The educator shortage in Jewish day schools has been a topic of conversation for well over a decade, but in recent years, it has reached true crisis levels. Both new and seasoned teachers are leaving in droves and they are not being replaced by incoming talent, as people choose to enter other professions that offer more flexibility, less stress, and higher pay. In response, many schools are filling gaps by hiring teachers who have little or no training or previous teaching experience. While this approach gets new teachers in the door, most are unprepared for the realities of the classroom. They end up feeling overwhelmed and ineffective – and teachers who lack confidence and perceive themselves as unsuccessful don’t stay in the profession. Thus the retention factor of the pipeline crisis perpetuates.
To help address this challenge, JNTP and Yeshiva University’s Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration have launched a groundbreaking pilot certificate program for new teachers. This exciting pilot program combines formal training and job-embedded support for a group of novice teachers – JNTP-Azrieli Fellows – helping to position them for success in their classrooms and for long-term commitment to the field.
“This is part of Azrieli’s vision,” says Rabbi Dr. Michael Berger, Azrieli’s Dean. “We realize that in today’s environment, where day school teachers are often hired with little or no formal training, the practical experience gained in the field is increasingly the novice teacher’s own classroom. We are committed to finding creative ways to “marry” serious theoretical material with the hands-on practical experience teachers are gaining in their schools.”
This year’s JNTP-Azrieli Fellows hold teaching positions at Magen David Yeshivah Elementary School, Manhattan Day School, The Moriah School, Ramaz Upper School, Sephardic Academy of Manhattan (The SAM School), SAR Academy, and SAR High School.
In each school, the Fellows are matched with seasoned JNTP mentors for weekly 1:1 mentoring sessions and bi-weekly classroom observations. The goal is to increase the number of participants in each year of the three-year pilot program, to a total of 12-15 fellows in the final year, learning from each cohort how to make improvements to prepare to roll out the program.
We are thrilled to announce that JNTP has received generous funding from the Tehilah Foundation/Lauren and Ezra Merkin to support this pilot, which will enable teachers and schools to participate in developing an ideal program.
At the end of one school year, fellows will receive from Azrieli a Certificate in Effective Teaching Strategies, reflecting nine graduate school credits (the equivalent of three courses), to be applied toward a Master’s program at Azrieli or any other graduate program in education.
The JNTP-Azrieli Fellowship has multiple benefits for the participants. For novice teachers, the graduate certificate gives formal recognition to their hard work, strengthens their sense of teaching as a profession with high standards for professional excellence, and deepens their commitment to the field as they invest in their own training. It also allows them to “put their toe in the water” and test out graduate school using a proven, high quality, recognized program that is embedded into their work day.
For the mentors – in this case, veteran JNTP mentors who have already completed JNTP’s two-year mentor training program and have continued to mentor in their schools over a number of years – this opportunity combats burnout by offering continuing professional growth, a chance to demonstrate leadership, and professional recognition.
And for schools, the upside of this pilot program is significant. The JNTP-Azrieli Fellowship program accelerates the effectiveness of educators, especially those hired with little or no training or those exploring second careers. This benefits not only the teachers and their students, but also their schools – because teachers that are skilled, confident, and feel effective stay long-term.
Of course, for this same reason, the JNTP-Azrieli Fellowship pilot program benefits the entire field of Jewish day schools. As Rachel Harari, Head of School at The SAM School says, “By equipping teachers and mentors with vital skills and support, it not only strengthens classroom practice but also keeps great educators in the field. This investment in teachers is really an investment in the future of Jewish education.”
Funder Lauren Merkin adds, “This new and original program, a partnership of two influential institutions, will help address the realities of inexperience, while nourishing the enthusiasm and dedication of the wonderful young professionals who teach our children.”
By addressing some of the main reasons that teachers leave – not being prepared, feeling overwhelmed, feeling ineffective, burning out – and by giving teachers support, motivation, and a stronger sense of themselves as professionals, this pilot program can make real inroads in reversing the negative retention trends that contribute significantly to the day school educator pipeline crisis. Above all, a program like this underscores the value of organizations and institutions such as JNTP and Azrieli being ready, willing, and able to partner with other players in the day school ecosystem so that each can bring its unique strengths and talents to the table to address urgent issues holistically, creatively, and collaboratively.
Amy Ament, JNTP Senior Program Consultant (far left), Dr. Deena S. Rabinovich, Associate Dean, Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education & Administration (fourth from left), and Rabbi Evan Wiener, JNTP Program Consultant (far right), along with the JNTP-Azrieli Fellows.
