Young Teachers Get Training

The Menachem Education Foundation’s Teacher Training Program began its third year on Tuesday, November 10.

The participants are a group of dynamic and enegetic young men that have a passion and desire to become effective mechanchim in Chabad yeshivos around the world.

Its goal is to “create teachers that reach every student, academically and emotionally,” explains Rabbi Zalman Shneur, executive director of the Menachem Education Foundation.

“We envision a world where every child thrives in the classroom. Classes are stimulating, teachers are engaging and principals provide transformational and inspirational leadership.”

For the Teacher Training Program, renowned mechanchim and professionals are brought together to teach a one-year course to a group of 15 trainees. In over 115 hours of classtime and an additional 10 hours of mentoring, applied teaching methods are learned and practiced.

The program began with an orientation held in the Shul at the Crown Condos. From there, the participants went to Lubavitcher Yeshiva to attend the first class entitled “Setting Up Your Classroom For Success.”

Rabbi Mechel Rottenberg, a seasoned mechanech and the principal of Adas Yereim of Monsey delivered the class in his trademark unforgettable manner. The class models through various techniques that a rebbi can use to maintain authority and control in the classroom. The participants were impressed by the methods and are working on developing their own ways of implementing the methods.

The key focus in this year’s program will be on engaging students, differentiating instruction and understanding emotional needs of children.

“This year’s course will be very practical and hands-on,” says Rabbi Shlomo Kleinman, Program Director at Menachem, “we want our graduates to walk away being able to use the skills that they learn.”

The course is certified by the City University of New York – Medgar Evers College. Many graduates serve as distinguished teachers in various communities across the United States, including Brooklyn, Monsey, Miami and Milwaukee.