Read the July Education Task Force Report
August 2, 2010
Education Task Force Report
Havurah’s Education Task Force for Middle School and High School has completed its work and formulated recommendations which were adopted by the Steering Committee. Plans are underway to appoint an “implementation task force” that will be charged with implementing specific structural changes in our High School and Middle School programming that are consistent with those recommendations.
Task Force Membership
• Richard Goldenberg, Chairperson, High School parent
• Alanna Hein, facilitator, High School parent
• Wendy Lebow, Middle School parent, member of Middle School committee
• Anne Lebwohl, Member of Moatzah Educator’s council
• Debbi Nadell, High School parent, member of High School committee
• Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, Havurah Director of Education
• David Ellenberg, High School /Middle School parent, Vice President of Education
Mission statement for High School/Middle School: (created by this task force and used to guide our work)
To offer High School/Middle School programming which keeps Havurah’s young people connected, engaged and identified with their Jewish community and involved in Jewish learning.
Goal of Education Task Force:
To lead a visioning process which produces a set of recommendations to Steering which, when approved, will be implemented in the service of the mission articulated above and consistent with the values of Havurah
Process:
• Eight meetings
• Data collection and review (see below)
• SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) of current model and curriculum
• Visioning process for Middle School and High School based upon data review and SWOT analysis
• Listed characteristics of a preferred future for Middle School and High School
• Funneled these characteristics into “top themes”
• Formulated consensus recommendations based upon top themes
Data Collection and review:
• Reviewed surveys of current High School students
• Reviewed feedback from Havurah families whose kids do not participate
• Input from Rabbi Joey and current High School teachers Ben and Emily
• Reviewed other JRF programming for Middle School/High School
• Reviewed input from Middle School committee about particular challenges
• Reviewed comments from Operation Reconnect surveys and parlor meetings relevant to High School /Middle School
Task Force Recommendations
• For High School and Middle School we have presented one overarching statement (WHAT) followed by several HOW statements
• The task force is cognizant of the fact that effective implementation of these proposals will require stronger, more formal infrastructure and have an impact on staff time, volunteer time and, perhaps, the congregational budget
• We support the idea of an Education Committee tasked with oversight of all of Havurah’s educational programming (Shabbat School, Middle School, High School, Adult Education). The committee should include: Vice President of Education, one or more members of Moatzah and one member each from Shabbat School, Middle School, High School and Adult Education Committees.
• We also recommend that Steering appoint a DTF (disappearing task force) charged with implementation of our recommendations. This task force would report to the Education Committee by December 2010, in order to allow appropriate planning through the Coordinating Council. The DTF should be between 5 and 8 members, possibly including new High School/Middle School parents, a student, and member(s) of current Education Task Force.
• We recommend that our task force report be publicized through Hakol and/or the Havurah website and that continued work be publicized in a similar fashion in order to assure transparency of our process
• We suggest that the DTF consider ways to integrate Havurah’s musical resources into the Middle School/High School programming
Recommendations for Middle School
Middle school students and parents should feel at ease and comfortable in Middle School.
• Havurah Middle School needs to provide consistent structure and a consistent classroom environment
• This includes maintaining continuity of faculty who establish and maintain good rapport and engagement with students
• The Middle School environment should enable and strengthen relationships between students
• The Middle School curriculum should be relevant to the students and foster engagement with Jewish content and community
• Social action activities should be pursued outside of the classroom
• Middle School must sustain parental engagement and involvement
Recommendations for High School
Havurah High shall empower and enable our youth to make choices about their future independent Jewish identity by:
Encouraging students to develop and strength relationships with each other
Providing a coordinated, rich, relevant , well developed Jewish curriculum
Offering programming that includes a broader exposure to, and engagement with, the larger Jewish community. This includes other constituencies within Havurah as well as the local Portland and global Jewish communities
Creating/fostering an environment in which all vested parties-students, teachers, parents- are engaged with the program
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