Yeshivot educators trade ideas at EDShare Mini-Conference
Three dozen executive directors representing yeshiva day schools from New Jersey and New York met with other colleagues last month at the EDShare Mini-Conference. The symposium, organized by Torah Educators Network and held in the offices of the Consortium of Jewish Day Schools in Cedarhust, N.Y., gave them the opportunity to collaborate on critical issues they face regularly.
Participants included Rabbi Perry Tirschwell of Teaneck, the founder of Torah Educators Network and the driving force behind the conferences. Other local educators included Stacy Goldstein and Shoshi Ryp of Ben Porat Yosef, Rachel Feldman of Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls, Rabbi Efrayim Clair of the Rosenbaum Yeshiva of North Jersey, Joel Kirschner of the Yavneh Academy, Ora Kornbluth of Yeshivat He’Atid, and Enid Anziska of Yeshivat Noam.
The conference followed TEN’s successful YHShare Conference in Bergen County in June. That inaugural symposium bought more than 100 yeshiva high school Judaic studies teachers together to share innovative pedagogic and curricular ideas. TEN also held its first conference for executive directors, drawing representatives from 35 Jewish day schools in North America to Boca Raton in February.
Attendees at the EDShare Mini–Conference participated in an interactive session about financial aid in schools, including the scope and methodology used in the information-gathering process related to a financial aid application, as well as assessing needs and awarding scholarship funds.
In addition, employment attorney Chaim Book of Moskowitz & Book led a session on the development and modification of faculty handbooks for yeshiva day schools. Some of the items discussed included personal and sick days for faculty, paid family leave, various types of harassment, cell phone use, and personal social media policies for faculty.
“This was my second opportunity to participate in TEN’s executive director conference,” Stacy Goldstein, Ben Porat Yosef’s director of operations, said. “These sessions allow us to compare notes, learn best practices, and share our collective knowledge. It is a great opportunity to build connections with colleagues both locally and across the country.”
“The EDShare Mini-Conference was a wonderful opportunity to learn and share with colleagues,” Joel Kirschner, Yavneh Academy’s executive director, said.
To learn more about the Torah Educators Network, go to www.TorahEducators.net.
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