Igniting Inspiration and Creativity
Posted on 11/22/2024 @ 05:00 AM
Image from jparadigm.org
Thought leadership is a key piece of CAJE’s role in our community. Our professionals need to be up to date on the latest developments and know whom they can turn to for advice and information among the leading experts in the field.
This past month, Yehudis Smith, Director of CAJE’s Robert Russell Early Childhood Department, traveled to the Capital Retreat Center in Waynesboro, PA, to attend The Paradigm Project’s annual early childhood education conference, a leading gathering of Jewish early childhood educators from across the country.
There she not only learned from experts in the field, but was also asked to present as an expert in the field!
CAJE professionals are always looking to bring back what they’ve learned to our Miami educators and schools in order to strengthen their capacity, as well as to bring our expertise to other professionals in the field.
We are proud to have Yehudis Smith travel on behalf of the community, since so many directors and teachers are unable to attend conferences due to the cost and travel time. Her reflections from the conference are below…
- Rabbi Efrat Zarren-Zoher
A few weeks ago, I had the distinct privilege of attending and presenting at The Paradigm Project’s annual Early Childhood Education (ECE) conference. This year’s conference theme, “Kindle,” invited participants to explore how we can ignite inspiration and creativity in our respective communities.
It was an extraordinary opportunity to connect, learn, and share alongside educators and leaders from Jewish ECE programs across the country and beyond.
I am so grateful to CAJE and our Jewish community for supporting my participation and enabling me to be part of a gathering that brought together giants in the field of Jewish ECE - directors, teachers, professors, and innovators from all over the world - who are redefining what Jewish early childhood education can and should be.
L-R: Cinthia Lainas, Nicole Elkayam, Elaine Eibinder, Vicky Furer from The Gan Frida; Yehudis Smith; Adriana Potasman, Mirta Dokser, Romina Naparstek from the MARJCC
It was also lovely to share this experience with educators from two schools in our JECPN Miami network – The Gan Frida at the Chabad Russian Center, directed by Chanie Kaller, and the Michael-Ann Russell JCC, directed by Romina Naparstek.
Over the course of the conference, I participated in workshops and seminars led by some of the most inspiring minds in our field.
The sessions explored a variety of topics ranging from emerging trends in play-based learning to fostering inclusivity and equity in Jewish classrooms.
The passion and wisdom shared in every room were invigorating, and I left with a notebook brimming with ideas to bring back to our Miami community of educators.
Even more meaningful for me personally was the opportunity to present workshops on Rethinking Discipline, a topic rooted in my own work and the title of my book.
In these sessions, I delved into concepts from my book - originally about conscious parenting - and adapted them to the classroom context.
Together, we explored how shifting our mindsets about children’s behaviors can lead to transformative changes in our classrooms.
I shared actionable steps for dismantling power struggles, emphasizing the importance of building relationships rooted in mutual respect and understanding. The conversations that followed were rich, and I was inspired by the openness and eagerness of attendees to rethink their approaches and try something new.
The Paradigm Project’s conference wasn’t only a time to teach - it was a time to learn.
As I sat in sessions with colleagues from around the country, I was reminded of the power of community in Jewish education. This was not just a gathering of professionals; it was a meeting of minds and hearts deeply invested in nurturing the next generation with Jewish values, love, and creativity.
As I return to Miami, I am excited to integrate what I learned into our professional development offerings for educators and to continue building a strong, supportive network of Jewish ECE professionals in our community.
There’s something profoundly special about taking a step back from the daily grind to immerse oneself in meaningful learning and collaboration.
At The Paradigm Project conference, I experienced the kind of professional growth and renewal that reminds us why we do what we do.
It also enabled me to bring these experiences and insights back to our Miami community of educators so they can continue to thrive and lead in the field of Jewish ECE.
