MTA Summer Conference

Now More Than Ever: Navigating Current Challenges in Education
Danette Day and McKay teacher/alum in front of McKay classroom

Course Description

The Massachusetts Teacher's Association (MTA) Summer Conference offers you the flexibility to tailor your professional development experience to your own guided programs. The conference presentations will advance the knowledge and skills of educators to use the power of collective voices to promote and protect the ideals of helping students learn and succeed. 

There are many quality professional development presentations that connect to the conference theme. This one graduate credit option provides an opportunity for conference participants to prepare themselves for their educator roles and/or to hone their leadership skills. 

Participants choose conference workshops and panel discussions that meet their individual needs. Content learned is then synthesized through readings, reflections, discussions and writing assignments. 

View Conference Workshops

Learning Objectives/Goals

  • Attend the mandatory conference orientation on Monday July 28 at 5 p.m. (Register for this session when signing up for the MTA Conference.)
  • Attend the conference hours’ instruction and participate in any electronic follow-up assignments with the professor of record.
  • Practice the effectiveness essentials of a reflective educator
  • Build and strengthen connection with other participants in a statewide network.
  • Use effective oral and written language.
  • Listen, confer with others, impact, persuade, and problem solve with colleagues at this conference.
  • Develop confidence in sharing needs and concerns with other professional colleagues.
  • Attend multi-day workshops, individual single session workshops, and professional issues workshops after consultation with the professor. A topical guide will assist you in participating in individual content area workshops that are required to earn graduate credit.
  • Complete two assignments and return via email to instructor no later than August 28, 2025.

Audience:  MTA 2025 Summer Conference attendees.  New and seasoned conference participants.  Educators at all levels. 

Dates: July 27 - 30, 2025

Location: UMass Amherst, Amherst, MA

Mode: Course participants will be required to attend a minimum of 12.5 hours of conference programming, complete all graduate-level assignments per the university course syllabus, and participate in the mandatory course orientation workshop with Fitchburg State faculty, Dr. Ron Colbert, during the conference, on Monday, July 28 at 5 p.m., location TBD.

Registration Begins April 7, 2025

Registration Deadline July 30, 2025

CRN 64503  PRDV 6275
Credit: One (1) graduate credit
Cost: $347

There is no required text. Speaker series, town hall sessions and varied presenters will distribute handouts and recommended readings which will be used to complete course assignments. 

Ron Colbert Alumni board of directors and former faculty

Instructor

Ron Colbert, Ed.D., earned his B.S. in Education at Fitchburg State University, as well as his Master’s of Education. His Ed.D. was earned at Boston University.  Dr. Colbert is a retired professor, as well as the former Chair of the Education Department at Fitchburg State University.