About Us

Learn More About The Efshar Project

In 2008, The Efshar Project (formerly known as the Colorado Jewish ECE Initiative) was created to build Jewish identity through increasing access to high quality professional learning experiences. Today, we have expanded our work and refined our core mission.

We work on behalf of:

15 Jewish ECEs in the Denver/Boulder community
Approximately 200 educators
Almost 1000 children
850 families that attend our partner early learning centers and preschools

We exist to:

Serve as a trusted resource and advocacy hub for all things Jewish ECE
Provide leading edge, responsive professional learning and leadership development to educators in our partner schools
Partner with lay and professional leaders in Jewish organizations to increase support for high quality Jewish ECE experiences
Offer community-wide family programming to facilitate strong and meaningful connections among families
Strengthen connections to the broader Colorado Jewish community through strategic partnerships

“Efshar helped teachers feel like they had the tools to truly make virtual connections in a meaningful way. It also provided very practical methods that our teachers immediately implemented.”

— ECE Assistant Director

Efshar is honored to be one of only ten programs chosen to join UpStart’s 13th cohort of its flagship Venture Accelerator Program. This selective program is focused on providing the Jewish community’s boldest leaders with the tools and the network they need to build the Jewish community of the future. Participation includes a generous $100,000 grant and participation in a 12-month program to develop sustainable models for funding and growth.

Vision

The Efshar Project envisions accessible, high-quality early childhood education that inspires lifelong Jewish connections and thriving Jewish communities.

Our Approach

EEducators can access affordable leading-edge professional development.

F Families, both current and prospective, can easily access engagement experiences with an eye toward becoming Jewish lay leaders.

S School Leaders have opportunities for executive level coaching and leadership support and training in both pedagogical and operational best practices.

H Holistic support is offered for the school and larger community to collaborate on important and time sensitive topics.

A Advocacy and policy efforts ensure that the voices of our 1,000 children, 900 parents, and 250 educators are represented and heard at all levels.

R Resources grounded in Jewish texts, traditions, values, wisdom, and early childhood research ensure all educators, school leaders, and families have what they need related to their topic of interest.

“Efshar helped teachers feel like they had the tools to truly make virtual connections in a meaningful way. It also provided very practical methods that our teachers immediately implemented.”

— ECE Assistant Director

What Was Our Impact in 2022?

We Engaged:

248 educators at the Jewish ECE annual conference
21 educators in a year-long Community of Practice cohort experience
23 educators in leadership roles through 161 coaching sessions
34 stakeholders across all our schools participated in ongoing leadership team experiences, deepening their knowledge and understanding of the importance of Jewish ECE experiences
22 Directors/Assistant Directors gathered, learned and collaborated monthly
1 unified commitment to sustaining and advancing high quality ECE in a Jewish setting
8 centers in workforce development pilots that reached 70 ECE professionals

We Secured:

$100,000 in partnership with JEWISHcolorado for tuition assistance for 119 families
$800,000 of CIRCLE Grant funding for innovation in ECE across The Efshar Project network
Exclusive access for Efshar partner schools to connect with local and state early childhood experts and resources

We Launched:

Workforce solutions including partnerships with Early Learning Service Corps, which trains older adults to be in the classroom
Retention strategies based on a design-thinking approach focused on career mentorship program for early to mid career ECE professionals
A food security program with Jewish Family Service delivering 234 food boxes reaching 119 individuals over the summer to help alleviate financial hardships
A recruitment program working with a fractional recruiter to support recruitment efforts at our partner schools resulting in 3 hires within 10 weeks
A collaboration with Pamoja Early Childhood Workforce Program to help build career pathways for refugee and immigrant women