NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
CAJE -- The Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education
CAJE is the largest North American Jewish educators' organization, bringing together all who are engaged in the transmission of the Jewish heritage, across the ideological spectrum and at all levels of the career ladder. By enhancing the dignity and professional development of the Jewish teacher, CAJE works to elevate the status of Jewish education on the Jewish communal agenda. CAJE recently assumed oversight and responsibility for JECEP, the Jewish Early Childhood Education Partnership. With a number of other organizations (including PEJE) CAJE is convening the First CAJE Conference for Day School and Early Childhood Educators on June 22-25, 2003.
www.caje.org
212-268-4210
JDS-21 -- Jewish Day Schools for the 21st Century
Under the educational leadership of the Rhea Hirsch School of Education of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles and funded by the AVI CHAI Foundation, JDS-21 helps day schools discern their guiding Jewish values and plan programmatic initiatives that translate these values to children and adults in the day school community.
www.huc.edu
213-749-3424
JEA -- Jewish Educators Assembly (Conservative)
JEA is the professional membership association representing a broad range of educators and educational administrators who identify with the Conservative Movement. The organization is dedicated to the professional advancement of Jewish educators and the enhancement of Jewish education in North America. Many heads of Conservative day schools belong to this organization.
www.jewisheducators.org
516-484-9585
JELI -- Jewish Educational Leadership Initiative
JELI was established as a national center for the training of administrators, principals, and development directors of Jewish day schools and yeshivot. In strategic alliance with Loyola University, JELI offers a joint Masters of Education and Administration, and certificates to day school administrators. JELI has also launched "Operation Jewish Education/The 5% Mandate," an initiative designed to help build day school and yeshiva endowment funds.
www.jeli-joblink.org
312-332-4172
JESNA -- The Jewish Education Service of North America
Created in 1981, JESNA is the Jewish Federation system's central educational coordinating, planning, and development agency. Dedicated to vibrant Jewish life through Jewish learning, JESNA works to promote excellence in Jewish education by focusing on six key areas: improving day school quality and affordability; revitalizing congregational and communal education; engaging and empowering Jewish youth; recruiting and developing Jewish educators; using media and technology to enhance Jewish learning and teaching; and utilizing research and evaluation to promote continuous improvement.
www.jesna.org
212-284-6950
NATE -- National Association of Temple Educators (Reform)
NATE is the professional organization of Jewish educators of the Reform Movement. Members provide the educational leadership for congregations, day schools, pre-schools, and camps affiliated with the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and central agencies of Jewish Education.
www.rj.org/nate
212-452-6510
UJC -- United Jewish Communities
UJC represents 156 Jewish federations and 400 independent communities across North America. Through local federation campaigns, UJC provides life-saving and life-enhancing humanitarian assistance to those in need, and translates Jewish values into social action on behalf of millions of Jews in North America, Israel, the former Soviet Union, and in 60 countries around the world. Through the Israel Emergency Campaign, UJC and the Jewish federations of North America are providing economic, social, human welfare and other types of support to Israelis and victims of terror as they strive to lead normal lives during a period of extreme difficulty.
www.ujc.org
212-284-6500
UJC-JESNA -- Continental Council for Jewish Day School Education
The Continental Council for Jewish Day School Education is dedicated to the growth and enhancement of the quality of Jewish day school education. Through the engagement of volunteer and professional leaders from all sectors of the community, the Council serves as: a forum for addressing key issues affecting day schools; a focal point for advocacy on behalf of day school education; and a vehicle for promoting collaborative action. The Council promotes and establishes positive and mutually supportive relationships between day schools, federations, and other Jewish religious, educational, and communal organizations. It maintains five working groups, including: compensation systems; affordability; marketing and advocacy; community relations; and professional recruitment, development, and retention.
www.jesna.org
212-284-6893
JEWISH DAY SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS
AMODS -- Association of Modern Orthodox Day Schools and Yeshiva High Schools (Modern Orthodox)
AMODS was established by the Max Stern Division of Communal Services (MSDCS) of Yeshiva University's Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS). Staffed through MSDCS, it coordinates academic resources to enhance the quality of member schools' educational programs.
www.yu.edu
212-960-5260
NAAJHS -- North American Association of Jewish High Schools
NAAJHS was founded in 1999 as a forum for Jewish day high schools to exchange ideas, discuss common concerns, and collaborate on educational projects. NAAJHS sponsors programs and conferences for professionals, board leadership, and students.
www.naajhs.org
PARDeS -- Progressive Association for Reform Day Schools (Reform)
PARDeS, an affiliate of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, is composed of both professional and lay leaders. It is the central address and voice for Reform Jewish day school education. PARDeS advocates, consults, and provides support and services for existing and emerging Reform Jewish day schools throughout North America. PARDeS serves the Reform Jewish day school network by providing communication channels, guidance and support, and by promoting standards of excellence for Reform Jewish day school education
www.pardesdayschools.org
RAVSAK/JCDSN -- Jewish Community Day School Network
The Jewish Community Day School Network is an association of Jewish community day schools committed to providing superior education in intensive, pluralistic Jewish learning environments. The Network is a forum for school leaders to share resources, ideas, experiences, and solutions, enabling its members to draw strength from each other. JCDSN is affiliated with the Jewish Education Service of North America.
