Maurice Ralph Julis

Principal Training InstituteKeeping Keeping an Eye onan Eye on

ROUNDTABLESunglasses or Reading Glasses:

Educators Weigh In on the Best Use of Summer Prep Time

PAGE 2

SPOTLIGHT ONRecent PTI Graduates

Accept Prominent Principal Positions

PAGE 3-4

CAN THIS WORK FOR YOU?

Mrs. Temima Feldman Shares Tips for Bringing a MakerSpace to Your School

PAGE 5

INNOVATION AND

INSPIRATIONEducators Who are Giving Back

PAGE 9

WRAPPING UP PTI 2017MRS. AMY GOLDMAN MODERATES THE FINAL SESSION OF THE 2016-2017 SERIES

PTIPTI

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

maurice ralph julis principal training institute july 2017 1

Although May generally has students wriggling in their

seats, CoJDS’s conference room turned classroom had

students sitting at rapt attention with their year-end

presentations in hand. Mrs. Amy Goldman, principal at

PS 2 in Queens, led the PTI end of year review session

where participants were given the opportunity to come

full circle and review the leadership competencies which

she fi rst presented to the newly formed cohort last May.

In addition, the soon to be graduates had the opportuni-

ty to refl ect on their PTI experiences by sharing and pre-

senting their fi nal portfolios. Th ese portfolios, which can

now serve as comprehensive educational resumes, were

created by culling evidence of years of experience and

aligning them to the competencies the cohort members

had covered throughout the year. Th e portfolios ranged

from large colorful binders crammed with memos, cur-

OUR PANEL

Jane KovelAssistant Principal

Jewish Foundation School of Staten Island

—

Dovid LiebermanJudaic Studies Director

South Peninsula Hebrew Day School

—

Oren LevyAssistant Principal

Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh

—

ROUNDTABLE

ROUNDTABLE: What do you believe is the best way to use summer prep time?

“Summer prep time is perfect for reviewing what worked well and what didn’t over the past year. Teachers can tweak lessons for their incoming classes, administrators can meet with teachers to review curriculum and discuss new ideas. Summer is also great for work-shops, both for administrators and teachers.” -Jane Kovel

“I think the best way to use summer prep time is twofold. First of all, you have to make sure to step away from school and just recharge. It is also very important to speak to other people in similar positions about what you struggled with over the past year and how they handled those types of situations. Those types of conversations can be a lot deeper and richer when you have the time to really think it through. Both of these things should be very helpful towards having a successful upcoming school year.”

-Dovid Lieberman

“As with life, the fi rst action that is required is a cheshbon, a calcula-tion, for every minute spent of every day. How can we, as the school administrators, maximize our time so that we can accomplish the most? A set schedule is a must. We meet the week following school and then a few weeks before the start of the next school year. Part of the time is spent on refl ection and part on preparation. We ask each other probing questions; What worked this year and what didn’t? What were our strengths/areas of weakness? What do we need to change for the upcoming year? Did we achieve what we set out at the beginning of the year? We then come up with and highlight a list of action items to focus on. This is in addition to the regular summer time preparations like class lists and schedules, room assignments, building fi x up and set up, etc. It often seems like there is too much to do in too short of a time but with teamwork and proper time man-agement, a tremendous amount can be accomplished.” -Oren Levy

2 july 2017 maurice ralph julis principal training institute

SPOTLIGHT ON...Mrs. Leah Mond Early Childhood DirectorTorah Academy of Boca Raton, FL

Mrs. Leah Mond, a member of the 2016-2017 PTI co-

hort, will assume the position of Early Childhood Direc-

tor at Torah Academy of Boca Raton. Mrs. Mond will

be leaving her positions as an early childhood educator

at Torah Academy for Girls and a Director at Camp

Atara, both in Far Rockaway, New York. She has been

involved in education and curriculum development for

over 13 years and is currently completing a Masters in

Leadership and Special Education. Mrs. Mond’s stand-

ing as a member of the Principal Training Institute and

Preschool Director program at the Consortium of Jewish

Day Schools rounds out her extensive experience.

Rabbi Feinberg and Rabbi Draiman of Torah Academy

made the announcement on May 18 in an email to the

parent body welcoming the Mond family to the Boca Ra-

ton community. “Mrs. Mond is a beloved educator who

is known for inspiring children not only with a love for

learning, but with a love for Torah and Yiddishkeit.”

Mrs. Mond, for her part, is excited about the move and is

appreciative for all that she has gained from her sessions

at the Consortium of Jewish Day Schools. She enthused,

“I am really looking forward to joining the Torah Acad-

emy family! Th e program is truly amazing and everyone

is so wonderful, helpful and warm. My family and I are

very excited to be a part of this team! PTI has played a

huge role in this journey for me. All the tools I’ve ac-

quired have helped me in preparing for this opportunity.

Every lecture and lesson has given me a confi dence to

pursue this endeavor and I am extremely grateful for ev-

eryone’s support and guidance. Th e best part — it doesn’t

end here! I know everyone involved in the Consortium

will continue to be available for anything I may need.” �

Mrs. Mond is a beloved educator who is known for inspiring children not only with a love for learning,

but with a love for Torah and Yiddishkeitmaurice ralph julis principal training institute july 2017 3

SPOTLIGHT ON...Mrs. Rivkah Dahan PrincipalYeshiva Darchei Eres, Brooklyn, NY

Mrs. Rivkah Dahan, a member of the 2016-2017 PTI

cohort, has recently accepted the position of principal

of Yeshiva Darchei Eres Girls’ School, a girls’ elementary

school in Brooklyn, New York. She will be responsible for

overseeing grades 1-5 and building up the middle school.

Yeshiva Darchei Eres is entering its seventh year and there

are plans to eventually open up a high school.

Mrs. Dahan has over 25 years of experience in education-

al leadership and will be leaving her position of Principal

and Director of Special Education at Mazal Day School

in Manhattan Beach. She is a member the most recent

Principal Training Institute cohort of the Consortium

of Jewish Day Schools and has participated in the YU

Lead Day School Educators Leadership Program. Mrs.

Dahan’s previous positions include Director of Educa-

tion and Mentor for Hidden Sparks, founding director of

Torah Umesorah’s Educational Resource Center serving

teachers and principals nationwide, and a mentor for

the Jewish New Teacher Project. Mrs. Dahan is also the

co-author of Creating a Learning Environment: Th e Ulti-

mate Jewish Teacher’s Handbook.

For her part, Mrs. Dahan is very excited about being a

part of the growth of Yeshiva Darchei Eres and bringing

her unique blend of talent and experience to the specifi c

Jewish population.

“My family and I are very excited about joining the YDE

team! Th is is a wonderful opportunity to lead a growing

girls’ elementary school and give back to my own. Being

born and raised in the Syrian community, coming to YDE

is coming home. Th e staff at YDE has been so supportive

and the best part is that my new colleague, Ms. Rena Fish,

is also a PTI graduate! PTI provided the venue to embark

on a year of study with like-minded colleagues learning

from leading educators and sharing best practices. Kudos

to Rabbi Glass and Mrs. Rosenshein for putting together

an outstanding learning program, to Mrs. Amy Goldman

for creating the curriculum and facilitating sessions, and

to all the presenters who engaged us in refl ection and

gave me tools to incorporate into my practice. Th e Core

Competencies binder that Amy Goldman suggested we

create was an invaluable tool that helped me during the

interview process and beyond. Rabbi Glass, aside from

being the “shadchan”, provided support throughout the

entire process and is always available for guidance and

sage advice. I look forward to participating in future pro-

grams - the Consortium is really a treasure! ” �

“Being born and raised in the Syrian community, it is a special opportunity to be able to give back

to my community.”4 july 2017 maurice ralph julis principal training institute

In an eff ort to encourage even greater

critical thinking skills to develop stu-

dents who are 21st century learners,

the General Studies faculty recently

participated in a school-wide pro-

fessional development session at the

New York Hall of Science to take the

fi rst step toward creating a MakerSpace in each of our

school’s classrooms. A MakerSpace turns our students

from consumers of information into creators of con-

tent.

A MakerSpace is an area where students have an

opportunity to develop a content area from inception

through design. Th is collaborative workspace inside a

school for making, learning, exploring and sharing, can

include a variety of equipment. Th ey can range from

high tech options including 3D printers or laser cutters,

to everyday items such as cardboard, Legos, and art

supplies. MakerSpace is a mindset of creating, problem

solving, and instilling a sense of ownership that is at

the heart of the MakerSpace movement. Our students

will be able to continue to develop the critical thinking

skills that will serve as a foundation for entry into any

of the STEM fi elds.

Th e May workshops attended by over 35 members of

the TAG faculty reinforced the idea that these Maker-

Space activities should be structured with a learning

outcome in mind while the process is be valued over

the product. When we roll out the MakerSpace over the

next year, students will learn to take ownership of their

work by learning that there are multiple pathways to get

to a goal and that they have the ability to fi x their own

problems. Teachers were taught to be facilitators in the

process rather than instructors, by asking instead of

giving answers and by showing authentic enthusiasm

in the process. As the PD session came to a close, it

was clear that, “We are all makers, and when we share,

engage, refl ect and remake, we become masters.” �

CAN THIS WORK FOR YOU?BRINGING A MAKER SPACE INTO YOUR SCHOOL

Mrs. Temima FeldmanPrincipal, Torah Academy for Girls, Far Rockaway, NY

“We are all makers, and when we share, engage, refl ect and remake, we become masters.”

maurice ralph julis principal training institute july 2017 5

ricula, and leadership plans to Google documents that

encompassed power point presentations, student data

tracking, and scheduling tools.

“It is truly amazing to watch how the cohort mem-

bers have meshed as a unit throughout the past twelve

months,” observed a proud graduate. “Th is session really

brought together the methodologies that we examined

together as a group throughout the year and let each one

of us shine in the competencies that were best suited to

our individual day to day tasks.”

Mrs. Goldman opened the morning session, which

included a live hookup to out of town participants, with

a quick review of selected school building leader com-

petencies. She reiterated her theme of the many classes

that she gave throughout the session: a school building

leader must aspire to show evidence of mastery of these

competencies, which were subdivided as profi ciency in

leadership, student success, and communication.

Individual cohort members’ presentations followed

the brief introduction, and Mrs. Goldman served as an

eff ective moderator by asking follow-up questions and

ascertaining that the demonstration of mastery worked

towards a specifi c goal. Competencies discussed ran

the gamut from overall school goals to individual stu-

dent success. A number of principals shared portfolios

that demonstrated action plans they have taken to solve

school wide curriculum needs in both Limudei Kodesh

and General Studies. On the other end of the spectrum,

some participants’ portfolios addressed mastery over

areas specifi c to individual classroom instruction, such

as unique homework sheets and teacher mentoring. Th e

unifying factor in all these presentations was the cross-

competency shown by each action.

In truth, this fi nal presentation gave the soon-to-be new-

ly minted graduates an opportunity for self-introspection

and some clarity for future action steps. Th ese portfolios

will also serve as a concrete tool that can be used to help

pave the path for future opportunities. As one principal

who recently made a career move related, arriving to a

job interview armed with a binder which is a live and

very thick resume in hand, is one of the biggest advan-

tages you can give yourself in today’s competitive job

market and one of the fi rst steps you can take in helping

a whole new set of students. �

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“It is truly amazing to watch how the cohort members have meshed as a unit throughout

the past twelve months”6 july 2017 maurice ralph julis principal training institute

WRAPPING UP PTI 2017MRS. AMY GOLDMAN MODERATES THE FINAL SESSION OF THE 2016-2017 SERIES

Leadership by Design

Maurice Ralph Julis

Principal Training Institute

RAISE THE BAR THIS SUMMER WITH A 3 DAY TRAINING IN

FOR CURRENT SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS

LEARN THE ART AND SCIENCE OF LEADERSHIP BUILT ON INTELLECTUAL AND EMOTIONAL ENGAGEMENT

DR. SHIMON WARONKER JULY 23-25, 2017

Learn how to:

• become refl ective in your practice

• develop your listening and communication skills

• create trust in your school community

• improve teacher performance through the creation of professional learning communities

This 3 day program will include opportunities to role play and receive feedback from video review, work

on hands-on experiential projects with a team of fellow educators and form a learning cohort that can

continue into the upcoming school year.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT DR. ELI SHAPIRO, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES, AT ESHAPIRO@COJDS.ORG

$450 FEE INCLUDES COURSE MATERIALS

LUNCH WILL BE SERVED

LIMITED SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR COURSE FEE AND LODGING

Dr. Shimon Waronker is an acclaimed educator with two fellowships and a doctorate: a Cahn

Fellowship at Columbia University’s Teachers College, and both a Presidential Fellowship and a

Doctorate at Harvard University. Dr. Waronker is currently serving as the CEO of Th e New American

Initiative, Inc, a nonprofi t dedicated to creating an innovative educational model across the country.

In addition, he serves as Academic Dean of Th e Jewish Academy in Commack, Long Island, and the

Southern Connecticut Hebrew Academy in New Haven, Connecticut.

COJDS CEDARHURST OFFICE395 PEARSALL AVENUECEDARHURST, NY 11516

CoJDS congratulatesDr. Shimon Waronker

on his recent appointment to the position of Superintendent of the Hempstead Union Free Public School District

in Nassau County Long Island.We wish him much Hatzlacha in his new role in educational leadership.

maurice ralph julis principal training institute july 2017 7

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

HaRav Shalom KamenetskyRosh Yeshiva, Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia

Moishe BanePresident, Orthodox Union

Dennis WalcottCEO, Queens Library; Former Chancellor, NYC Public School System

PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS INCLUDE:

How to Work Less, Produce More, and Still Get the Job DoneMalachi PancoastPresident and Founder, The Breakthrough Coach

Raising the Bar in Principal LeadershipAmy GoldmanPrincipal, PS 2

RAISE THE BAR at our Summer Conference and Think Tank at CoJDS Cedarhurst Office | 395 Pearsall Avenue

THINK TANK2-D

AY IV

Principal

SPONSORS:

Tuesday, July 25 and Wednesday, July 26, 2017

New York Offi ce

810 Seventh Avenue, 28th fl oor

New York, NY 10019

212.259.0372

Cedarhurst Offi ce

395 Pearsall Avenue

Cedarhurst, NY 11516

516.368.3333

For more information or for sponsorship opportunities, please email info@cojds.org

8 july 2017 maurice ralph julis principal training institute

Th e Western Coast of the United

States boasts many fi ne yeshivos and

day schools that employ hundreds of

dedicated educators seeking to give

over our heritage to the next genera-

tion. Rabbi Levi Solomon, the L’havin

West Coast representative at the

CoJDS and principal at Emek Hebrew Academy, is doing

his best to help give these educators many useful tools to

keep in their arsenal. He has recently begun a new series

of L’havin West Coast webinars that have been met with

rave reviews and anticipatory interest.

During the past twenty three years, Rabbi Solomon has

seen tremendous success in his work with children of

all ages in both London and California. Most recently,

he has held the position of principal at Emek Hebrew

Academy in Sherman Oaks, California. He oversees a

talented team at the school with a strong reputation of

integrating 21st century learning skills and techniques

into their strong Limudei Kodesh and General Studies

curriculum. It is no surprise that in 2015 Rabbi Solomon

was awarded the Educator of the Year Award by the BJE

in recognition of his outstanding achievements.

Rabbi Solomon was tapped to serve as the West Coast

representative of the widely successful L’havin U’lehaskil

curriculum four years ago after participating in the fi rst

PTI Consortium. As part of his role, Rabbi Solomon was

tasked with reaching out and connecting with over twen-

ty principals from West Coast schools and serving as the

primary point person for feedback, support and con-

cerns. Rabbi Solomon organized West Coast seminars as

part of the essential ongoing support that he was provid-

ing these principals; however as time moved on he was

cognizant of the need to continue the ongoing support

via diff erent channels. Th e geographical area where these

schools were located was vast and spread out, and it was

not so simple to fi nd central locations for the workshops.

Not one to stand on his laurels, Rabbi Solomon came up

with the idea of creating a L’havin U’lehaskil Webinar

Program to provide this essential support. His ground-

breaking idea, not only accomplished his goal of facili-

tating an easier manner for educators to meet, but it had

an important added benefi t as well. Often seminars are

attended by principals who don’t always have the time

to get all the information shared at the conference back

to the teachers. Th is new platform allows the teachers to

INNOVATION AND INSPIRATIONEDUCATORS WHO ARE GIVING BACK

Rabbi Levi SolomonPrincipal, Emek Hebrew Academy, Sherman Oaks, CA

He has recently begun a new series of L’havin West Coast webinars that have been met

with rave reviews and anticipatory interest.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

maurice ralph julis principal training institute july 2017 9

participate directly, and as Rabbi Solomon puts it, the webinars allow the teachers to feel “vindicated and validated as

they are listened to and able to share ideas.”

Two inaugural webinar sessions have been held this past spring and were targeted to 2nd and 4th grade Rebbeim

and Moros. Teachers joined from many cities spanning Vancouver to Houston, and East Coast participants were able

to benefi t as well. Th e initial sessions were moderated by Rabbi Solomon and were an excellent opportunity to do a

year-end review of areas that worked well with teachers throughout the year and discuss suggestions for methods

to improve the current curriculum. Th e session also served as a wonderful networking session for all the educators

involved and a springboard for further discussion.

Rabbi Solomon clarifi ed the diff erence between the L’havin program and other curriculum packages. “I’ve seen many

programs out there that off er [the service] of ‘buy my program and have a good day.’ Th ey often fall apart because

they don’t have support to make it happen. We have involved educators in the process through communication and

collaboration. We have taken it to the next stage to ensure that educators buy in and feel connected to the L’havin

U’lehaskil Chumash program.”

Rabbi Solomon looks upon his involvement in PTI fondly and found the expertise gained in the classes and the

advice garnered invaluable. He still uses the Consortium to network with other educators and avails himself of the

many opportunities Rabbi Glass and the Consortium have to off er. Rabbi Glass, for his part, is proud to see that

Rabbi Solomon has taken his message of giving back to others and the community at large to heart, and that Rabbi

Solomon treats his role within L’havin U’lehaskil as an opportunity to help other educators enjoy the same success he

has seen in his own professional life. �

Rabbi Solomon treats his role within L’havin U’lehaskil as an opportunity to help educators enjoy the same

success he has seen in his own professional life.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

10 july 2017 maurice ralph julis principal training institute

maurice ralph julis principal training institute july 2017 11

Methodology, Philosophy

Scope and Sequence

Lesson Planning

Teaching Chumash

How to Use the Workbook

Differentiated Instruction

Overview

Scope and Sequence

Teaching Navi

Lesson Planning

Independent Learning

TEACHER TRAINING

TEACHER TRAINING

FOR GRADES 2, 3 AND 4

MONDAY, JULY 2410:00AM-3:30PM

Mrs. Tamar NusbaumCurriculum Coordinator

MONDAY, JULY 243:30PM-4:00PM

Mrs. Penina RichmanVeteran , Rosenbaum Yeshiva North Jersey

FORPRIMARYGRADES

2a

L’HAVINU’LEHASKIL

a division of

JEWISH DAY SCHOOLSCONSORTIUMof

LAMDEINI CURRICULUMS

NAVIGATE . DIVIDE . CONQUERIGATE DIVIDE CONQUER

B E STRONG AND BE MIGHTY

Summer

2017

Discuss, Plan, Network

Become a certified

L’havin U’lehaskil Coordinator

ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, AND PRINCIPALS ARE INVITED TO JOIN

B E STRONG AND BE MIGHTY

L’HAVINU’LEHASKILUUUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHAH VAA INHAHH VAA IN’LEHASKIIL

LLLLLLLLLLHHHHHLLLLLLLLLLLLLLHUUUUUUUUUUUUUU’UULLLLLLLLL

A step-by-stepapproach to understanding

Chumash text independently

COLLABORATE

FIND OUT

SUMMATIVEASSESSMENTS

Become a

L’havin U’lehaskil

Coordinator

L’HAVINU’LEHASKIL

go!

L’HAVINU’LEHASKILHHHAAAH VAA IINNHHAAHHH VVAAAA IINN’LEHASKIILHHHHH’

A step-by-stepapproach to understanding

Chumash text independently

a division of

M

LAST FIRST

For teacher use ONLY

Name:

Teacher:

School:

New York Offi ce

810 Seventh Avenue, 28th fl oor

New York, NY 10019

212.259.0372

Cedarhurst Offi ce

395 Pearsall Avenue

Cedarhurst, NY 11516

516.368.3333

www.cojds.org

also available viaWEBCAST

For more information please email

TNUSBAUM@COJDS.ORG

to be held at the CoJDS Cedarhurst Office: 395 Pearsall Avenue