Summer Teacher Training Institute

“We learned more from a 3-minute record, baby, than we ever learned in school…”

Join Monmouth University’s Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music (BSCAM) and its School of Education for our first ever co-sponsored Teacher Training Institute. Collaborate with Center and School staff, leading experts in music history, and a cohort of dedicated education colleagues during this 4-day summer program at our brand-new home on the beautiful Jersey Shore.

Date & Location

The 2026 Teacher Training Institute will take place from Monday, August 3 – Thursday, August 6 at Monmouth University.

About the Program

The Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music Teacher Training Institute will offer a unique, behind-the-scenes look into the Center’s content and collections, towards the goal of deepening attendees’ understanding of how to use music as an accessible prism through which to explore our shared past.

There will be a special focus on the themes of our exhibit Chimes of Freedom: Protest, Patriotism, and the Power of Song. Through lectures, performances, listening sessions, and collaborative discussions, participants will explore how music has functioned as a tool of advocacy across 250 years of US history.

Benefits

•A $1,000 stipend, issued after the conclusion of the program.

•Professional development training from highly qualified Springsteen Center and School of Education staff and scholars from across the country.

•Networking with a cohort of dedicated teachers who are equally committed to using music as an interdisciplinary teaching tool.

•Breakfast and lunch provided each day.

To Apply

Seats are limited. Submit your resume and a 500-word statement of interest to Melissa Kozlowski (Our Curator) by July 3, 2026. Applicants will be notified if they were accepted by July 7.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to apply?

Middle and high school teachers, librarians, and arts supervisors.

Is this program open to educators outside New Jersey?

Yes, although the stipend remains the same.

How many participants will be accepted into the Institute?

No more than 50.

What is the daily schedule like?

We will convene from roughly 10AM-2PM each day.

Is attendance required for all four days?

Yes. There is no pro-rating of the stipend.

Will participants receive professional development hours or continuing education credits?

Yes.

Will participants receive a certificate of completion?

Yes.

Is housing provided or available on campus?

No.

You can see a list of area accommodations here.

Will participants leave with classroom-ready materials or lesson plans?

Yes.

Is the program primarily focused on Bruce Springsteen, or on American music more broadly?

American music more broadly. The Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music preserves the legacy of Bruce Springsteen, but it also celebrates the history of American music and its diversity of artists and genres. As the home of the Bruce Springsteen Archives, the Center serves as the official repository for materials related to Springsteen and the E Street Band, including photographs, historic memorabilia, oral histories, and more. The Center also explores American music more broadly by producing exhibitions, concerts, and educational programming that interprets and honors the cultural impact of American music past, present, and future.