21 Must-Attend Education Conferences for New Jersey Teachers | Summer 2026 Edition

As the school year winds down and summer begins to take shape, educators across New Jersey are gifted with one of the biggest perks in the teaching profession - an entire summer off. This rare and valuable professional pause offers a chance to reflect on the year behind you and reconnect with what energizes you as an educator. Whether you’re eager to explore new teaching strategies, experiment with emerging classroom technologies, or simply reignite the passion that first brought you into education, summer creates the space to do just that.

Conferences, workshops, and webinars held throughout the summer months provide some of the most engaging and flexible opportunities to learn, connect, and grow. And they are often designed with educators’ busy lives in mind. Whether you prefer in-person experiences or the convenience of virtual sessions, there are countless opportunities to learn in ways that fit your goals and schedule.

To help you make the most of the season, we’ve put together a curated list of K–12 conferences and events happening between June and August, with a focus on opportunities in and around New Jersey and New York City. No matter your role or area of interest, you’ll find options to spark new ideas, build connections, and carry fresh inspiration into the next school year.

Please note: all events are Eastern Standard Time

June

WCS Teacher Professional Development  
Multiple summer 2026 dates
Wildlife Conservation Society (Bronx Zoo/NY Aquarium)
Cost ranges 

Offers CTLE-certified workshops focusing on science, conservation, and classroom curriculum integration. Suitable for Pre-K–12 teachers seeking to integrate environmental science.

Law and Disability Conference  
New Jersey Law Center
June 8, 2026 
9 a.m. - 1 p.m. 
Free

The Law and Disability Conference is held each year at the New Jersey Law Center and is cosponsored with the Community Health Law Project.  This year’s conference will cover key issues, including housing, immigration, as well as education and oversight for children with disabilities.  

Threat Assessment and Educational Plans - Finding the Safe and Actionable Intersections
Professional Conference Center at ESCNJ
1690 Stelton Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854
June 29, 2026
8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Free

Creating effective interventions for students of concern requires navigating the complex intersection between safety management and educational rights. This advanced, practice-focused workshop moves beyond theory to help experienced practitioners determine what belongs in a threat management plan versus what should be incorporated into an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Through collaborative analysis and small-group case consultation, participants will work through three detailed case studies, developing individualized solutions. The first case study will be examined as a full group to establish analytical frameworks, followed by two additional cases tackled in small groups to deepen problem-solving skills. This workshop emphasizes that cookie-cutter approaches fail our highest-risk students; instead, participants will learn to craft nuanced, student-centered interventions that honor both safety imperatives and educational needs.

Summer Music Educators Workshop
Carnegie Hall’s Resnick Education Wing
June 29-July 2, 2026 
9:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Cost: $75

What does great music teaching in the classroom look like? How can music teachers deepen their artistry, practice inquiry, and become stronger musicians? Join K–12 music educators from across the country to explore these ideas and expand the impact of your work with young musicians. In this workshop, we will reinvigorate your creativity, explore Carnegie Hall’s Great Music Teaching Framework, and invest in your own artistry through music-making opportunities. This four-day workshop will take place in Carnegie Hall’s Resnick Education Wing.

July  

5th Annual New Jersey Forensic Science Education Conference
New Jersey Institute of Technology
June 30-July 2, 2026  
Cost: $500

This year's themes for each day include a special first day for teachers/administrators new to forensics, paralleled by advanced content for experienced teachers. Other themes include analyzing document and video evidence and glass and ballistics, both appropriate for the school setting.  

Summer STEM Institute 2026
The City College of New York, New York, NY
June 30 – July 21, 2026 (Multi-week intensives)
$15-$295 (varies by workshop)

A series of deep-dive, teacher-led workshops focusing on STEM teaching excellence. Includes hands-on workshops for K-12 STEM educators, including labs for Chemistry, Biology, and Earth Science, with opportunities to share pedagogical strategies.
 

CompCON—Virtual K-12 Reading Comprehension Conference
Virtual 
July 8-9, 2026
Cost: $379-$409

Smekens Education Solutions offers 20 years of professional development expertise in literacy. This two-day virtual workshop is designed to equip teachers with the skills and confidence they need to deliver impactful reading comprehension instruction. Learn classroom-tested strategies for leading engaging mini-lessons that align with grade-level standards. Gain hands-on experience through guided work time and move forward with valuable resources to implement throughout the school year.

National Teacher Leadership Conference 2026
Park MGM Las Vegas / Las Vegas, NV
July 12 - 15, 2026
Cost: TBD

We’re ALL IN for Education! Educators today are rising to meet unprecedented challenges, and it’s never been more important to come together with purpose, power, and passion. NNSTOY is back with the National Teacher Leadership Conference, a national gathering of dynamic educators and supporters committed to elevating the profession, driving equity, and reimagining what’s possible in our schools. 

N DC History Center - Teach the District  
July 13-17, 2026
Washington, DC
Cost: Check with host

Teach the District is an immersive program that gives teachers new skills and perspectives, understandings of the cross-curricular value of local history, and models for engagement with local institutions. Participants also gain exclusive behind-the-scenes access to local cultural heritage organizations and take part in hands-on inquiry-based learning activities.

