By Ellen Lefkowitz, Jewish LearningWorks’ Senior Educator
In the fall of 2023, Jewish LearningWorks had the honor and privilege of participating in an exciting and critically important new project to elevate the field of Jewish Early Childhood Education. ElevatEd is a groundbreaking, collaborative initiative to recruit, train, mentor, and support over 300 new teachers in diverse pioneer communities across North America. This initiative is a visionary collaborative project of Jewish Community Centers Association of North America (JCC Association), Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), and the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ).
As the local community liaison for ElevatEd, we partnered with East Bay Jewish early childhood centers in inviting educators new or newish to the field to engage in an 18-month long training and mentorship program. Through weekly learning sessions and one-on-one mentoring, educators reflected on and deepened their teaching practice. Mentors in each of the participating schools engaged in full year of in-depth learning to build the skills of a mentor teacher.
We want to wish all of the participants of the first cohort a mazel tov on the completion of this training program. At the end of this school year, a second cohort of ElevatEd educators and mentors will be completing their year of learning.
May all of these educators go from strength to strength as they nurture the future of our Jewish community.
Rad What Participants Are Saying
“I am deeply grateful for my experience with the ElevatEd program, as it has profoundly grounded me as an educator and strengthened my connection to Jewish education. Through ElevatEd, I have developed the ability to seamlessly integrate Jewish identity and culture into every activity I introduce, making each lesson more meaningful and enriching for my students. My two-year-old students are more engaged than ever before, eagerly anticipating each day at school. The joy and excitement they bring to their learning environment is a testament to the lasting impact this program has had on my teaching practice.”
Shardae Jordan
ElevatEd Participant & Preschool Teacher at JCC East Bay Preschool – Berkeley, CA
“I am grateful for having been able to be part of the first ElevatEd cohort. I had amazing educators who provided us with valuable and informative early childhood education concepts.
As our lessons were provided by ElevatEd, I am also grateful that our zoom meetings were great, and we were all able to connect with many other early childhood educators from out of state.”
Fabiola Altamirano
ElevatEd Participant & Preschool Teacher at Temple Beth Sholom – San Leandro, CA
“The ElevatEd Program at Jewish LearningWorks has been an incredible experience. I particularly enjoyed the forums where I could exchange ideas and perspectives with fellow educators. One of the highlights of the program was the opportunity to connect with mentors and colleagues from across the country, building a supportive and inspiring cohort. The facilitators were exceptionally well-prepared and thoughtful, guiding us with expertise and care. I walked away feeling empowered, connected, and inspired to make a greater impact. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking to grow in their educational journey!”
Marsha Anderson
ElevatEd Mentor & Preschool Teacher at Gan Ilan Preschool – Lafayette, CA
“I am deeply grateful for the comprehensive support provided throughout the program. The ‘no man left behind’ approach ensured I felt consistently supported and empowered. The program’s focus on Jewish culture has been invaluable, providing me with practical tools to enrich my children’s understanding and appreciation of their heritage.”
Alisha Morris
ElevatEd Participant & Preschool Teacher at Temple Beth Sholom – San Leandro, CA
Graduating Cohort
Emerging Educators:
-Mel Matas, JCC East Bay Preschool
-Meagan Snyder, Gan Ilan
-Vivian Milne, Temple Sinai David Pregerson Preschool
-Alisha Morris, Beth Sholom – San Leandro
-Fabiola Altamirano, Beth Sholom – San Leandro
-Kellie Drago, Beth El Nursery School (BENS)
-Diana Saravia, Temple Sinai David Pregerson Preschool
-Vera Gordon, Gan Ilan
-Shardae Jordan, JCC East Bay Preschool
Mentors:
-Carlota Buada Flores, Temple Sinai David Pregerson Preschool
-Marianna Ballesteros, Beth Sholom – San Leandro
-Nicki Acland-Whear, JCC East Bay
-Susan Sterling, Beth El Nursery School (BENS)
-Tori Anklan, Temple Sinai David Pregerson Preschool
-Marsha Anderson, Gan Ilan
-Ashlynn Adams, Gan Ilan
