*NEW* for the 2026-2027 School Year

Inter-District Learning Tours

What is a Learning Tour?

This immersive, one-day experience is designed to inspire cross-district sharing of ideas and practices by providing teachers the rare opportunity to step outside their own district and witness other teachers in action. Grounded in the concept of “Vicarious Mastery” from Alfred Bandura’s research in self-efficacy, this opportunity allows educators to observe a variety of Teacher Moves, intentional Learning Environments, and authentic Moments of Joy across diverse school settings. After observing how different spaces and strategies foster belonging, encourage academic rigor, and promote joyful engagement, participants will collaboratively debrief and decide what to bring back to their own classrooms or buildings.

Participants will receive a certificate of participation that fulfills the following Core Teaching Standards:

Standard #3- Learning Environments

Standard #8- Instructional Strategies

Standard #9- Professional Learning and Ethical Practice


Bandura, A. (1982). Self-efficacy mechanism in human agency. American Psychologist, 37(2),122–147. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.37.2.122

❋ Intentional Structure

Tours alternate between K-8 and 5-12 grade bands so you can choose the focus of your tour. Each tour includes two host districts and two different school buildings. 

❋ Collaborative Energy

Connection is a core part of the process. We encourage teams to come and experience a tour together and meet colleagues from all across Vermont. 

❋ Expert Facilitation

Led by Emily Rinkema, co author of The Standards-Based Classroom: Make Learning the Goal, your learning tour will be focused with time for discussion and debrief, and filled with joy!

❋ A Supportive Space

The Learning Tours prioritize joyful inquiry through Bandura’s theory of vicarious mastery. We encourage participants to show up as you are and bring a creative spirit and an open mind in order to fully engage in the day.

Emily Rinkema leads a learning tour in CVSD with a team from Mt. Mansfield Unified Union School District

Sample Itinerary

You will receive an itinerary specific to your tour that outlines the plan for the day. All tours follow a similar structure.

Arrive & Meet

8:00am

School 1

9:00 am

Lunch Break and debrief

12:00pm

School 2

1:00pm

Reflections and Debrief

3:30pm

  • The Learning Tour was a wonderful experience and a great way to connect with different school communities other than my own. I loved the focus on joy in the classroom and having the opportunity to reinvigorate my own love for learning and engaging students in joyful and meaningful ways. I was able to be reminded of pieces of my teaching that I want to use again and see new aspects that I want to bring back to my own classroom. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and I'm glad I was able to be a part of it.

    Meghan P. (MMUUSD)

  • I recently had the opportunity to participate in a full-day CVEDC Learning Tour, and it was an incredibly valuable professional learning experience. Throughout the day, I visited multiple schools, engaging with teachers and administrators about their goals for student engagement and creating meaningful learning environments. Attending with a small team of colleagues from my district made the experience especially impactful. Observing authentic learning in a variety of classrooms gave us a shared vision of effective instructional practices, while the built-in time for reflection allowed us to discuss what we observed and identify strategies we could implement both individually and as collaborative teaching teams. I highly recommend the CVEDC Learning Tour to educators and school leaders looking for meaningful, job-embedded professional learning that inspires reflection, collaboration, and practical next steps for improving teaching and learning.

    Emily Pawlusiak, MMUUSD Literacy Coach

  • CVEDC’s Learning Tour was a breath of fresh air. It provided a unique opportunity to step outside our own school and district and gain renewed energy and perspective by learning within another system. Participants were able to observe and reflect on different educational approaches and generate insights for their own instructional practices. All while also considering various larger structures and systems that could strengthen and benefit our own building and district.

    Lindsay N. (MMUUSD Math Coach)

Choose your Tour! We can’t wait to see you.

Tour 1, grades K-8

September 28, 2026

Location(s): Middlebury Union Middle School (ACSD) and Vergennes Union Middle School (ANWSD)

Tour 2, grades 5-12

October 26, 2026

Location:

Tour 3, grades K-8

November 16, 2026

Location: Milton Elementary School/Milton Middle School (MTSD) and Colchester Middle School (CSD)

Tour 4, grades 5-12

January 25, 2027

Location:

Tour 5, grades K-8

February 8, 2027

Location:

Tour 6, grades 5-12

March 29, 2027

Location:

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