upcoming events
MISSISSIPPI WHOLE SCHOOLS SUMMER INSTITUTE 2026
Mississippi Whole Schools will present the annual arts education and arts integration Summer Institute July 7-9, 2026 at the Cadence Bank Arena & Conference Center in Tupelo, MS. Join educators from across Mississippi and the region for Rooted in the Arts, a collaborative learning experience focused on the transformative power of arts-integrated instruction. Engage with national, state, and local experts as they share curriculum-based strategies designed to deepen academic learning through the arts. Through 100+ workshops, K–12 curriculum tracks, hands-on sessions, and inspiring keynote speakers, you’ll discover practical, arts-integrated strategies designed to deepen learning and engagement in your classroom. CEU/SEMI/OSL will be available for purchase at the institute for this professional development opportunity.
At Summer Institute 2026, Ron Clark will take the stage with his keynote, “Reboot, Reset, and Elevate,”—a dynamic, high-energy session designed to help educators navigate change, re-engage students, and elevate their impact in real, tangible ways.
What if students actually couldn’t wait to come to school? That’s the kind of impact Ron Clark has built his career on. From walking into a Harlem classroom where few believed in student success, to creating classrooms where students are engaged, energized, and excited to learn, Ron Clark has consistently redefined what’s possible in education. Today, through the Ron Clark Academy, his methods are reaching educators across the country and around the world—equipping them with strategies that don’t just inspire, but truly work.
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!
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
