and when to talk most effectively with families, the kind of school climate that fosters a positive learning and working environment, and what teachers can do to help families discover how to effectively support student learning at home.

Facilitating the Learning Environment: Building Relationships, Self-Regulation, and Student Agency (Foundations)

Mon. 1-5pm / Tues. 9am-5pm / Wed. 9am-5pm / Thurs. 9am-5pm

Facilitators: Kimberly Skukalek, AFT and Allison Thomas, AFT

This module is part of the AFT Professional Learning Course, Foundations of Effective Teaching

Unlock the power of a positive and inclusive classroom with Facilitating the Learning Environment! This dynamic course empowers educators with the tools, strategies, and confidence to create a classroom where every student feels valued, supported, and motivated to succeed. Dive into intentional, research-based approaches that strengthen relationships with students and families, nurture positive behavior, and promote student agency. Through interactive activities and reflection, you’ll craft a personalized classroom management system by co-creating norms, rules, and procedures with your students, fostering a sense of ownership and shared responsibility. Equip yourself with evidence-based strategies for managing challenging behaviors, cultivating self-regulation, and ensuring lasting success for all students. Don’t just manage your classroom—transform it into a thriving, empowering learning space!

Bargaining for Power

Mon. 1-5pm / Tues. 9am-5pm / Wed. 9am-5pm / Thurs. 9am-5pm

Facilitators: FEA and NEA Staff

This training will be focused on how a local builds and uses power to have successful negotiations at the bargaining table. We will discuss the basics of building a team and developing your overall strategy, as well as using the interest around bargaining to build structures in your worksites. Locals will learn the skills needed to be successful both at and away from the negotiating table. Locals will learn to use this most powerful opportunity to engage and activate members for the one thing members care about most. What to do with members once they are engaged, and how to use the leverage they create. We will focus on what the union’s rights are during negotiations and how to ensure that we do not give up these rights during negotiations. Participating locals will leave this training with a complete plan for success in future negotiations.

FEA Presidents Training

Mon. 1-5pm / Tues. 9am-5pm / Wed. 9am-5pm / Thurs. 9am-5pm

Facilitators: Andrew Spar, President FEA and Rob Weil, AFT

Are you wondering how AI will impact your work as a local president? Are you looking for ways to build power? First, we will spend time with Rob Weil from AFT talking about the impact AI has on our work. Then the rest of this session will be structured around Jane Mcalevey’s book, Rules to Win By. This will be a hands-on session focused on building power by connecting bargaining, communication, membership, and member engagement. We will examine our exec board and rep structure, our membership numbers, and our approach to bargaining. We are asking all local presidents to come prepared to share, learn and plan.

FEA Officers Training

Mon. 1-5pm / Tues. 9am-5pm / Wed. 9am-5pm / Thurs. 9am-5pm

Facilitators: Carole Gauronskas, Vice President FEA and Nandi Riley, Secretary Treasurer FEA

This training is for local union officers, who are not presidents and will focus on the role of officers in helping move the local president’s vision for a powerful union. Participants will review their local’s governing documents, talk about their role and responsibilities as a local officer and spend time better understanding bargaining, membership, and communications. Participants will join the local presidents for the AI training and for planning on the last day.

CPR, AED and Adult First Aid Instructor Development Course

Mon. 1-5pm / Tues. 9am-5pm / Wed. 9am-5pm

Facilitators: Marcelino Rivera, FEA and Mike Dale, FEA/AFT, Alison Rissing, AFT

Required Materials:

Participants must bring a laptop computer, tablet or device to this course.
Headphones or earbuds are also required.
All classroom materials will be shared electronically, and the final skills test will be conducted online.

Prerequisite:

Participants must complete the online portion of the class before June 9, 2025. The online portion of the class takes about 3 hours to complete, it is self-paced and can be completed over several days. Participants will be notified via email on or around June 1 with their login credentials for the online portion of this class.
Participants must bring proof of completion of the prerequisite with them to the IDC, a picture on your phone or printed confirmation will satisfy this requirement.

The Instructor Development Course (IDC) was created to train individuals as authorized instructors in the American Safety & Health Institute (ASHI) CPR, AED and Adult First Aid certification programs.

Successful completion of the IDC will authorize an instructor to conduct ASHI training courses and issue Adult, Child & Pediatric CPR/AED and Adult First Aid certification cards for a period of 1-year.
Instructors must maintain their authorized status by teaching or co-teaching one CPR, AED and Adult First Aid class during the one-year authorization period.
Participants must have full mobility and be able to bend, lift, and kneel on the floor to become an authorized instructor.
Please plan to dress comfortably to practice hands-on skills

Emerging Leaders – Ignite the FYRE

Mon. 1-5pm / Tues. 9am-5pm / Wed. 9am-5pm / Thurs. 9am-5pm

Facilitators: Nicole Spika, FEA and Tom Lentz, FEA

The goal of the Emerging Leader is to enhance one’s personal and professional skills to actively engage others in our worksites and local organization who are passionate about preserving public education and creating a more vibrant union. Who is an Emerging Leader? Anyone who is personally interested or preparing to be the next generation of leaders in their local and wants to optimize their talents and effectively execute the goals and strategies of their union by enabling themselves and others to achieve purpose in the face of uncertainty in this complex and ever-changing political environment.

Organizing: Empowering Worksite Leaders, Building Power at the Worksite

Mon. 1-5pm / Tues. 9am-5pm / Wed. 9am-5pm / Thurs. 9am-5pm

Facilitators: FEA Staff

The Organizing for Power training will be focused on helping locals develop strategies and tactics to build organic worksite leaders and organizing structures. Participants will develop skills to enhance the power of their local to accomplish the goals of our members. Attendees will learn what needs to be done to build the kind of power to make change. Participants will learn skills for building relationships with members and potential members. We will focus on what locals and participants can do to help build power toward creating leverage for successful negotiations and moving our members’ agenda. We will learn about engaging with the community – through being involved with stakeholders at all levels starting with building relationships with parent groups. The FEA communications team will provide training on how a leader can effectively communicate at the worksite to drive engagement and build activism. The FEA Public Policy and Advocacy team will tie this work together and help worksite leaders build a plan to have an impact on the upcoming election cycle both with school boards and the changes we need in the Florida Legislature.