“I’m fairly certain that I wouldn’t be serving in Jewish education had I not had those first years of JNTP support and training.”

“All roads led to New Teacher Center”

“I have gained so much from participating in the Administrator Support Program. Most importantly, it provided me with a professional community. It is really helpful to vent, share ideas and hear about other people’s challenges. One strategy, in particular, that has made an impact is the “Quick Visits” tool. It’s very difficult to leave my classroom, so I wasn’t doing enough classroom observations. Being taught how to do “Quick Visits” liberated me and enabled me to get into every single classroom in my department. It helped me understand what’s really happening in the classroom and what the students are experiencing. I believe it has helped me change the culture of the department.”

“I have been part of many professional development courses and initiatives during my years as a Jewish educator. My experience with JNTP’s Administrator Support Program has had the most significant, direct impact on my effectiveness in school.”

“Jewish New Teacher Project has elevated the entire field of Jewish education through their expert support of new day school educators and leaders during formative early career years. JNTP’s track record of success is impeccable, and their vital efforts ensure that more learners engage with talented, well trained and inspired teachers in the field. We continue to be grateful to the entire JNTP team for all they do for Jewish education.”

“With full conviction I can say that I would not have stayed in teaching if not for the mentoring I received through JNTP. It established me as a teacher and made me feel at home in the profession.”

“I feel indebted to Milton Gottesman Day School of the Nation’s Capital and my JNTP mentor, who provided me with a solid foundation so early in my career. I found strength and confidence in knowing that I always had a sounding board and someone in my corner… I feel privileged to work at a school that recognizes and values this professional development.”

“The experience of working with JNTP instructors and networking with talented educators was transformative for me. It deeply impacted my work as a teacher, mentor and now principal, and has helped me appreciate that the most effective way of meeting students’ needs is by supporting their teachers.”

“I can say with 100% confidence that the teacher I supported felt strengthened emotionally by our time together. In our first meeting together she said that she felt ‘more heard in the one hour of our meeting than she felt since she began teaching.’ And despite the emotion and tears that she often expressed / demonstrated in each of our meeting sessions, each session evolved as we moved from the simple expression of hardships to also how to address, what was the significance or impact of and how to find the entry points to understand the true trigger.”

“I have to admit that when I started training as a JNTP mentor, I had no idea what I didn’t know. I thought that we would learn how to offer some words of comfort to a new teacher struggling to make it through their first parent teacher conference sessions, or how to check the boxes on a lesson plan. I did not appreciate the depth and power of mentorship, and the different mental muscles I would need to exercise to be effective in this capacity.”

As more teachers were trained, both as mentors and as beginning teachers…the schools themselves, as a whole, were lifted and transformed into more thoughtful, collaborative, purposeful, and ethical workplaces and learning institutions

I can’t say enough about how important the Administrator Support Program cohort is. I was able to do my job because of the support of JNTP.

The JNTP Virtual Mentors program [run during COVID] has literally been a godsend to our school. This year has been so difficult in terms of staffing, attendance, COVID policies, and student absences that I have not been able to give my full attention to new teachers. With this program, teachers are able to choose an area for growth and be coached by a person who is not their supervisor. We currently have three teachers working virtually with experienced mentors from out of state and I have heard great reports. I also love that, soon, we will be able to share a common language and culture. We have been building it on our own, but this just increased the speed and efficiency

Many programs help Jewish educators, but only a few change a field… JNTP made supporting and inducting novice teachers an expectation in Jewish day schools. Its unique style of structured, data-driven mentoring helps new teachers succeed in the classroom and increases their — and the mentors’ — retention in the field. All this benefits the students and enhances their learning. The AVI CHAI Foundation couldn’t be prouder.

“Since 2014, JNTP has made a significant impact on Chicago Jewish day schools. JNTP’s New Teacher Induction and Administrator Support Programs have helped Chicago Jewish day schools retain dedicated, talented teachers and administrators who are committed to the craft of teaching and creating professional, student-centered learning environments.”

I have been a Jewish day school parent and grandparent for over 40 years. I am working with JNTP to help it continue to grow and bring professionalism and excellence in teaching to Jewish day schools, for the ultimate good of our children and our communities.

“My mentor helps me clarify my learning goals and offers space, time and someone to bounce ideas off of or offers suggestions of how to improve my teaching. Feeling “go, go, go” all of the time, it’s nice to get the opportunity to process and reflect. The biggest value of having a mentor is having someone constructively develop and improve my teaching with no judgment.”

“As more teachers were trained, both as mentors and as beginning teachers…the schools themselves, as a whole, were lifted and transformed into more thoughtful, collaborative, purposeful, and ethical workplaces and learning institutions.”