By COLlive reporter
9 new Chabad school teachers are now on the path to classroom success, with the confidence, skills and instructional strategy to reach every child.
Having completed Menachem Education Foundation’s innovative Teacher Training Program this June, they are now better prepared to succeed in the Chabad community’s classrooms and make a difference for all children.
“The future of Chabad depends on education. It’s that simple,” says Rabbi Zalman Shneur, founder and director of the foundation that was founded in 2008 to raise the standard in Jewish Education.
The training program has trained to date 84 teachers who have taken up positions in classrooms across the globe.
One member of its very first cohort is Rabbi Zelig Silber, who went on to become known as a master teacher in Cheder Chabad of Monsey. Rabbi Silber was asked to direct the Teacher Training Program in 2012, sharing his expertise and taking the program to the next level.
The program is now divided into academies – which provide intensive instruction in topics such as classroom management, lesson planning, connecting with students and more – and forums, during which participants collaborate on implementing the topics learned.
“The common thread between the academies and the forums allows for continuous brainstorming and problem-solving,” explains Rabbi Silber, “ensuring that every new teacher is up to par.”
Another exciting new aspect of the Teacher Training Program is student teaching and mentoring. Participants are now required to hold teaching positions so that their learning will be linked to practice, and are each assigned a master teacher (trained by the Jewish New Teacher Program – JNTP) for mentoring, observation, and individualized guidance.
“The encouragement and guidance I received from my mentor,” says Rabbi Yitzchok Klein, a 4th grade teacher in Oholei Menachem, “were an incredible support in the challenges that I faced as a first year teacher.”
Rabbi Akiva Steinmetz, a 2nd grade teacher in the Shluchim Online Schools, adds: “It would have taken several years of classroom experience to accomplish what the Teacher Training Program’s workshops and forums have taught me in just one year.”
The Teacher Training Program’s 6th year will commence this fall, with registration closing on Elul 1 – August 7. Plans for a Women’s Teacher Training Program are also underway.
Aside of the Teacher Training, the foundation developed the Zekelman Standards for Judaic Studies, rigorous benchmarks for the core subjects of Chumash and Gemara; Data Driven Instruction (DDI); the Eisenberg Award to outstanding teachers; and the Inquiry Program for Chabad schools, supporting existing teachers with professional development and growth.
To make Chinuch your Shlichus and to apply to MEF’s Teacher Training Program, contact z.silber@mymef.org or call 718-663-7215, ext. 221. Visit them online at MyMef.org
As a shlucha, teacher for over 30 years and parent of one of your participants I can highly commend this effort. Too often as parents going through the system with our children on a day to day basis individual situations become so painful that we do not see the whole picture. I do not believe that we will solve all the problems in chinuch overnight however this is such a wonderful beginning and with obvious positive results that it deserves to be supported by anash. Yasher Koach yalech machayil el chayil.
You’re wrong! That and who are both valid. Check up any grammar authority and you’ll learn that it’s become ok to use either one.
We need you in Minnesota!!!!
yasher koach Rabbi Zalmy Shneur
Fixing education in Chabad begins with the simple concept of accountability mission buy in at all organizational levels. If there is no proper tone at the top, from a board, to a dean/ headmaster to the principals, to the teachers – results will be inconsistent and likely a flop and our children suffer for another generation. If the entire food chain can be aligned in same strategic goals, we have achieved our mission in providing for our children. Short of this, shame on all of us and all of the Hanholah. But that said, we have no educational leadership in… Read more »
Zelig, We are so inspired with your deep understanding of education and your professionalism. We know how hard you are working this summer with other top notch educators. Hashem should guide you and give you continued hatzlacha.
It sure seams you know how to read and WRITE!!! Why can’t a trade be a shoe maker, a plumber, a bus driver, a store manager? Do you really need English to drive a bus? to be an electrician? a photographer, milk man, mashgiach???? what’s wrong with the good old diamond dealer? you need english for that too? shmate business? the person who is capable of becoming a lawyer is capable of learning the skills after he/she finishes yeshiva and has a solid yiddish and chassidish education and foundation.. no need for english in the school.
It’d amazing that every time there is a positive article on COL we get silly comments from the readers. Lack of English in schools have never lead to problems. It is good personality, confidence, yiras shomayim and midos tovos that the children need…not English skills. I know many from our schools and from chassidishe mosdos who never learned English and have successful careers and so many who learned English and went through college and cannot find a job or keep one. I am not saying that we shouldn’t learn English but it definitely does not need to be taught in… Read more »
what does the rebbe say about this?
MEF changing education in Chabad for the better! Go team!
OT is pumping out 100 boys per grade who can’t read right or do arithmetic every year. The gamorah states a father who does not teach his child a trade is as if he is teaching him how to steal. – Make sure your kids go to after school programs.
case in point, the word ‘that’ is used with objects, the word ‘who’ with people. so your sentence should read: ” . . . the problem starts with the teachers WHO cannot (one word) read . . . ”
one of the main problems in our school system is that the kids are not taught any proper language, not english hebrew or yiddish, and the problem starts with the teachers that can not write – speak or teach it. its about time the teachers are trained in a few languages and that it is passed down to the children
LIKE A Boss!