Coaching Begins for New Teachers

It is no secret that new teachers are commonly faced by a myriad of challenges and obstacles that stand in the way of success for students, teachers and schools. The many challenges are compounded by a sense of isolation and loneliness that many new teachers experience during the toughest years of their job cycle.

The Menachem Education Foundation has recently taken a giant step to rectify this problem by partnering with the Jewish New Teachers Project to provide coaching to graduates of its Teacher Training Program who go on to become new teachers. The program pairs up new teachers with an experienced teacher/mentor who observes and mentors the new teacher for at least 1.5 hours weekly. The mentoring is data-driven and uses the framework that the Jewish New Teachers Project adopted from the New Teacher Center at Santa Cruz University.

The Jewish New Teachers Project is a branch of the New Teacher Center at Santa Cruz University and is funded by Jim Joseph Foundation, Avichai Foundation and the UJA Federation of New York.

“This is something very close to my heart,” says Rabbi Zalman Shneur, Executive Director of the Menachem Foundation. “We were sending guys out to become new teachers and many complained that they felt isolated when on the job. I am extremely impressed with the Jewish New Teachers Project and I am confident that they will support our graduates properly.”

This partnership is currently underway as a pilot project at the Cheder Chabad of Monsey, one of the fastest growing Chabad schools. So far the program has been successful in helping new teachers face their day-to-day struggles.

“This project is bringing a new energy into our school! It provides new teachers the ability of reflecting honestly in a non threatening environment,” remarks Rabbi Avrohom Wolowik, principal of the Cheder Chabad of Monsey. “The focus on supporting new teachers is crucial for the future of the Cheder and the success of the children in our classrooms.”

This project was made possible through the generous support of the U’Foratzto Foundation.

The Menachem Foundation hopes to expand the program into other Chabad schools by the next year. To learn more about this project please contact the Menachem Foundation at [email protected].