Press Release

More Than 700 Jewish Education Leaders Gather
For 2012 North American Jewish
Day School Conference
Three-Day Program, Collaboration Among Educational Denominations Explores
“Current Landscapes—Changing Horizons”

Atlanta – January 18, 2012 — More than 700 leaders and educators at Jewish day schools across the spectrum of Judaism gathered together for the third annual North American Jewish Day School Conference (NAJDSC) in Atlanta on January 15-17. Attending on behalf of Bornblum Solomon Schechter School were Sally Baer, Head of School, and Gail Traynor, Assistant Head of School.

According to Mrs. Baer, “The conference was inspiring and informative as we explored the value of our affiliation with the Schechter Day School Network, the nationwide responses to providing a rigorous, integrated curriculum, and ever-changing technology. The opportunity to network with other day school leaders provides connection between BSSS and the other school across the country.”

Jointly planned by RAVSAK: The Jewish Community Day School Network, the Institute for University-School Partnership at Yeshiva University, the Schechter Day School Network, PARDeS: The Progressive Association of Reform Day Schools, and PEJE, the Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education, the conference brought together over 300 schools and professional organizations. “This conference allows people to solidify those communities in which they see themselves belonging, and at the same time expand the very notion of what a community can be by creating a safe environment for learning and collaboration within networks and without,” said Dr. Scott Goldberg, Director of the YU School Partnership.

This year the conference focused on “Current Landscapes—Changing Horizons.” The program featured two keynote speeches, four mini-keynotes, a special tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and nearly 60 sessions and workshops. Each organization also convened its schools for intensive sessions focused on particular issues affecting their own schools and communities. New this year were the ELI Talks, a TED-talk like format featuring dynamic, innovative speakers discussing the shared ideals and commitments of the Jewish people. Dr. Marc Kramer, Executive Director of RAVSAK, noted with pride that, “With more than 700 day school leaders and supporters convening in Atlanta, we have solid evidence that the day school movement is anything but stuck in neutral.  The vibrancy and importance of day schools is more evident than ever before.”

Conference sessions addressed topics such as 21st century skills, the Jewish day school value proposition, re-imagining and sustaining day schools, and innovations in Jewish education. Equally important was the networking time that allowed participants to meet and hold in-depth discussions with other practitioners, funders, and education professionals. “I cannot overstate the importance of collaboration in today’s marketplace,” asserted Amy Katz, Executive Director of PEJE. “I hope that our coming together will demonstrate to the field the power of uniting behind a common interest.”

“This exciting conference highlighted current issues and challenges that are shared across the broad field of Jewish day school education,” remarks Dr. Elaine Cohen, Director of the Schechter Day School Network. “We are asserting that the future is now and that together we can advance the field through innovative practices, big picture thinking, and an energized commitment to excellence in teaching and learning.”

The North American Jewish Day School Leadership Conference is supported by the AVI CHAI
Foundation, The Covenant Foundation, ERB, the Kohelet Foundation, Measuring Success and several anonymous funders.

For more information on the conference, including multimedia materials from many of the sessions, please visit: jewishdayschoolconference.org.

Photos from the Conference

Schedule for January 16, 2011

8:30  Breakfast Buffet

9:00  Welcome                                                   Dr. Elaine Cohen and Rabbi Jim Rogozen

9:15  Text study                                                 Rabbi Larry Scheindlin

10:00 Planning for the Network’s Future                Jo De Bolt  (La Piana Consulting)

12:00 Brief report from the Board of Directors       Rabbi Jim Rogozen

12:15 pre-lunch stretch

12:30 Lunch Buffet

1:15 pm “Mantra Wall”  -  An engaging hands-on activity

1:30 Celebrating the Schechter Brand                   Mirm Kriegel, BBMG, lead professional on the Schechter branding project with presentations from:
Elaine Suchow, Solomon Schechter of Queens
Dr. Cindy Dolgin, Solomon Schechter Day School of Nassau County and the High School of Long Island
Bill Cohen, Kadima Day School

2:30  Group meetings:

• Implementing and Advancing the Brand           Mirm Kriegel
• Conversation about the Pre-school pipeline and Schechter affiliated ECE programs – Facilitator  Rabbi Shelly Dorph
• Teaching Rabbinics Initiative and MaToK new initiatives: Next Steps – Facilitators Rabbi Shawn Simon Hazani and Galya Greenberg
• Policies as a Reflection of a Schechter School’s Values:  Rabbi Jim Rogozen

3:15  Highlights of small group meetings / Next steps for the SDSN

3:30  Network sessions adjourn and rejoin conference plenary for keynote address.