Tuesday, July 21 – Wednesday, July 22
As the school year winds down, many educators are already looking ahead, reflecting on what to maintain and what to change for the next year. In today’s classrooms, that reflection often includes navigating difficult conversations, addressing bias, and ensuring that every student feels safe and respected.
The 2026 Tidewater Inclusive Educators’ Conference is designed with those realities in mind. Hosted by the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, in partnership with the Jewish Community Relations Council and Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and United Jewish Community of the Virginia Peninsula, this two-day experience brings together educators from across the region for focused, practical learning.
Educators are often called to respond to bias in real time—whether it arises in classroom comments, student interactions, or broader questions of identity and belonging—and this conference centers on what they need most: clarity, confidence, and practical strategies.
Participants will explore how to address antisemitism and identity-based bullying, facilitate meaningful conversations, and build stronger engagement across diverse classrooms. Just as importantly, the conference helps educators turn difficult moments into opportunities for learning, equipping them to approach sensitive topics with intention, guide students through tension, and foster environments that are both inclusive and accountable. The focus remains on immediately applicable skills that shape not only individual student experiences, but the broader culture of schools.
A central element of the conference is its focus on connecting historical understanding to present-day student experiences. On the second day of the conference, participants will take part in a guided visit to the Virginia Holocaust Museum in Richmond, using this experience as a professional tool to deepen context and support more meaningful classroom discussions. By grounding contemporary challenges in historical reality, educators are better equipped to foster empathy, critical thinking, and informed dialogue among their students.
For educators, this is an opportunity to strengthen practice alongside peers who understand the realities of today’s classrooms and to leave with tools that can make an immediate difference. Professional development that is both relevant and practical, can be difficult to find; this conference is intentionally designed to meet that need.
Educators should consider registering today. If not an educator, consider sharing the conference with a teacher, administrator, or counselor. Encouraging participation helps extend the conference’s impact, reaching classrooms and students across the community.
The registration fee (early bird fee of $25 through June 15) of $40 includes all materials, meals, transportation, and 13.5 Continuing Education hours. Scholarships are also available.
The conference is made possible by a grant from Tidewater Jewish Foundation.
For more information or to register, visit InclusiveVA.org/tiec2026.