BEST Summer Institute 2026

Cultivating Connection and Compassion: Building on 30 Years of Learning and Growing Together

The BEST Summer Institute, funded with support from the Agency of Education, offers an immersive experience for school teams, including educators, caregivers/family members, students, and community partners. This experience is thoughtfully designed to enhance your skills and rejuvenate your approach to supporting social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs of all students.

This four-day Institute brings presenters from across the state, region, and nation to facilitate content on relevant topics, including restorative approaches, equity, inclusion, classroom-level supports, trauma-informed approaches, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and more! Building on our collective knowledge, we will learn together and action plan around the most current evidence-based strategies for promoting well-being for all.

This year’s Summer Institute is specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of you and your school teams. As you participate, you’ll engage in learning activities that will cultivate connection and compassion for yourself, your colleagues, and your students.

In addition to four days of high-quality keynotes, strands, and workshops, facilitated by acclaimed, inspirational experts, teams will also connect for 11 hours of dedicated team time with access to consultation and coaching support. Teams will leave ready to implement their plans back at their school/district, with ongoing support available throughout the year. You and your team will also find time for play, laughter, and well-deserved celebrations.

Dates:

June 22 to June 25, 2026

Location:

Killington Grand Resort Hotel

Group Registration:

The BEST Summer Institute will be accepting registrations for individuals attending as members of a school or SU/SD team. While individuals attend the Institute as members of a school team, each person must be registered. One person can register multiple members from their team if they have all the necessary information for each person. Please identify one member as Team Leader on your registration form.

Accessibility:

We strive to make the Institute as accessible as possible for you. If you require an accommodation related to a mobility issue, please contact Anne Dubie at anne.dubie@uvm.edu or (802) 233-2332.

If you require an accommodation related to a disability, please contact UVM Accessibility Services at access@uvm.edu and include anne.dubie@uvm.edu on the email, or call (802) 656-7753.

Strand and Workshop Detailed Information:

During the registration process you will be asked to register for your first, second, and third choice of strands and workshops. Please review the detailed information below for each strand and workshop PRIOR to starting the registration process.

Price:

$820/person (does not include dinners or lodging) – full amount will be charged whether you attend one day or all four days.

Payment Information:

Ideally, payment will be paid via credit card at time of check out. However, if your payment will be processed via an invoice from an employer or third-party vendor, please provide the email address for the accounts payable department at your school or SU/District office (do not put your own email in this space). Please note, the Billing CC Email Address will be CC'ed on ALL communications from the system. Invoices are automatically generated at time of registration (your invoice will be linked in your confirmation email). Payment due date for all team members is June 5th. Strand and workshop confirmations will be sent the week of June 8th.

Cancellation Information:

If you need to cancel, please contact Anne Dubie via email at anne.dubie@uvm.edu or call (802) 233-2332. For cancellations received by 3:00 PM EST on June 5, 2026, you will be refunded the total amount paid. No refund will be made for requests received afterwards, except in the case of an emergency. Please note that if you do not cancel and do not attend, you are still responsible for payment. Substitutions may be made at any time.

Other Information:

For detailed Institute information, please visit here.

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For all questions, please email Anne.Dubie@uvm.edu or call (802) 233-2332.