50 New Teachers Begin Their Mentorship Journey
Starting out as a new teacher comes with plenty of questions.
How do you build a strong classroom culture? How do you handle a challenging situation? How do you balance everything on your plate? And sometimes, simply: Is this normal?
For the second year in a row, as programming continues in honor of 50 years of Mivtza Chinuch, 50 new teachers are receiving extra support as they navigate their first year in the classroom through the MEF Teacher Mentorship Program.
The program pairs new teachers with experienced mechanchim and mechanchos who understand the realities of Chinuch and can offer guidance, perspective, and a listening ear throughout the year.
This year’s group is being guided by 13 mentors, bringing years of experience and knowledge to a new generation of educators. For new Moros, spanning preschool through high school, Limudei Kodesh and Limudei Chol, the dedicated mentors are Mrs. Sarah Chuzhin, Mrs. Batsheva Deren, Mrs. Nami Friedman, Mrs. Chani Stolik, Mrs. Chaya Light, Mrs. Nechama Lapidus, Mrs. Gitty Rosenfeld, Mrs. Lakey Silber, and Mrs. Aviva Wasser. For new melamdim, from Pre1A through Mesivta, the mentors are Rabbi Yanky Goldstein, Rabbi Levke Kaplan, Rabbi Shmuel Shneur, and Rabbi Zelig Silber. Together, they are supporting 50 teachers from across the Chinuch community as they begin their teaching journeys.
The 50 new teachers who have taken on the Shlichus of Chinuch this year are strengthening their skills through weekly mentorship.
Participating Schools:
Bais Chaya Mushka, Toronto; Gan Chayolei Hamelech; Bais Rivkah; Magen Yisrael; Gani, Brazil; Cheder Bay Area; Cheder Chabad; The Hebrew Academy; SJA California; Academy of the Arts, Redondo Beach, California; LGHS; Tamim Pinellas; Cheder Lubavitch Morristown; Cheder Menachem, New Jersey; Cheder Zichron Shmuel; LEC Miami; MMSC Day School; Southern Connecticut Hebrew Academy; Bais Chana Academy; Monsey Beis Chaya Mushka; Chabad Girls High School of Dallas; East Hebrew Academy; Torah Day School; Darchai Menachem; Maimonides Hebrew Day School; Oheli Yosef Yitzchok Lubavitch Cheder, Detroit; Bnos Menachem; Gan Chayolei Hamelech Preschool; Cheder of North Carolina; Camp Gan Israel, Fairfax, VA Preschool; Cheder Minnesota; Cheder Lubavitch Detroit; ULY Crown Heights; Oheli Torah; Ohr Menachem; East Academy High School; Cheder Menachem, Long Island; and Cheder Chabad Toronto.
For these teachers, mentorship means knowing that they don’t have to figure everything out alone.
And already, participating teachers are expressing their appreciation for the support they’re receiving.
“I’m very grateful for the coaching,” shared one participating Rebbe.
Another participating Morah shared, “I have been really enjoying it, B”H! I’m gaining helpful tips and the why behind the way I do things. Thank you for the opportunity.”
Beyond practical tips and guidance, the mentorship is helping new teachers build confidence, understand the reasoning behind effective teaching practices, and feel supported as they grow into their roles.
Over the course of the year, mentors will continue providing a space to ask questions, think through challenges, share successes, and grow as educators.
Because great teachers aren’t expected to have all the answers on day one. They need people who can walk alongside them, share what they’ve learned, and help them grow.
MEF is proud to invest in these 50 new teachers – and in the mentors who are giving their time and experience to help strengthen the next generation of Chinuch.
