Mandel Teacher Educator Institute (MTEI)

How can we balance our own needs with the needs of those to whom we are obligated? MTEI Graduate Deborah Anstandig, Cohort 8, is leading “Honoring Our Parents and Honoring Ourselves,” a thought-provoking four-part series through Hebrew College. Together, participants will explore sources that examine the limitations and qualifications of the mitzvah to honor one’s parents. We’re so glad to see Deborah fostering community and leading Torah study sessions that inspire reflection and growth! A few spots remain — learn more and register. > https://lnkd.in/ebah4x9x #Jewisheducation

MTEI Participants are making the mitzvot of Purim come alive for their students in meaningful ways. Gail Boone (Cohort 11) of the Sandhills Jewish Congregation led students as they prepared and delivered mishloach manot to local community members and members of the armed forces at Fort Bragg — giving deeper meaning to this mitzvah and spreading joy with every package. Chaya Sara Kaufmann (Cohort 11) of Torah Day School in Houston made sure the excitement of Purim filled the air — with a school-wide Megillah reading costume party, exchanging mishloach manot, and students partaking in the mitzvah of matanot l’evyonim. This year’s celebration was one to remember! We love to see our amazing MTEI Graduates enriching students’ Jewish identities and building community. Happy Purim!

How can MTEI principles shape not just educators, but entire school communities? At The Epstein School in Atlanta, Georgia, MTEI Cohort 8 Graduates David Welsher, Associate Head of School and Elementary School Principal, and Idit Bendavid, Director of Hebrew and Judaics, have spent the past seven years implementing havruta learning and the Learning Triangle, an approach that fosters deep listening, inquiry, and collaboration across all subjects. “It influences personal relationships, character development, Jewish identity, and students’ role in the community and the world,” Idit shared. Inspired by their MTEI experience, they introduced these practices to teachers and students, breaking down silos between Judaic and general studies and creating a shared language of learning. Today, the Learning Triangle is embedded throughout the school, guiding how students, teachers, and staff engage with learning and each other. Thank you, David, Idit, and the entire Epstein School community for bringing MTEI’s principles to life in such meaningful ways! Read more on the MTEI blog: “Practicing Havruta: Epstein School Brings the Learning Triangle into Every Classroom” > https://lnkd.in/eEPGmFu5

We’re thrilled to celebrate the achievements of several MTEI Graduates who are being recognized at the Jewish Educators Assembly (JEA) 73rd Annual Conference on March 16th in Chicago! Honoree, receiving the Or Zarua award:: -Charlie Sherman, Cohort 8 Conservative Jewish Educator (CJE) Recipients: -Mandy Cheskis, Cohort 6 -Rabbi Suzanne Brody, Cohort 8 -David Schwartz, Cohort 9 Mazal tov to these outstanding Jewish educational leaders for their dedication, innovation, and impact in the field. #Jewisheducation #Jewishcommunity

As Seminar 4 came to a close, Cohort 11 took time to reflect on their transformative learning experiences and look ahead to what’s next. MTEI Faculty Mindy Gold and Jeffrey Stanzler led a powerful wrap-up session, guiding participants to revisit key moments—whether resonant or challenging—throughout their MTEI journey. Drawing inspiration from Dewey’s concept of “educative experiences,” we examined how deep learning influences leadership and pedagogy in meaningful, lasting ways. Cohort 11 concluded the seminar in home groups, processing key takeaways, strengthening connections, and setting intentions for the road ahead. With four seminars completed and so much learning embedded in our practice, we’re energized for what’s to come. Thank you to everyone who made Seminar 4 so impactful. See you next time, Cohort 11! #Jewisheducation #education

A highlight of Day 3 at Cohort 11’s Seminar 4? Observing lesson study in action! We had the privilege of sitting in live lessons at Rochelle Zell Jewish High School and Moriah Early Childhood Center— bringing our lesson study focus to life. A core part of the MTEI experience is what came next: engaging in thoughtful debriefs and reflections to deepen our learning together. The momentum continued in the afternoon with a text study session led by MTEI Faculty elie holzer, where we explored a Talmudic passage about Rabbi Hiya’s approach to children’s learning. Through this study, we examined different perspectives on what makes “good” teaching and learning, the kinds of evidence that indicate student growth, and the challenges teachers face in identifying that evidence. To close the day, Jenny Lewis led us in a lesson study session where we carefully examined student work, unpacking our insights from the morning’s school visits and deepening our understanding of lesson study in action. Sivan Zakai led early childhood leaders in an investigation of transcripts of interviews that she and her team have conducted with preschoolers.

