Banner Image

The Tampa Summer Institute is June 23–25.

Event Highlights

Don’t miss this year’s immersive experiences! View the event schedule for more about meeting times and the General Session.

PRE-SESSIONS

AVID 101

This year, we are offering an optional AVID 101 pre-session for attendees new to AVID on Sunday, June 22, from 4:00–5:30 pm at the Tampa Convention Center, Room 111/112. Additional information on the AVID 101 pre-session can be found here.

LEADING SITE TEAMS

The Leading Site Teams pre-session for site and district leaders is scheduled for Sunday, June 22, from 4:00-5:30 pm at the Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom B. Additional information on the Leading Site Teams pre-session can be found here.

New General Session Experience

Celebrate with us and hear amazing AVID student and educator speakers on Tuesday, June 24, from 1:30–2:45 pm at the Tampa Convention Center, East Hall.

photo of Aubrey Montoya

Aubrey
Montoya

Clay Charter Academy

photo of Isaac Sousa

Isaac
Sousa

SLAM Tampa

photo of Andrea Pritchett

Dr. Andrea
Pritchett

North Springs High School

AVID-Hosted Extended Experiences: Unforgettable Evening Adventures!

Looking for an exciting way to wrap up the day with your team? Get ready for some unforgettable fun! AVID is bringing you exclusive, FREE curated experiences that showcase the best of our host venues and cities, specially designed for you and fellow AVID educators.

Whether it’s attending an event or engaging in a unique local experience, these extended adventures are guaranteed to make your evening one to remember! Be sure to register your team for Summer Institute as soon as possible because spots are limited and will be based on your registration date when sign-ups open in the spring. Don’t miss out—let the adventure begin!

For information on how to sign up for an Extended Experience, please see our Extended Experiences FAQ.

Sign Up Today!

Explore Extended Experiences

Extended Experiences

Welcome to AVID-Hosted Extended Experiences at our Summer Institute! We understand the value of professional learning and the intentional opportunities it affords individuals and teams to unwind and foster connections. That’s why we would like to invite you to wrap up your day with an exciting AVID adventure.

Prepare for an evening filled with unforgettable fun! At AVID, we are thrilled to offer you exclusive, FREE curated experiences that showcase the best of our host cities, with the opportunity to network, foster collaboration, and find joy through an experience that resonates with you!

———

Sign-up right away for SI and your Extended Experience of choice, space is limited, and these experiences are first come, first served. For more information please see our Extended Experiences FAQ.

Bowl-a-Strike Bash

Join us at Splitsville on Tampa’s Sparkman Wharf for our Bowl-a-Strike Bash. This event is not just a gathering but an opportunity to explore Sparkman Wharf, engage in meaningful conversations, and build authentic relationships with fellow educators. As you marvel at the wonders of the Channelside, you’ll also be making connections that could enhance your professional joy and journey. This event combines bowling and other group games with great networking opportunities. Enjoy the vibrant atmosphere, delicious bites, and waterfront views, and whether you’re a seasoned bowler or a beginner, the focus is on fun and connection.

Event Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Beats, Brilliance, and Bright Futures

Can you hear the beat, beat, beat, beat, beat, beat? We invite you to join us as we celebrate AVID’s 45th Anniversary with a vibrant mix of good vibes and friendly competition. Get ready to move to the rhythm as our special DJ spins the tunes. Whether you’re a music lover, dancing guru, or trivia whiz, there’s something for everyone at this celebration. This celebration of AVID’s past, present, and future will leave you with new connections and experiences that you’ll fondly remember.

Event Time: 5:30 – 7:30 PM

Future Paths College and Career Fair hosted by HORUS Scholars

We are thrilled to invite you to the Future Paths Fair, a unique event designed to provide insights that could shape your students’ futures. This fair is a golden opportunity to chat with college representatives and career advisors to explore the many paths that your students can embark on after graduation. Whether it’s higher education, vocational training, or entering the workforce, you’ll find valuable information to guide your students toward their goals. This opportunity will also be a platform for networking and gathering resources that will benefit your students. It’s a chance to equip yourself with the knowledge and tools to help your students navigate their future with confidence.

