Building Leadership and the Field of Jewish Early Childhood Education from the Inside Out
Lyndall Miller
“The biggest challenge in Jewish life today is identifying and cultivating good leadership . . . Tap into your inspiration if you want to lead well.” —Dr. Misha Galperin, Reimagining Leadership in Jewish Organizations (2012)
What inspires Jewish early childhood educators to become leaders today?
As the director of the Jewish Early Childhood Education Leadership Institute (JECELI), which is a partnership between JTS and Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR), I have the privilege of reading the applications of those who wish to be a part of our learning community. Candidates have made the following statements about what inspires them:
- “I enjoy learning. I am very excited by new ideas and stimulating discussions, especially about education. I love the idea of learning for my own personal growth.”
- “I have dedicated myself to being a lifelong learner in the world of Jewish education. I am excited to be able to share my passion for Jewish education and Jewish living with others who feel the same.”
- “I work daily in an environment steeped in Jewish values, customs, and traditions. Now, both in my personal and professional life, I am able to appreciate Judaism and continually learn and grow.”
Inspiration does not necessarily lead to leadership, however. It is the task of the Jewish Early Childhood Education Leadership Institute to turn inspirations into actions that, in turn, inspire others.
JECELI fellows explore their motivations and their values in a Jewish context, primarily through text study, seminars, and dialogue. Experts share knowledge about adult development, and each person explores his or her evolution as human beings, professionals, and Jewish educators. Other facilitators help advance leadership skills, including managing the many challenges that can stand in the way of personal, staff, and school transformations.
To bolster confidence and leadership acumen, each JECELI fellow also works with a mentor and in a mentor group. The mentoring process supports the fellows as they turn their self-knowledge and their motivations into real initiatives within their programs. Each fellow reports on what has happened as a result of their actions based on their inspired learning. Members learn a great deal from each other’s experiences.
In fact, the intensity of the self-examination, the relationships between members of mentor groups, and the shared efforts at changing schools create the alchemy that results in both community and the development of strong leadership.
Fellows reflect on their experiences with statements such as:
“This program has strengthened my confidence and capabilities as a Jewish leader. After my JECELI experience, I will have a community that provides insight, support, and encouragement. This is a program that has helped me look at myself through a professional and spiritual lens . . . [a] lens that has been enriched by providing deeper understanding and meaning to what I do each and every day.”
“My time with JECELI fellows, mentors, and instructors has expanded my professional world; deepened my leadership skills by broadening my understanding of ECE and adult learning practices; reconnected me to Jewish text, ritual, values, and the land of Israel; and provided me with the opportunity to reflect on my own practices.”
One outcome of JECELI has been the Communities of Practice, formed by each of the three successive cohorts, which have emerged from the participants’ own commitment to continue their professional learning and leadership growth together. With the support of the Paradigm Project, our alumni maintain reading groups, webinars, and retreats. Each cohort has developed a brit (covenant) expressed in Jewish language that many of these participants report that they did not know about before JECELI.
Therefore, JECELI’s structure of working “from the inside out” has the potential to change the paradigm for how Jewish early childhood educators work together to advance the field. It also demonstrates that the pursuit of effective leadership is an ongoing enterprise.
JECELI represents one model of educating for leadership. Through self-awareness, collaborating with others, and taking risks to transform our contexts, we can strengthen leadership and change the field. We are not just a group of professionals; we are a committed learning community. What developments might we inspire next in Jewish early childhood education?
Lyndall Miller, MEd, MAJEd, MSEd, is the director of the Jewish Early Childhood Education Leadership Institute (JECELI), a collaborative effort between The Jewish Theological Seminary and Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion.