Tenement Museum’s Annual Summer Teacher Institute
Tenement Museum, NY  
July 20, July 25, August 3, August 7
Cost: Check with host 

Join fellow educators for a transformative week‑long program in New York City exploring how to teach Black history and immigration history together—and gain the knowledge and skills to use these intertwined histories to help your students reflect on our nation’s past and present and see themselves in the American story. Designed for K–12 teachers, the program uses historic urban spaces, family narratives, primary sources, and scholar-led learning to deepen your practice. Participants also gain the benefit of a year-long engagement with the Tenement Museum for the following school year.

NJEA R.I.S.E. Conference
July 22, 2026
More info to come

Education is a battleground and a birthplace for transformation. The RISE Conference is a space for those committed to anti-racism in education to engage in deep learning, critical discourse and collective visioning.

Preschool New Teacher Academy 2026
LRC–Central 
200 Riverview Plaza, Trenton, NJ 08625
July 22-23, 2026  
Cost: Free

In collaboration with Montclair State University’s New Jersey Preschool Inclusive Education Project (NJPIEP), OSE is proud to introduce the 1st Annual Preschool New Teacher Academy 2026, designed to support and strengthen early-career preschool educators. Guided by the theme "Building Strong Starts. Creating Lasting Impact” NTA 2026 reflects OSE’s continued commitment to fostering professional growth, collaboration, and long-term success for educators serving students with disabilities. Designed to support educators in their first through third years of teaching, the New Teacher Academy offers high-quality, impactful professional learning experiences that emphasize research-based, high-leverage, and inclusive practices.

Tending The Reef: Cultivating Ecosystems of Growth For All
Virtual 
July 23, 2026 
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Cost: $195

This session centers on designing responsive, student-centered learning environments that nurture agency, creativity, and deep learning for all. Participants will explore how flexible structures—like personalized pathways, authentic assessments, and adaptive scheduling—can unlock student potential and elevate engagement. By framing learning as an exploration, leaders will consider how strong relationships and high expectations contribute to meaningful growth. Collaborative design processes will guide participants in transforming learning spaces, informed by the diversity of voices, actionable data, and feedback. Through practical strategies and inclusive practices, leaders will leave equipped to cultivate dynamic, equitable ecosystems that support thriving learners and empowered educators.

School Age New Teacher Academy 2026
LRC–Central 
200 Riverview Plaza, Trenton, NJ 08625
July 28 and 29
Cost: Free

In collaboration with Montclair State University’s New Jersey Preschool Inclusive Education Project (NJPIEP), OSE is proud to introduce the 1st Annual Preschool New Teacher Academy 2026, designed to support and strengthen early-career preschool educators. Guided by the theme "Building Strong Starts. Creating Lasting Impact” NTA 2026 reflects OSE’s continued commitment to fostering professional growth, collaboration, and long-term success for educators serving students with disabilities. Designed to support educators in their first through third years of teaching, the New Teacher Academy offers high-quality, impactful professional learning experiences that emphasize research-based, high-leverage, and inclusive practices.

The Amistad Commission: 2026 Summer Institute
Kean University
July 28 -30, 2026
Cost: Free (confirm with host)

We are thrilled and wholeheartedly committed to providing a comprehensive range of services and resources to New Jersey's esteemed schoolteachers, administrators, and students. Our primary objective is to equip them with the tools to effectively convey impactful educational awareness about critical topics such as the African slave trade, the history of slavery in America, and the extraordinary contributions of Africans that have profoundly enriched American society. Through this dedicated effort, we aim to foster a more profound understanding and appreciation of these crucial aspects of history and their enduring significance.

August

Computer Science 4 New Jersey Summer Institute
Virtual & The College of New Jersey (TCNJ)
August 3-6, 2026
More info to come
 

DC History Center - National History Day Intensive
Washington, DC
August 4-6, 2026
Cost: Check with host

National History Day (NHD) is an annual project-based competition for students in grades 6-12. Students select a topic of interest related to the year’s theme, and produce a paper, exhibit, performance, documentary, or website presenting the conclusions and evidence from their research and analysis.
 

National WWI Museum and Memorial Digital Summer Institute for 4-12 Educators

Date & Cost are determined by host

The National WWI Museum and Memorial provides professional development opportunities to K-12+ teachers with free webinars and in-person PD events, all including Professional Development certificates for event participation.
 

NJEA Jack Bertolino Summer Leadership Conference
Harrah’s Atlantic City, Atlantic City, NJ
August 1-5, 2026
Cost: $275 (scholarships available for first-time attendees)

This conference offers a broad menu of workshops designed to equip NJEA members to become stronger association advocates. Sessions include AI in education, pension management, and school safety.  
 

Bridging Knowledge to Know-How - PaTTAN
Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (Multiple sites, PaTTAN)
August 4-7, 2026
Cost: Free

A conference focusing on students with disabilities, autism, sensory disabilities, and secondary transition. It offers tangible strategies to enhance teaching practices for K-12 educators.  

Protecting Students and the School Community After School Sports and Special Events Security
Landis Administration Building / Vineland Central Office
61 West Landis Avenue, Vineland, NJ 08360
August 14, 2026
10 a.m. - noon
Cost: Free

The New Jersey Department of Education Office of School Preparedness and Emergency Planning, in partnership with the Vineland School District, is presenting a two-hour session on preventive security measures for after-school and large venue events. Attendees will learn safety and security considerations for events that may be human-induced, weather-induced, or technologically induced.

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