Lubavitch Educational Center in Miami, the largest Jewish day school in the Southeastern United States, recently welcomed a visit from Superintendent Jose Dotres of the Miami Dade Board of Education.
During his visit, Dotres and his Chief of staff were greeted by Rabbi Benzion Korf, the school’s dean, and Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, a well-known Jewish community representative. Dotres toured the entire facility, including the aquatic areas, and expressed his admiration for the school’s teachers and facilities. He also learned about the ambitious expansion plans for the school.
During the visit, Superintendent Dotres announced a pilot program for intervention, which will allow Board of Education consultants to identify children who could benefit from additional therapy. This marks the first collaboration between the Miami Dade Board of Ed, Lubavitch Educational Center and Toras Emes Jewish Day Schools. The pilot program is being run by Caring Therapists, a company that already has personnel working within the Jewish day school system in areas of early intervention and occupational therapy. The program aims to expand the therapy programs available for special needs referrals and provide additional funding for therapies.
The meeting also touched on areas of need for Jewish day schools, including special needs, and other areas of joint collaboration working to benefit all children in Miami Dade. Superintendent Dotres expressed his appreciation for the support of Rabbis Korf and Kaploun and emphasized his view that every child in Miami Dade can benefit from Board of Education services.
As a result of the meeting, the first pilot program is already underway, and regular meetings will be held between the Board of Education superintendent and staff with Jewish community leaders to work on joint programs that will assist all.
Rabbi Korf expressed his deep appreciation to Superintendent Dotres for recognizing the areas where public and private schools can work together and look forward to announcing further programs for the upcoming year.