Welcome to Day 2 of Seminar 4! We kicked off the day with an inquiry into personal narratives, inspired by Jerome Bruner’s “Making Stories” and guided by Barry Holtz. Through reflection and discussion, participants examined how their evolving life stories intersect with their Jewish identities and leadership. elie holzer led a deep dive into the Exodus story, using the Hasidic master, the Sfat Emet, to explore teaching constraints and pathways to pedagogical freedom. Through havruta, journaling, and dialogue, participants reflected on the challenges, pressures, and opportunities for creating more authentic and expansive teaching practices. In the afternoon, we delved deeper into lesson study through two engaging sessions led by MTEI Faculty Jenny Lewis and Sivan Zakai. Then, Jenny prepared a group of participants for the lesson they plan to observe at a local Jewish school while Sivan guided early childhood leaders in a curriculum investigation into early childhood literature, together with text study. These sessions wove together key MTEI practices, offering participants the opportunity to observe, reflect, and refine their approaches to teaching and learning in real time. Then, in our Jewish text study sessions, we continued our exploration of core narratives and master stories, examining how the stories we tell about ourselves shape our identities as Jewish educators. As Seminar 4 progresses, we look forward to integrating these meaningful insights into our work and bringing them back to our communities!

We’re thrilled to reunite with Cohort 11 for Seminar 4, where we’re taking a deep dive into lesson study—bringing together many of the key MTEI practices we’ve explored so far. To begin, MTEI Faculty led us in an engaging and reflective opener. Mindy Gold and Jeffrey Stanzler facilitated warmth-building exercises and “Hineni Self-Portraits,” encouraging us to connect with colleagues in new ways, and elie holzer led us in a grounding niggun. From there, we jumped right into an impactful evening of learning: -Barry Holtz led us through an exploration of core narratives, using the story of the Exodus as a lens for understanding how foundational stories shape Jewish identity and imagination. -Kathy Simon guided us through a powerful session on what it means to lead a Jewish learning organization today, balancing empathetic listening with empowered speech in an ever-changing landscape. Day 1 set the stage for a meaningful and immersive seminar. Stay tuned for more! #Jewisheducation #Jewishleadership #education

See you in Chicago, Cohort 11! Next week, we’re excited to gather for Seminar 4, another milestone in their two-year professional development journey. This seminar centers around lesson study, bringing MTEI principles to life through deep reflection, real-world application, and collaborative learning. Highlights will include: -The first of two formal opportunities for participants to take stock of how they’ve grown as Jewish educational leaders and where they want to go, asking themselves, “How has MTEI been an educative experience?” -Observing a live lesson at two local Jewish schools and returning with reflections. -Exploring the core narrative of the Exodus story, diving into rabbinic texts, and strengthening havruta practices. -Continuing our work on empowered speaking. -A special session examining what it means to lead Jewish learning organizations during these times. Plus, after the Seminar ends, MTEI Faculty will stay on to enhance their own professional development with a visit to Chicago schools, staying connected to the realities of today’s classrooms. We can’t wait to learn, reflect, and grow together! Interested in joining Cohort 12? Apply now: https://lnkd.in/eZmwXcfF

We had an incredible time connecting with the MTEI community at Prizmah Conference 2025! A highlight of the conference was the MTEI Graduate lunch, where nearly 30 MTEI Faculty, Participants, and Graduates gathered to reconnect, share insights, and strengthen their relationships. We were also so proud to see MTEI voices shaping the conversation throughout the conference. Special shoutouts to Rachel Levitt Klein Dratch (Cohort Boston), Susie Tanchel (Cohort Boston), Nanci Caplan (Cohort 8), Suzanne Mishkin (Cohort 8), Sheri Gross (Cohort 10), and Becca Bubis (Cohort 11) for leading impactful sessions and sharing their expertise. Thank you to Prizmah for an inspiring few days of learning, networking, and advancing Jewish education!?