The Efshar Project and Hebrew Educational Alliance (HEA) had the incredible opportunity to bring a Colorado cohort of 28 educators/leaders to The Paradigm Conference November 12th-14th, the signature Jewish early childhood conference for almost 300 people, held in Waynesboro, PA. Colorado had an impressive turnout, with the 12 educators from the Efshar cohort, and multiple teachers from Temple Sinai, Denver JCC and especially HEA Preschool which made the choice to close for two days in order to bring the entire staff to the conference. Efshar Coaches Judi Morosohk and Natalie Boscoe also led inspiring and very well-attended sessions.
The Pedagogical Leaders Community of Practice (CoP) is a core Efshar annual offering, which supports educators who are in leadership positions to strengthen teaching and learning in their schools through a monthly learning cohort and coaching model.
Currently in year 3 of this CoP, the intentional pairing of pedagogical leaders with a teacher from their school attended the conference together. Leaders and teachers had the chance to engage in a shared experience of deep learning and worked together to bring back a specific piece of learning to share with their greater school community. The impact was powerful!
After the three days of paradigm-shifting sessions, from November 12th to 14th, our group reconvened a week later to continue to ignite their inspiration. Together the leaders shared what inspired them and everyone created action steps for how to shift practices based on their individual goals.
A highlight from the conference was watching Denver JCC Judaic Specialist, and Efshar Teacher Council Member, Stephanie Leen, present a “Story From the Field” in front of the 300 conference attendees on the final night at dinner. Stephanie shared a beautiful story of collaboration with teachers Katy Roberts, also in attendance at the conference, and Rose Lucas in the toddler room at the Denver JCC, and how their emergent art project involved the entire community and wove in meaningful threads of Judaism throughout.
Other highlights included:
A school visit to Washington Hebrew Early Childhood Center
Challah Making Pop-Up Experience
Exploring Judaism and making meaning through art and loose parts with Hanoch Piven (Dani Wynn and Jamie Lambert from HEA Preschool)
It will be exciting to see how the people who attended this conference plan to impact their greater communities as the year progresses, with the support of their pedagogical leaders and coaches. The Paradigm Conference truly creates an experience of shifting your perspective and we can’t wait for the next trip back to Capital Camps!