Event Time: 5:00 – 7:00 PM

Paint the Night Away

In the mood to let your imagination run wild? Join us for a fun-filled activity that promises to unleash your creativity and provide a memorable experience with the opportunity to network with other educators. Friendly staff will assist you in selecting the perfect ceramic piece from a variety of options. Then, you’ll choose your paint colors and have the opportunity to make the piece uniquely yours, or if you need some inspiration, you can check out projects and technique pages available for ideas. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or picking up a paintbrush for the first time, there’s something for everyone at Color Me Mine Tampa.

Event Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Tampa Treasure Hunt

Attention, all educators! Are you ready for a thrilling quest that will ask you to tap into your problem-solving skills, quick thinking, and teamwork? We invite you to join our Tampa Treasure Hunt, an adventure that promises to reveal a side of Tampa that you’ve never seen before! As you navigate the city, solve clues, and discover new places, you’ll also be networking with other AVID educators. This makes the Tampa Treasure Hunt not just a fun challenge but also a valuable professional experience. Please note: This is a walking activity.

Event Time: 5:30 – 7:30 PM

Intro

The Tampa Summer Institute takes place across three venues. Your Community of Practice, Site Team meeting, General Session, and hotel may be at different locations. To find out each event’s location, log in to the AVID Event app with your MyAVID credentials or check your printed badge prior to the event.

Community of Practice and Site Team Locations

Communities of Practice and Site Team meetings are held at the locations listed below. Your specific Community of Practice and Site Team locations will be listed on your name badge. You will receive Summer Institute supplies during your first Community of Practice session.

  • Tampa Convention Center
  • Marriott Tampa Water Street
  • Hilton Tampa Downtown

Name Badge

Your name badge is required for all Summer Institute activities. There are two ways to get your name badge: print at home or print on-site.

Print at Home

You can check in and print your name badge at home 3 days before the Summer Institute begins to bypass check-in lines and go directly to breakfast at your Community of Practice location. As a reminder, your Community of Practice and Site Team meeting room locations are listed on your name badge. You do not have to print your name badge on-site if you print it at home. AVID Center will email you printing instructions closer to the event date.

Print On-Site

If you do not print your name badge at home, you must print your badge at one of the following locations during the times listed below.

Sunday, June 22, 1:00–5:00 pm

  • Tampa Convention Center
    Ballroom A-D Foyer
  • Hilton Tampa Downtown
    2nd Floor Foyer

Monday, June 23, 6:30–8:00 am

  • Tampa Convention Center
    Ballroom A-D Foyer
  • Hilton Tampa Downtown
    2nd Floor Foyer
photo of Summer Institute participant badge

Important:

Your Community of Practice (CoP) is listed first because that is where you will begin your day. The second listing is your Site Team location, which you will join in the afternoon.

Note for Day 1:

  • Go directly to your CoP location by 8:00 am.
  • A grab-and-go breakfast will be available near your CoP.
  • You will receive a lanyard and badge holder at your CoP location.

Meals

A grab-and-go breakfast will be provided near your Community of Practice location on the first day of Summer Institute. As a reminder, refer to your name badge for your Community of Practice location. We also provide morning coffee breaks each day and an afternoon break on Day 2.

Laptop Requirements

All curriculum and training materials will be housed in your AVID eLearning course, so it is important that you bring your fully charged device, your charging cord, and headphones to your Community of Practice each day. There will be a limited number of power strips available in the Community of Practice rooms. We will provide face-to-face facilitation, and you will have the opportunity to engage with fellow participants. There will also be digital content and engagement. Wi-Fi will be provided on-site to all participants throughout the event. Smartphones, iPad minis, and Galaxy tablets are not recommended for this experience.

Hotel Accommodations

AVID has negotiated group rates for participants provided through the button below. While the majority of our partner hotels offer complimentary Wi-Fi and other amenities, we recommend verifying at the time of check-in. It is the participant’s responsibility to make, change, or cancel hotel and airfare reservations. Hotel and airfare reservations do not guarantee registration for an event.

Hotel Room Reservations

You can reserve your room(s) by clicking on the button below.

