This year, we have all grappled with much uncertainty, challenges, and change. As educators, we have also embraced new opportunities to apply our creativity, flexibility, knowledge, diligence, collaboration, and idea sharing to ensure that students continue receiving the best educational experiences while keeping everyone safe and healthy.
It was our hope that we would be able to deliver both onsite and online programming during the summer of 2021. Offering both formats meets a variety of teacher leaning requirements and fulfills our Teacher Institute strategic goal to provide professional development opportunities that meet the needs of all teachers.
As the impacts of COVID-19 continued, we reviewed public health guidelines, the status of school instruction in many states, and air travel and local transportation safety measures. We also explored how we could maintain the quality of onsite programming while having reduced access to Historic Area buildings and adding social distancing protocols for all hands-on experiences to ensure the health and safety of our teachers and staff. After careful consideration of these factors, we believe the best decision is to cancel the Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute of Colonial Williamsburg onsite residential programs for the summer of 2021.
We want to thank each of you for your time registering for 2021. Because of the many changes that are taking place with teachers—new grade level assignments, retirements, and altered life situations—we are unable to hold currently awarded scholarships or previous tuition payments for a second time, so you will need to reapply. In the fall, we will provide information on scholarships for 2022...
Though we are disappointed that we cannot work with you and share experiences onsite this summer, we will continue to provide opportunities to make the study of our nations' (sic) founding and its founding ideals relevant for students, our future citizens...
Sincerely,
The Teacher Institute Team
I guess this virus continues to take its toll. This is just another reminder that the rest of the country is not operating as openly as we are. While we are in school, in person, every day, with relatively little impact to our class as a result of the C19 virus, others find themselves under a different kind of leadership. While our part of the country is cautious, but not overly-scared, others are have been worked into fear. Local media and politics surely play a role.
On the bright side, I still have my job, my health, my family, and my faith, and for these, I am thankful. I suppose when I reapply for the 2022 Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute and get accepted, I will have that, as well.