We asked 82 teachers, principals, administrators and superintendents in the Milken Educator Network how they're spending their summer vacations. Here are the Top 7 answers we received.

1. Top 7 Ways Educators
Are Spending Their
Summer Vacation
Based on a survey of 82 teachers, principals,
administrators and superintendents in the
Milken Educator Network

2. Q: How are you
spending your
summer vacation?

3. Q: How are you spending your summer
vacation?
There’s a common perception that teachers have
a lot of downtime. (Entire summers, in fact!)
At the Milken Family Foundation, we decided
to put this perception to the test by turning that
age old back-to-school question back on them.
Here are the top 7 answers we received…

4. #7: Researching and
Incorporating New
Standards

5. #7: Researching and incorporating new
standards
As education policy and the needs of the
student body change, teachers use their
summer to study and figure out how to
implement the latest standards into their
classrooms including:
• Common Core State Standards
• Next Generation Science Standards
• New Teacher Evaluation methods

6. #7: Researching and incorporating new
standards
“I read up on anything current going on—Common
Core, Block Scheduling/ Differentiated Instruction, and
Response to Intervention/Instruction. I do best when I
read professional materials over the summer. I have time
to digest and think. Nothing beats poolside reading, even
if it is Common Core related.”
— Jennifer B. Smith (CA ’06)

7. #6:Training on New
Technologies

8. #6: Training on new technologies
The digital revolution irrevocably changed the
way we live. Whether it’s tablets, laptops,
mobile phones or spreadsheets, before they can
bring the latest technology into the classroom—
teachers have to explore how to use them
effectively to bring learning to life for students
of all ages.

9. #6: Training on new technologies
“I have 32 iPads in my science classroom for the
second year now and need to choose effective
apps for my students to use for research,
reinforcing information, current events, and
motivating activities related to physical science.”
—Sue Nielsen (MN ’01)

10. #5: Collaborating with
Other Educators

11. #5: Collaborating with other educators
Whether district superintendents, principals
or classroom teachers, educators know that
it takes a great team to deliver the best
education. So it came as no surprise that a
large percentage of our respondents are
spending their summer “vacation” working
with others to institute new ideas and best
practices.

12. #5: Collaborating with other educators
“This summer I have had the opportunity to
work on a committee to strengthen our math,
reading and writing curriculums. I am excited
to share weekly math presentations which
include fantastic hands-on activities.”
— Peggy Rogers (ID ’04)

13. #4: Reviewing and
Refining Curricula

14. #4: Reviewing and refining curricula
It’s hard to turn a ship around mid-stream,
so while their classrooms are docked for the
summer, educators are evaluating their own
practices and incorporating lessons they’ve
learned from their results as well as from
outside input on national, state, district and
school levels.

15. #4: Reviewing and refining curricula
"Exploring new teaching practices is critical to
entering each new year with a fresh, new
perspective; continually reinventing oneself is
vital for teachers and students alike. I've heard it
put this way before: ‘A teacher should strive to
have 30 years of great teaching, NOT one year of
great teaching 30 times.’”
— Corey Oliver (AR ’07)

16. #3: Going Back to School!

17. #3: Going back to school!
Great teachers strive to do more than just
teach students a lesson, they hope to inspire
a lifetime of learning. So why would they be
any different? This summer, teachers are
going back to school to continue their
professional development, work towards
their next degree, study the latest teaching
methodologies and more.

18. #3: Going back to school!
“For the third summer I have taken an internship with
Wright Patterson Air Force Base Research Laboratory's
Gaming Research Integration for Learning Laboratories.
I work with engineers, research scientists, educators and
outstanding math and science students to produce high
school STEM curriculum. I then get to implement that
curriculum when school starts in the fall. It is an
extraordinary learning experience.”
— Kimberly Puckett (OH '01)

19. #2: Reading, Reading
and Reading

20. #2: Reading, reading and reading
In addition to taking classes, teachers take
the summer to catch up on their reading.
Not quite your usual summer sizzler beach
fare, our teachers are reading articles,
studies and books that will impact how they
structure their lessons and reinvigorate their
passion for teaching.

21. #2: Reading, reading and reading
“Reading inspirational literature can recharge
our minds and hearts and help us focus on the
incredible moments in the classroom that are not
celebrated enough.”
— Michael Berndt (KS ‘12)

22. #1: Recharging with
Some “ME” Time with
Family and Friends

23. #1: Recharging with some “ME” time with
family and friends
In between all of the activities of answers
2-7, some educators actually do manage to
take a little time for themselves to rest,
reconnect with their families and recharge.
It may be the most selfish thing they do all
year, but for anything but selfish reasons.

24. #1: Recharging with some “ME” time with
family and friends
“Teaching is such a time consuming job that to balance it all can be a
challenge. My boys make sacrifices throughout the year because I am
a teacher (Back to School Nights, weekend workshops, late night
parent conferences, and after-school-hour special programs for our
students that need teacher volunteers)…So I try to give back some of
that Mommy and Me time to them during summer. It’s important
for teachers to also take time for themselves. We give so much of
ourselves during the school year, that we need this short break to
regroup, reflect, and reenergize so that we are ready for the school
year ahead.”
— Jane Fung (CA ‘02)

25. Read more answers from our
educators survey at
MilkenEducatorAwards.org
Milken Educator Awards is an initiative of the
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