When you reserve hotel rooms, you will be required to create an account for the individual or group hotel reservations. The password that you create for your account will be required to confirm, change, update, or cancel any room reservations. Refer to your confirmation email for important deadline dates that may financially impact you. A credit card will be required to hold your room reservation(s).

If you have questions about your hotel room reservations for the Tampa Summer Institute, contact Customer Service, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm ET.

For group reservation sizes of 1–14, contact Customer Service at 864-342-6365 or email [email protected]. For group reservations of 15 or more, contact Customer Service at 980-322-0972 or email [email protected].

Hotel Room Rates

Hotel room rates start at $212 per night. The specified room rate is based on single occupancy before taxes and fees. Additional occupants may incur additional fees. See detailed information about room rates on the housing site.

Additional Hotel Accommodation Questions

Please view the Hotel Accommodations FAQ page for additional information.

Please allow a few moments for the housing site to load.

Flights

AVID + Southwest® Partnership Advantage

Travelers who book their business travel for Summer Institutes by booking on SWABIZ will earn 2X the Rapid Rewards bonus points per qualifying night and will be entered into a raffle to win a free round-trip ticket!

Save money when booking travel through the AVID preferred partnership with Southwest Airlines! SWABIZ benefits include:

  • Chance to win a free round-trip ticket to any Southwest destination
  • DOUBLE earning bonus of Rapid Rewards points
  • Discounted fares
  • Ability to modify your reservations on Southwest mobile app and Southwest.com®
  • Points never expire

Book a Flight with Southwest Airlines Corporate Travel.

Don’t have a Rapid Rewards account? Enroll here.

Getting Around Tampa

Please note that transportation services and rates are subject to change. It’s advisable to check the latest information from official sources or directly contact the service providers before making arrangements.

Shuttle

Complimentary shuttle service is provided between contracted venues during the Summer Institute. Shuttle pickup and drop-off locations are listed below.

  • Tampa Convention Center
  • Westin
  • Hilton

Parking at the Tampa Convention Center

The Tampa Convention Center is located at 333 S Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602. Parking entrance is at 141 E. Brorein Street. View TCC parking rates.

Additional information on other downtown parking resources can be found here.

Negotiated Parking for Hotel Guests:

  • 20% off Prevailing Valet Parking Rates at the Hilton Tampa Downtown
  • 25% off Prevailing Valet Parking Rates at the Marriott Tampa Water Street & JW Marriott Water Street
  • $20 Discounted Valet Parking at Westin Tampa Waterside

Public Transit

Hillsborough Transit Authority

TECO Streetcars

Additional options can be found on Visit Tampa Bay.

Car Services

When the weather is inclement, a taxi or car service may be the quickest and easiest option. A number of ride sharing services are available in Tampa, including Uber and Lyft. You may also use Downtown Tampa’s ride sharing service Dash (requires downloading an app and rides are $2/per person).

Event Policies

Participation Policy

Our professional learning opportunities are engaging and rigorous, and therefore, are best suited for distraction-free spaces. Each professional learning experience is designed for individual engagement. Only one participant per registration may attend.

We love children; however, participants may not bring children or guests to AVID Professional Learning, General Session, or Site Team meetings. Only invited AVID students and invited AVID guests may participate.

In order to receive your Digital Badge, you must complete the following:

  • Submit all daily feedback forms, the participant reflection, and the exit survey before the end of the last training day.
  • Attend all sessions and engage in the course activities. 100% attendance is required.
  • Contribute to your Community of Practice by being an active participant in all sessions.

For more information, please read the AVID Center Event Code of Conduct Policy.

Health and Safety

AVID is committed to the health and safety of our participants and employees. To facilitate this effort, AVID is collaborating with the site host, vendors, and other partners to ensure that appropriate safety protocols consistent with applicable local laws and guidance are in place.

ADA Accessibility

AVID Center complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. If you require special devices, have medically necessary dietary restrictions, or need assistance per ADA guidelines, please submit your request at least 2 weeks before the Institute starts. For additional information, please visit our ADA webpage.

MyAVID Store
Two Ways to Shop!

Visit the booth at the Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A-D Foyer, or shop online at myavidstore.com.

Additional Questions

Please contact [email protected] or call 1-833-AVID-CARE (1-833-284-3227) if you have any additional questions.