SERVING EDUCATORS THROUGH NETWORKS
The AJE Resource Center has been in the
gestation process for almost two years. After
studying resource centers in other communities
and assessing the needs of the local educational
community, the AJE Resource Center came to life
in February, 1991 under the directionship of Ms.
Renee Wohl. The major thrust for the Resource
Center is professional staff development for
educators.
One of the major issues confronting the Jewish
community today is the lack of highly qualified
Jewish educational professionals. Training,
developing and providing on-going support is the
major thrust of the Resource Center. Offering
quality workshops, in-service seminars, consultative
services to individuals and staffs,opportunities
for professional growth through incentive awards
and study grants is our mission.
According to Ms. Wohl, the Resource Center can be likened to a matchmaking service. "We try to
create matches between educators engaged in similar teaching endeavors. Teaching can be a lonely and
isolated profession. Providing links between educators can only help to create a stronger community
chain of Jewish educational professionals." The Center also tries to match programs and curricula with
schools and individual educators. If a school has piloted an excellent program, why not share it with
others in the community. The Center will help showcase new ideas, new curricula and new programs. In
the fall it will initiate a new program, "Recipes for Success," an idea bank that will be distributed
throughout the community.
This past year, the Resource Center piloted a new
family program, CHAI-Children and Adults on Israel for
the upper elementary level. The program was written up
in several magazines, and inquiries have arrived for
information from as far as London, England. Serving as a
clearinghouse for new ideas and materials through its
computer data bank is what the Center aims to do
communitywide. Facilitating sharing through networking,
idea fairs and support services can only enhance
professionalism and higher quality Jewish education.
"Although we are a Center which is located adjacent
to a wonderful Midrasha Judaica Library, asserts Ms.
Renee Wohl, we are more of a service operation than a
place." Through our professional staff of educators that
include: Ms. Batia Eizikovic and Dr. Helene Cohen, as educational consultants, and Ms. Judy Silberg Loebl,
as Director of Special Programs, we offer tools to enhance the Jewish educational process. "The child is
our main client, continues Ms. Renee Wohl, and by serving the educator we're serving the child and
the entire Jewish community."