By COLlive reporter
This past summer, 11 seminary graduates met in Crown Heights for a two-day orientation and training before fanning out to teaching positions in Florida, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. During the recent International Kinus Hashluchim, they met again for a mid-year checkpoint.
These teachers fill vital classroom roles in grades K through 12 at Cheder Chabad of Florida, Cheder Chabad of Philadelphia, and Bais Chana Delaware. They also gain from weekly mentorship in person and bi-weekly teacher training courses on Zoom.
In addition, their host schools, in partnership with MEF, provide local Chassidus classes and take care of all their material needs. This program aims to facilitate a successful first year of teaching for these idealistic young women so that they can continue on the front lines of the vital Shlichus of Chinuch.
During this training day, participants learned from Rabbi Zelig Silber on “Mastering Classroom Management” and Mrs. Gitty Rosenfeld on “Interactive Learning.” They were treated to words of inspiration from program director Mrs. Shana Tiechtel, a helpful program review with administrator Mrs. Rivka Holzman, and a roundtable discussion with MEF Executive Director and the visionary behind this program, Rabbi Zalman Shneur.
This in-person programming event served as the culmination of the online, accredited coursework that participants have been doing in their respective locations, with Mrs. Mushkie Lipsker on Teaching Methodology and Mrs. Chanah Rose on Curriculum in Jewish Studies. Mrs. Danit Shusterman and Mrs. Sarah Chuzhin more recently joined the program staff to support the more specific needs of participants who are teaching general studies and preschool.
Now that they were meeting in person, the teachers got to share ideas and gel as a group. MEF gifted each one with the book “The Educator’s Privilege,” emphasizing the Rebbe’s brachos and encouragement for educators, as well as a scented spray bottle, uplifting body and soul.
“I love learning by example from our teachers, and the material is relevant and of a high quality,” shared Malki Gutnick, a teacher in Bais Chana Delaware, who hails from Melbourne, Australia. “The content is also great because it’s directly applicable to our lessons. I think the quality of the training is very empowering for teachers, and gives a kavod to being in Chinuch.”
Aspiring teachers can find out more at mymef.org/tfl
