Welcoming New Teachers into the Professional Culture of Jewish Day Schools

Publication Date: January 2002

Publisher: Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education

Author(s): Cindy Dolgin

Research Area: Culture and religion; Education

Keywords: Jewish Education; Professional Development; Mentoring; Educators

Type: Brief

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

The author asserts that the voice of the teacher has historically been muted in communal decision-making on Jewish education, and seeks to give voice to recently-hired teachers. She suggests increasing teacher retention with professional development. This would include mentoring as part of a broader induction program, explicit training for mentors, scheduled time for collaborative planning, non-evaluative observation cycles, and compensation for the mentor's time.