One hallmark of a good educational institution is its commitment to professional development. Its importance can’t be overstated: professional development provides educators with exposure to new research, technology trends, and curricular and pedagogical shifts, while also expanding their professional network.
Last summer, the Schechter Westchester Lower School’s Principal Ilanit Hoory and Rabbi-in-Residence Yael Buechler attended professional development programs at Harvard that transformed the way they see themselves as leaders.
Hoory and Buechler were part of a cohort of Jewish day school leaders who were sponsored by the AVI CHAI Foundation to attend prestigious, week-long programs at Harvard Principal’s Center at Harvard School of Education. As part of this cohort Hoory, who attended “The Art of Leadership,” and Buechler, who attended “Leadership: An Evolving Vision,” also participated in evening sessions designed to help attendees apply the day’s learning in a Jewish day school context. Their cohort consisted of educators from all over the world, who, Buechler reports, have become her professional sounding board: “I have almost daily interactions with them,” she says.
Both educators expanded their toolkit of strategies for bringing their vision to SW’s Lower School. In “Leadership: An Evolving Vision,” Hoory focused on sustaining the shift toward integrated, student-driven learning that has been under way since she became principal of the Lower School in 2015. Hoory’s mission has been to transform the Lower School into a place where students construct their own understanding of the world through experiential learning and reflection. At Harvard Principal’s Center, she learned to create a positive school culture by identifying and nurturing the strengths of every teacher, and communicating her vision to every member of the school community. “To change a school, you must first transform its culture,” says Hoory. “You must dream together.” In “The Art of Leadership,” Buechler learned to manage and lead change in a school by supporting the development of other teachers.
After the program, each AVI CHAI participant is expected to work on a project at their school where they apply the knowledge and resources gained at the Principal’s Institute. Hoory and Buechler decided to deepen and enrich the Lower School Jewish mission and vision by using more constructivist, experiential teaching and learning of Judaic studies. Hoory explains, “One of our goals is to find more ways for the students to take ownership of their learning in Judaic studies and Chumash. We envision that students will use the MakerSpace to build structures that not only connect with the Torah but also help students think about their contributions to the world as a whole.” Hoory and Buechler view this evolving instructional approach as part of the school’s overarching shift in emphasis toward a more integrated, student-driven model for learning.