646-698-3662
ravsak@aol.com
SSDSA -- Solomon Schechter Day School Association (Conservative)
Founded by the United Synagogue Commission on Jewish Education in 1965, the SSDSA is the guiding organization for day school educational activities. It fosters and encourages cooperative efforts among Solomon Schechter Day Schools through a number of projects, including: visitations and consultations; governance and administration; curriculum development; conferences; placement services; and professional and lay leader development.
www.uscj.org
Torah U'Mesorah (Orthodox)
Torah Umesorah, the National Society of Hebrew Day Schools, is the largest association of day schools in North America. It sponsors the National Conference of Yeshiva Principals as well as the Creative Learning Pavilion, where educators can find a variety of resources for Orthodox schools, including a Chinuch Resource Network Directory.
www.e-chinuch.org
TEACHER TRAINING INITIATIVES
William Davidson Graduate School for Jewish Education, Jewish Theological Seminary
The Davidson School explores new and effective forms of transmitting Jewish content and experience and assists learners of all ages to develop shared and personal religious meaning in the twenty-first century. Through research, professional training and curriculum development, the school prepares Jewish educational leaders, thereby fostering the transformation of Jewish education in North America. Day school education is one of three areas of concentration for its masters degree students.
www.jtsa.edu
212-678-8000
DeLeT -- Day School Leadership Through Teaching
DeLeT is a 13-month fellowship program designed to attract and prepare professional teachers for positions in the growing number of non-Orthodox Jewish day schools in America.
www.delet.org
847-564-4515
Jewish Teacher Corps
The Jewish Teacher Corps, an initiative of Edah (a modern Orthodox organization) with financial support from the AVI CHAI Foundation, was established in response to a shortage of Judaic studies personnel in day schools in North America. Modeled after the highly successful Teach For America, the Jewish Teacher Corps seeks to attract the most talented graduates of yeshiva high schools and then of general and Jewish universities, and place them in day schools around the country.
www.jtcorps.org
888-JTCORPS
Jskyway
JSkyway provides online professional development courses designed specifically for educators in Jewish schools. A program of Jewish Family & Life!, JESNA, AVI CHAI, and the Nash Family Foundation, it offers a curriculum of courses in various Judaic and secular education topics, such as Developmental Issues in Adolescence, Models of Assessment, and New Technologies for Jewish Learning.
www.jskyway.com
617-965-7700
The Lookstein Center
The Lookstein Center of the School of Education at Bar Ilan University is a service and research center committed to enhancing the quality of Jewish education in the Diaspora. The Center seeks to develop and facilitate programs and projects, which reflect and encourage ongoing growth and learning, and thereby enhance the knowledge and practice of Jewish educators and the efficacy of programs in Jewish schools and other Jewish educational settings.
www.lookstein.org
The Melton Centre for Jewish Education, Hebrew University
Based at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Melton Centre sponsors a number of educational programs, including a Senior Educators Program, the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School Institute, educator training, and a comprehensive library of resources.
www.sites.huji.ac.il/melton/top.html
Pardes Educators Program
Based at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, this program offers a Certificate of Advanced Jewish Studies from Pardes and a Masters Degree in Jewish Education from the Rothberg International School and the Melton Centre for Jewish Education of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. This teacher development program, supported by the AVI CHAI Foundation, is designed to prepare individuals to be Judaic Studies teachers in non-Orthodox high schools and middle schools across North America.
www.pardes.org
212-447-4333
Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik Institute Fellowship
The Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik Institute Fellowship is a ten month pre-service teacher induction program for promising Judaic studies educators. Based at the Maimonides School in Boston, the program offers financial support, hands-on teaching experiences, and pedagogic skill-building with master teachers.
www.rav.org
617-232-7443
PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS
The AVI CHAI Foundation
AVI CHAI is a private foundation, established in 1984, which operates in the United States and in Israel. The objectives of AVI CHAI are to encourage those of the Jewish faith towards greater commitment to Jewish observance and lifestyle, and to encourage mutual understanding and sensitivity among Jews of different religious backgrounds. AVI CHAI's day school programs seek to enhance the quality of day schools, expand the number of families enrolling children, and promote the concept of day school education to the broader Jewish community.
Among its many programs is the AVI CHAI Building Loan Program, which provides interest-free loans to day schools for construction and renovation. Request their recent Annual Report to learn about their many programs which support day schools.
212-396-8850
The Gruss Foundation -- The Caroline and Joseph S. Gruss Life Monument Funds, Inc.
The Gruss Foundation, located in New York, provides annual funding to more than 400 educational and philanthropic institutions and has made more than 14,000 interest-free mortgages to former Soviet Olim in Israel and more than 100 interest-free loans of $500,000 each to Jewish educational institutions worldwide.
GENERAL EDUCATION RESOURCES
BoardSource
BoardSource, formerly the National Center for Nonprofit Boards, is the premier resource for practical information, tools and best practices, training, and leadership development for board members of nonprofit organizations worldwide. Through its programs and services, BoardSource enables organizations to fulfill their missions by helping build strong and effective nonprofit boards. The organization publishes a wide variety of valuable resources, including The Board Building Cycle.
www.boardsource.org
800-883-6262
ISACS -- The Independent Schools Association of the Central States
ISACS is a membership organization of over 200 independent schools from throughout the 15 states of the Midwest region. A large number of valuable resources may be found on their website by clicking on "monographs."
www.isacs.org
312-255-1244
ISM -- Independent School Management
ISM is dedicated to the advancement of private-independent schools. Their analytical, professional, customized management services support schools' success. They provide services and solutions that are flexible, practical, and innovative - in consulting, publications, insurance, and workshops.
www.isminc.com
302-656-4944
NAIS -- National Association of Independent Schools
NAIS is a membership organization representing approximately 1200 independent schools and associations. It acts as the national voice of independent pre-collegiate education and the center for collective action on behalf of its membership. The organization publishes a number of valuable materials for Jewish day schools, most notably The Trustee Handbook and Philanthropy at Independent Schools.
www.nais.org
202-973-9700
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