Principals Meet for Training

By COLlive reporter

On Monday, February 20th 2012, eleven principals from schools across the nation gathered in Crown Heights for a specially-designed Principal Leadership Program offered by the Menachem Education Foundation (MEF).

The first, of a three part series, the educators engaged in a two-day training workshop facilitated by Rabbi Yossi Rosenblum in partnership with the New York City Leadership Academy.

The Principal Leadership Program is a one-year program that provides training in transformational and instructional skills to principals in schools across the globe. Last year, MEF launched a special cohort for women principals. Many of the principals in this year’s program are returnees from last year’s program, and some joined for the first time.

The first portion of the sessions focused on Standard Based Learning and the necessity for clear standards in order to promote and measure academic excellence. A major area of emphasis was on creating tests that accurately match whether standards have been met.

The group also enjoyed visiting Beis Rivkah elementary school for a period of “learning rounds,” where they observed dynamic teachers in action and brought what they had learned to real-life analysis of the classroom.

Throughout the two days, the educators engaged in leadership development activities, applying the concepts to questions that come up in their own particular school contexts. They drew on the knowledge of their colleagues in the room, used one another as thought partners as they explored challenges in their schools and practiced strategies that they can apply in their day-to-day work.

“The sessions with Rabbi Rosenblum were very productive as they focused on very constructive and practical aspects of educational leadership. It provided us with the opportunity to think and collaborate on finding solutions regarding the many educational and administrative issues we all confront,”
Shaindel Tiechtel, principal at Beis Rivka High School, said of the program.

With this new and refreshing program, MEF hopes to build a “professional learning community,” or “Critical Friends Group,” colleagues that share feedback with one another in positive, constructive and supportive ways.

“It’s a valuable opportunity to have a group of stellar women in the room, working together in collaboration, bringing together their talent and ideas about education,” says Lea New, curriculum specialist at MEF.

Going forward, the Menachem Education Foundation looks to maintain this network of principals, and facilitate their collaboration on working together towards common goals and practices.

For more info, contact Mrs. Mushka Deitsch, 718.663.7215 Ext 1 or visit mymef.org