How Summer School Can Strengthen Tier 1 Instruction and Teacher Development

For many educators, summer school has long been viewed as a remediation tool for students who need extra support. But what if summer learning could be more? What if it could be a strategic opportunity to strengthen Tier 1 instruction, develop teacher practice, and create long-term instructional impact? That was the focus of a recent EdWeb discussion hosted by the National Summer School Initiative (NSSI), where education leaders explored how summer school can serve as a job-embedded teacher development experience that benefits both educators and students.

Transforming Summer School into a Teacher Development Engine

Crescent City Schools, a network of charter schools in New Orleans, initially saw summer school as a way to help struggling students. However, as the post-COVID landscape made instructional gaps more apparent, their leadership team began to rethink how summer learning could serve a broader purpose. Kate Mehok, CEO of Crescent City Schools, described this evolution, explaining how they shifted their focus to strengthening teacher practice.

"When we started thinking about how to make the gains we needed post-COVID, we realized that we didn’t just need to work on Tier 1 instruction during the year—we also needed to think about how summer could help our teachers be even better prepared for the upcoming year," she said. This shift in perspective transformed summer school into a structured learning environment where teachers could refine their instructional skills with real-time feedback.

To make summer school an effective training ground, Crescent City Schools implemented job-embedded coaching cycles. "During summer school, teachers were constantly in a cycle of observation, feedback, and improvement. They looked forward to that feedback because they knew it was making them better," explained Gwendolyn Jones, Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Harriet Tubman Charter School. The ability to apply immediate feedback in a low-stakes environment allowed teachers to strengthen their practice before the school year began, leading to improved student engagement and instructional effectiveness.

Building Effective Instruction Through Targeted Practice and Alignment

Rather than attempting to refine entire lesson plans, Crescent City Schools took a strategic approach by breaking down instruction into manageable, high-impact components. "Instead of asking teachers to perfect an entire lesson, we broke it down," Mehok noted. "We started by focusing just on the first 10 minutes of the lesson—the launch. Teachers practiced it multiple times, got feedback, and then moved on to the next component. That structure helped ensure real growth."

This method of targeted practice was complemented by a commitment to aligning summer instruction with year-round curriculum. "One of the biggest mistakes schools make is treating summer school as a separate entity rather than an extension of the academic year," Mehok emphasized. "We always tell teachers, ‘We’re not curriculum writers. Our job is to implement high-quality instructional materials with fidelity.’ When we found a summer program that aligned with our yearlong curriculum, it was a no-brainer."

Using high-quality instructional materials that mirrored the school year’s curriculum not only provided continuity for students but also helped teachers deepen their familiarity with the materials. This alignment reinforced Tier 1 instruction and ensured a smoother transition into the academic year.

Changing the Narrative: Making Summer School Attractive to Teachers

Historically, summer school has been seen as an additional burden for teachers, but Crescent City Schools successfully reframed it as an opportunity for professional growth. "I had teachers coming to me saying, ‘I want to do this again next summer,’" said Jones. "They saw it as a chance to grow, refine their practice, and get better at their craft in a way that wasn’t possible during the school year."

This approach also created pathways for paraprofessionals to transition into full-time teaching roles. Several summer school educators at Crescent City Schools later moved into lead classroom positions, showcasing how summer programs can be a pipeline for developing new teaching talent.

The Long-Term Impact: Why Summer School Matters Beyond the Summer

By shifting the perception of summer school from student remediation to teacher development, schools can create lasting improvements in instructional quality. "This shift is really taking hold," Mehok observed. "We’re seeing that summer is no longer just about helping students catch up—it’s about strengthening the entire instructional ecosystem." Schools that take a strategic approach to summer learning are seeing meaningful instructional gains, as highlighted in Creating Stronger Returns on Summer Learning Investments.

With teachers entering the school year better prepared and more confident, student outcomes improve, instructional quality rises, and schools build stronger, more capable educators. Treating summer school as a teacher development lab ensures that educators begin the year equipped with effective strategies and a deeper understanding of their instructional approach.

How Schools Can Take Action

For school and district leaders looking to maximize the impact of summer learning, here are key steps to consider:

1. Prioritize Teacher Development – Use summer as a structured training ground for instructional improvement, rather than just focusing on student remediation.

2. Implement Job-Embedded Coaching – Provide real-time feedback and practice opportunities to ensure teachers build skills in a low-stakes environment.

3. Ensure Curriculum Coherence – Align summer instruction with year-round materials to create consistency and deepen student learning.

4. Reframe Summer School as a Growth Opportunity – Recruit teachers by positioning summer school as a chance to refine their craft, gain mentorship, and develop professionally.

5. Measure Impact – Track teacher progress, student engagement, and instructional outcomes to refine and improve summer learning year after year.

A New Vision for Summer Learning

The traditional view of summer school as a remedial program is quickly evolving. Schools that recognize summer as an opportunity for both student and teacher growth are seeing long-term instructional improvements that carry over into the academic year. By embedding professional development, aligning curriculum, and providing structured coaching, summer programs can serve as a powerful tool for strengthening Tier 1 instruction.

This approach requires intentional planning, but the results speak for themselves: teachers enter the school year more prepared, students benefit from higher-quality instruction, and schools cultivate stronger educators for the future. Investing in summer professional development isn’t just about addressing learning loss—it’s about building a foundation for sustained instructional excellence. As more districts embrace this strategy, summer school can shift from an afterthought to a key driver of educational success.

Note: These insights were derived from an edWebinar panel hosted by Keri Hubbard, and featuring Kate Mehok, Gwendolyn Jones, and Nancy Livingston.