By Chanah Poltorak
Faculty members of nine Crown Heights schools convened at a recent brainstorming session led by acclaimed educator Shimon Waronker.
Waronker is known for his achievements as principal of a Bronx public school, transforming it from one of the most crime-ridden schools in NY to a positive place of learning, order and growth. Now, after spending a year in Harvard lecturing on leadership and developing an innovative educational model, he is preparing to set up a new public school according to that model, right here in Crown Heights.
In conjunction with the Menachem Education Foundation, Shimon Waronker led this second session in a pair of workshops, entitled “Relationships, Transparency and Empowerment.” Besides for the educational value for all involved, this workshop also provided the opportunity for members of any Lubavitch school faculty to apply for a unique grant. The two recipients of the grant will attend the training session that Waronker is running during the summer to train his staff in his new methods. The workshop’s participants – representing Oholei Torah, Darchei Menachem, Lubavitch Yeshiva, Bais Rivka, Bnos Menachem, Ohr Chana, Machon Chana the Shluchim Online School – sat at tables set up for each school in 580 Crown Street’s new and spacious shul.
Waronker gave an overview of his educational model during the first portion of the workshop, and then the representatives of each school spent close to an hour developing action plans based on his lecture. The results? Actual resolutions.
At the close of the sessions, some participants shared their ideas. A teacher in Oholei Torah shared his specific plans to implement new methods in his classrooms, and the Online School Hanhala shared ideas of how to make Waronker’s models work in an even a virtual environment. Mrs. Labkowsky of Machon Chana and Ohr Chana ended the sharing session with an idea that had a knot of educators from several schools still brainstorming close to an hour after the event’s official close.
Who’ll get the grant? Many of the workshop’s participants hope to submit the winning application before the May deadline, so that they could bring back the skills they would gain to their school and to our community. Most importantly, though, all of the teachers, principals and administrators who attended left with more tools to enhance our children’s chinuch – and an evening’s worth of plans to make it happen.
The key to making positive changes in our schools is for our Hanhalas to open their minds and be willing to accept change, and be willing to train their teachers to implement change. Rote learning is pushed more than anyting – at the cost of thinking!! I feel that, in part, this is a method used by teachers for (excuse me) lack of another system to “fill the time”. Doing away with so much rote learning would force teachers to explore other, more creative teaching methods. Children are spitting back words they don’t understand! How is that learning to think?!… Read more »
I have no idea what waronker’s education plan is…however I am a parent of boys who we have pulled out of yeshiva (with broken hearts). The most important thing for a mechanech/mechaneches is the relationship with the student. A study was conducted years ago asking adults what they remember from their elementary years – they all remembered the teachers they liked best because of the compliments, awards,accolades they gave them. Teachers, PLEASE, educate yourselves on the different learning styles. Every child deserves to succeed in a classroom. Also PLEASE educate yourselves in the field of social skills. The classroom is… Read more »
He is addressing the ‘hows’ of teaching. So important! But what about the ‘what’. What are they teaching the children? I’m not talking about the secular subjects, but rather WHAT are they teaching in the Judaic part of the day? Torah, for knowledge, or Torah for living? It’s time we started making the Torah/ Chasidus that is taught RELEVANT so that the children really incorporate it into their way of being
Thank you chanah for a wonderful article.
I would love to see a transcript/ video of the event. I agree that responsibility for education is shared by parents and teachers equally.
So how about Shimon give a parenting workshop? i know I’ll be there!
It says “faculties of 9 schools” but only eight were mentioned.
I’m wondering why Beis Chaya Mushka and Ohr Menachem were not there. Not invited? Didn’t want to come?
Is there a video of this event?
Great that Rabbi Waronker is giving these workshops and that the mechanchim are joining!! He has a tremendous amount to share! However,its not enough to just attend and listen… we need to see implementation of his ideas in our school systems!! which need a lot of improvment and new age ideas to motivate our children!
Go! Shimon, Go! The dept. of ed here searched for a suitable classroom situation for secular studies to implement this new program, all over the 5 boros of NY. They found two. The one decided upon was right here in Crown Heights! Shimon will be the principal at The Walter Weaver School, BE”H, located at Rochester Avenue and East New York Ave, in Sept. When Shimon heard and saw this he walked home in a daze. “It’s a ‘Gilooee Eloquis!” he said. This story was told at a ‘farbrengen’ at Frankel’s Shul about six months ago. Shimon lives a few… Read more »
A graduate
Anyone? was the grant discussed federal or local?
Teachers! leave the yeshus aside an give priority to improvement
Listen very carefull to Shimon Waronker
He got this gift from Hashem and he is bringing this in a practical level. He is becoming the global shliach for education
Our Yeshivos, chedorim, need this guidance
our mechanchim need training and training and training
The greatest hardship the schools have today is that the parents are relying on the school to do the parents jobs. The Hanhalos would have an easier job if parents would do what they were suppose to! Most workshops wont help until parents take responsality.
all of the ideas / concepts/plans can be great, and I hold by using alot of them. Only the first thing is Torah / Chassidus / humility. When a teacher doesnt know what to do, there are a few basics. One is to at least love him “ve ahavta reacha k’mocha”. Stop and go to someone and talk it over. Only love and acceptance. no ego, like trying to press someone into a mold for a teacher’s ego.
This guy is on the ball. I love how he set up his conferences as practical instead of just discussion, and how he has incentives like grants!
This guy understands that hanholos work the same way as kids, in that they need practical guidance and incentives.
Go go Mrs. Labkowski
to # 5 sorry to disagree I’ve seen it and experienced it low on possitive and massively high on negative I think all the Yeshivas around here need training help massivelyyyyyyyyyy
and aobut own free time they dont even call parents back after hours I dont see any extra tring or should I say CARINGGGG
#2, why so negative? I for one appreciate the absolute dedication of our beloved mechanchim and mechanchos; even on their own free time, they are looking for ways to further help our children! Of course, there is always room for improvement; it is that way EVERYWHERE.
Educations fad of the day is great for actual educators to implement on top of the elemental basics. Buyer beware this is entirely analogous to the shtetel fire brigade who only needed the siren to put out the fire. The first step is water and a bucket.
How do I get on a mailing list for future conferences?
Our moisdos certainly need guidance in making yeshiva a positive place of learning. I wish all the mechanchim can get the proper training.
wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow