Brand New
Pilot Programs Launch in Chicago and New York
JNTP is running two innovative pilot programs this year and we are excited to share some details.
Early Childhood Educator Mentoring in Chicago:
In collaboration with the Jewish United Fund (JUF), JNTP is piloting a two-year mentoring program for early childhood educators both within and outside of Jewish day school settings (such as synagogues and Jewish community centers). Nine veteran teacher mentors are working with ten beginning teachers who care for children ages nine months through five years. JNTP has adapted our Teacher Induction program to meet the particular needs of this group, including utilizing New Teacher Center’s standards for early learning and its early childhood optimal learning environment framework, as well as the city of Chicago’s standards for education. In addition, we have adapted all of our tools for the early childhood context, including those for observation and feedback, selective scripting, and analyzing student work. As in our classic Teacher Induction program, mentors meet with their new teachers for 1.5 hours over the course of two weeks, plus observe the classroom once during that time period. JNTP is leading mentor training workshops while JUF's Early Childhood Collaborative is providing new teacher professional development. We find the cohort to be enthusiastic, engaged, and highly dedicated to their work!
“The JNTP Mentor program has made a significant impact on me and my community this year, both in my own teaching practice and in the teaching practice of my new teacher. My mentee, while not actually new to the profession, is new to my school and the school’s teaching philosophy. Our pairing has given her a guide within our school while also creating a safe space for her to take risks and grow with her teaching.”
~ Marthe Spizman, mentor at Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School
Professional Learning Communities in New York:
JNTP is piloting a Professional Learning Community (PLC) Facilitator program at Yeshiva of Flatbush Elementary School. JNTP is working with a cohort of previously trained JNTP mentors and Administrator Support Program participants to develop their skills for facilitating PLCs in their school community, creating a structure for all teachers to participate in collaborative and impactful learning to enhance the student experience. The goal of the program is to build a staff culture of inquiry, collaboration, and innovation in service of creating an Optimal Learning Environment for both staff and students to succeed. The cohort is first working together through a practice cycle of a PLC in preparation for running actual PLCs for the school community in the spring. Participants are exploring different tools that support collaborative learning and are engaged in an inquiry cycle, generating collaborative norms, and thinking through how to apply JNTP-modeled strategies to their school.
"With the JNTP PLC Facilitator training, our teacher mentors are expanding their skill base to create collaborative groups, where ideas are shared in a safe setting to improve school culture and student learning. Through JNTP we are increasing teacher capacity by empowering our teachers to lead schoolwide professional development."
~ Rabbie Dr. David Saltzman, Director of Teaching and Learning and Assistant Principal, General Studies at Flatbush Elementary School
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