Over Sixteen Sessions at Kinus Mechanchos Day One

Photos: Sholem Srugo

The first day of the 7th Annual Kinus Mechanchos Chabad held at the Armon Hotel in Stamford, CT included over sixteen workshops geared for educators of all ages and grade levels. Facilitated networking connected Mechanchos from around the world to collaborate and discuss best practices in Chinuch today.

The largest ever 7th Annual Kinus Mechanchos Chabad, organized by the Menachem Education Foundation (MEF) began Monday, July 11, at the Armon Hotel in Stamford, CT. The Kinus has once again gathered Chabad teachers and school leaders from around the world for two days of empowerment, networking and rejuvenation.

After davening and reading a joint pan at the Ohel, participants arrived at the hotel and sat for a networking lunch and a warm welcome by Kinus Chairwoman, Mrs. Nami Friedman, assistant principal at Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh.

The afternoon continued with over sixteen workshops and sessions to provide Mechanchos with the tools to give a timeless Chinuch to today’s students. There were tracks geared for educators of every age and grade levels including Early Childhood, Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, High School and school leadership.

Presenters included Mrs. Vivi Deren, veteran educator and shlucha in Stamford, CT, Harav Yosef Shusterman, Rav of Anash in Los Angeles, and Shliach in Beverly Hills, CA, Mrs. Henny Bartfield, M.S.Ed, Mrs. Chana Thaler, MA CCC-CLP, and Mrs. Rivka Caroline, M.S.c, and author of From Frazzled to Focused.

The topics ranged from Chinuch in Halacha to social-emotional learning, time management tools, helping students with speech and language development, and building a Chinuch toolbox to be an equipped educator in today’s world.

Mrs. Leah Shollar, general studies principal at Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh, together with Mrs. Chanie Feldman, general studies principal at Cheder Chabad Philadelphia, led a panel discussion on cross-curricular alignment between Judaic and general studies.

A second panel followed later in the afternoon, informing educators about creating an environment of wellness in the school and classroom, led by Mrs. Dina Gorkin, CPP and principal of Bnos Chomesh Academy in Crown Heights, and Mrs. Leah Herman, MSW, and Mechaneches at Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh.

Five groups of facilitated networking divided by roles and grade levels, coordinated by Mrs. Malkie Gurkow of the Shluchim Online School, brought together educators in similar positions to share successful strategies and exchange ideas.

Participant Mrs. Kesem Mia Hetsrony, teacher at Cheder Chabad of Philadelphia, shared her thoughts on the first day: “If I could sum up the kinus in one word, it’s ‘empowerment.’ To be in an environment surrounded by women whose role it is to empower other women daily, is so energizing, inspiring and gives the fortitude and skills to give that over to our talmidos.”