Teachers Institute: Professional Development Through the Great Books
Enriching Lives and Classrooms Through the Great Books
At St John’s we believe that closely studying the best, hardest books in community with others is the best way to grow as educators and that is what these seminars will offer. There will be no lectures or presentations, only close reading and rigorous but open-ended conversation, the practices that comprise liberal education at its finest. We aim not to master any particular subject but to enter into all of human knowing more deeply, all in the service of returning to our classrooms more intellectually and imaginatively alive than ever.
Our seminars provide both intellectual enrichment and practical classroom insights, giving you tools to bring fresh energy and ideas to your teaching. This year’s seminars take up any number of questions confronting educators: the nature of knowing in an age of AI, the shape and content of the canon, and much else besides.
The Eva Brann Workshop in the Theory and Practice of Liberal Education: 2025–26 Teachers Institute Saturday Seminars
This year’s seminars are offered as part of the Eva Brann Workshop, honoring the legendary St. John’s tutor and her lifelong dedication to liberal education and to the work of teachers.
Eva Brann (1929–2023) was the longest-serving tutor in the history of St. John’s College and a former Dean of the Annapolis campus. Awarded the National Humanities Medal in 2005, she was a prolific scholar and beloved teacher whose writings and seminars reflected her lifelong passion for liberal education. The Eva Brann Workshop carries forward her vision of supporting educators through serious study, conversation, and community.
All seminars are held online, Saturdays, 3:30–5:30 p.m. (ET). Educators may register for any individual seminar or for multiple seminars across the series.
Why Educators Choose the Teachers Institute
Our Method
Like all instruction at St. John’s, the Teachers Institute emphasizes close reading, careful listening, and shared inquiry. These seminars provide a rigorous yet supportive space where educators can wrestle with enduring questions and connect meaningfully with peers.
The Teachers Institute is part of the Graduate Institute at St. John’s College, which has a long tradition of preparing educators through serious engagement with the Great Books. Many participants in the Institute go on to pursue the Master of Arts in Liberal Arts (MALA), the Master of Arts in Eastern Classics (MAEC), or the Master of Arts in Middle Eastern Classics (MAMEC).
*Many participants have successfully used these seminars for CEU credit. Please check with your school’s HR office for specific requirements.