TAMU-CC Beginning Teacher Institute (TBTI)
Friday, June 5, 2026
The TAMU-CC Beginning Teacher Institute is a professional learning experience uniquely designed to support early-career teachers. This free one-day program will provide breakout sessions, opportunities to reflect on your teaching experiences, time to connect with your peers, and resources you can use in your classroom.
Eligibility: The 2026 TBTI conference is open to TAMU-CC graduates from May 2021 through May 2026 who are currently teaching PreK-12.
Why attend TBTI?
Connections: You'll be able to visit with TAMU-CC faculty, reunite with your classmates, and build new relationships
Free Stuff: Registration is free! You'll receive a free professional development book and some TAMU-CC alumni goodies. Lunch and snacks will be provided.
CPE Hours: Receive a certificate for 6 Continuing Professional Education hours (CPEs) for attending the Institute
Share Your Learning!
#TAMUCC #TBTI2026
Location
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Early Childhood Development Center, Room 210. Parking will be free in the Starfish Lot reserved outside the ECDC.
Photos
2022 photos | 2023 photos | 2024 photos | 2025 photos
Questions?
Please contact Dr. Tracy Harper at Tracy.Harper@tamucc.edu.
2026 Schedule
| Time | Event | Room |
|---|---|---|
|
8:30-9:00am |
Registration & Breakfast |
ECDC 210 |
|
9:00-9:40 |
One Size Does Not Fit All: Making Space to Differentiate Instruction As the state requirements push teachers toward more prescribed curricula, how can teachers ensure all students are successful? We’ll examine ways to differentiate Tier 1 instruction to improve learning outcomes for all students. |
ECDC 210 |
|
9:45-10:35 |
Breakout Sessions I |
ECDC Rooms |
|
10:40-11:30 |
Breakout Sessions II |
ECDC Rooms |
|
11:35-12:15 |
Lunch with Faculty |
ECDC 210 |
|
12:15-12:55 |
Teacher Responsibilities for Students with Disabilities This session provides beginning teachers with a practical overview of their responsibilities when working with students with disabilities in the classroom. Participants will gain a foundational understanding of legal and ethical obligations, accommodations and modifications, collaboration with special education staff, documentation practices, and strategies for creating an inclusive learning environment. The presentation is designed to help new teachers build confidence, maintain compliance, and support student success through effective communication, classroom practices, and proactive intervention. Dr. Jeanine Birdwell, TAMU-CC |
ECDC 210 |
| 1:00-1:50 |
Breakout Sessions III |
ECDC Rooms |
| 1:55-2:45 |
Breakout Sessions IV |
ECDC Rooms |
|
2:50-3:40 |
Trauma-Informed Teaching: Strategies to Support Our Students and Care for Ourselves This session introduces early career teachers to the foundations of school-based trauma-informed care and the practical application of the four R’s: recognizing the signs of trauma exposure, realizing the impact of trauma, responding with trauma-informed practices across all tiers of support, and resisting responses that may re-traumatize students. Participants will explore how trauma can influence learning, behavior, and relationships in school settings while gaining strategies to create supportive, responsive classroom environments. The session will also address educator wellness by examining the indirect effects of trauma exposure—including vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion fatigue—and identifying sustainable self-care and professional support practices. Dr. Adrienne Backer, Michael Jones, & Meghan Jones ECDC 210 |
ECDC 210 |
|
3:40-4:00 |
Closing Session & Door Prizes |
ECDC 210 |