REGISTER TODAY
SUMMER INSTITUTE 2026
Join the Mississippi Whole Schools annual arts education and arts integration conference
July 7-9, 2026
Cadence Bank Arena & Conference Center
Tupelo, MS
Educators from across the state are attending
Rooted in the Arts
a collaborative learning experience focused on the transformative power of arts integration
Discover practical, arts-integrated strategies that will deepen learning and engagement in your classroom.
Register today by clicking the graphic below
Check back soon to see the full schedule!
Check back soon to see the full schedule!
Check back soon to see the full schedule!
CEU / SEMI / OSL will be available for purchase at the institute.
FEATURED KEYNOTE
RON CLARK
Ron Clark will take the stage with his keynote, “Reboot, Reset, and Elevate”
This high-energy session is designed to help educators navigate change, re-engage students, and elevate their impact in real, tangible ways. His methods equip educators with strategies that don’t just inspire but truly work.
You don’t want to miss it
Register Today
What is Mississippi Whole Schools?
Mississippi Whole Schools, a program of the Mississippi Arts Commission, is Mississippi’s first comprehensive statewide arts education program which uses the arts as a vehicle for promoting high-quality instruction and learning for students in all disciplines. Students learn academic concepts through arts-based instruction.
Twenty-three schools in the state currently participate.
Mississippi Whole Schools is a program of professional development in the arts for educators and education decision makers. MAC hosts a Summer Institute and Winter Institute each year to provide training for educators on arts education and how to integrate the arts into other subjects.
our five goals
communication
Effectively communicate the work and purpose of Mississippi Whole Schools
professional learning
Provide high-quality professional learning opportunities to increase skills and build knowledge
community relationships
Enhance and sustain relationships and collaborations for Mississippi Whole Schools and its communities
operations
Refine Mississippi Whole Schools’ operations to ensure effective financial and infrastructural support in its schools
partnerships
Explore and research partnership opportunities to grow influence and expand the reach of Mississippi Whole Schools in local, regional, and national spheres
newsletter
Artists, Educators, and Friends,
We can probably all agree that this has been an interesting year. But from another viewpoint, it has been a very rewarding year. So many artists, arts organizations and educators have come together to work as community and continue to deliver quality arts experiences. When it has been impossible to do this good work in person, you found a way to deliver the good work virtually. At the Mississippi Arts Commission we are pleased to say that the arts are alive and strong in Mississippi.
This is an exciting time for Mississippi Whole Schools. Shortly after our 25th birthday we changed our name from Whole Schools Initiative to Mississippi Whole Schools. Now we have a new logo and website; we are following the path that you helped create through our strategic plan; and we are delivering content online and virtually. Our working team has grown to include professionals in music, theatre, visual art, and education curriculum.
We hope you like the new look of the Mississippi Whole Schools website. Keep checking back regularly for more content. We’ll post ideas, tips, and resources in the arts and hope that your creativity will be re-fueled with each visit.
Charlotte Smelser
Arts Education Director
Mississippi Arts Commission
