By: Alicia Post
This Sunday, I am headed to the North American Jewish Day School Conference in Atlanta. Will you be there? Over 600 educators and lay leaders from throughout North America and across a range of denominations will convene to meet, greet, collaborate and share ideas. The theme of this year’s conference is “Current Landscapes – Changing Horizons.”
The schedule highlights sessions focusing on areas that relate to schools of varying affiliations. Topics incorporate issues such as day school affordability, 21st century learning and Hebrew language – just to name a few.
I for one am eagerly looking forward to attending for a number of reasons. At the conference the inaugural ELI talks: Inspired Jewish Ideas will be launched. Of course we will be making these informative 18 minute talks available to you.
A number of our many partnering organizations, who were also involved with the planning, will be present, including: RAVSAK: The Jewish Community Day School Network, Yeshiva University’s Institute for University-School Partnership, the Schechter Day School Network, PARDeS: The Progressive Association of Reform Day Schools, and PEJE, the Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education. Kol Ha’Kavod to all of the organizers, for once again modeling collaboration in the field.
If you will be there, here are a few sessions I would like to call your attention to:
On Sunday, Dan Perla, The AVI CHAI Foundation’s Program Officer of Day School Finance, will join Holly Cohen (Kohelet Foundation) and Amy Katz (PEJE) in discussing how funders make decisions.
Monday evening, DigitalJLearning Network will host a reception where you can learn more about their collaborative work on innovation and enter to win an iPad2!
Lisa Colton from Darim Online will be leading a session on successful social media for day schools on Tuesday.
Additionally, AVI CHAI’s Foundation’s Program Officer, Leah Nadich Meir along with Seth Cohen (Schusterman Foundation) and Bill Robinson (The Jewish Education Project) will explore ways schools can leverage their networks.
If you find that you have some spare time, I have two last suggestions:
Stop by the PEJE booth where you can sign-up to elevate your pitch at the PEJE Pitch Slam or take advantage of Ken Gordon’s offer to teach you how to put Facebook to work for your school (if he has any time slots still available!).
Finally, many of the schools in attendance are participating in the Day School Video Academy Contest. Be sure to check out their videos and vote (voting went live today).
Not going? You can follow along on twitter using the hashtag #NAJDS
A number of the AVI CHAI staff along with Deborah Fishman will be attending and tweeting throughout the 3 days. For a detailed schedule and presenter biographies, please visit www.jewishdayschoolconference.org.
Look for me tweeting @AVICHAIFDN and if you are coming, please make sure to introduce yourself.
Alicia Post is The AVI CHAI Foundation’s Social Media Manager