irection

tion has new faces on board as it becomes
etroit's Jewish schools.

. .44V14,4

* 4.

LESLEY PEARL STAFF WRITER

14

early 18 months ago, the
Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit man-
dated the Agency for
Jewish Education to
change its focus — away
from teaching students
through United Hebrew
Schools to acting as an
education resource.
A series of changes has
moved the AJE in that
direction. According to
Howard Gelberd, AJE
executive director, the
announcement of new posi-
tions and expanded
responsibilities focused
toward a team appoach on
education puts AJE fully
on track.
"We're going from a situ-
ation where a majority of
schools are not being
served to the opening of a
new agency, serving the
entire system of 500 teach-
ers, 6,000 kids and 20
schools. This requires a
very unique staff," Mr.
Gelberd said.

New positions on the
AJE staff include director
of educational services;
director of school services;
coordinator of special pro-
jects: school services; teen
director of Israel and infor-
mal programs; and teen
program director.
"Our job now is to work
with all the institutions,
give them creativity, tools
and expertise to help them
do their job best," Mr.
Gelberd said. "But our
agency is only as good as
the people in it. If we set
up workshops and teachers
aren't confident in our tal-
ents, they won't come. We
want teachers walking
away from programs with
new methods and materi-
als for the classroom — to
experience practical and
abstract learning."
Mr. Gelberd is pleased
the new staff represents
the Conservative, Ortho-
dox and Reform move-
ments. Schools from all

denominations are encour-
aged to utilize program-
ming and curriculum.
As director of education-
al services, Harlene
Appelman will work with
all AJE departments and
lay leadership, developing
ideas and programs. She is
optimistic about AJE's
direction.
"I hope my role at the
agency will afford me the
opportunity to bring my 20
years of education experi-
ence to the rest of the com-
munity," Ms. Appelman
said. "AJE has always been
a leader. This is an oppor-
tunity to create a different
kind of impact."
Shawn Locke, director of
school services, will work
with Ellen Krivchenia,
coordinator of special pro-
jects, to implement pro-
grams of in-service train-
ing, workshops and confer-
ences for educators in the
community.
Tova Dorfman, teen pro-
gram coordinator, and Jeff
Lupovitch, teen director of
Israel and informal pro-
grams, will work with high
school students. They will
assist congregations in
developing programs for
grades 8-12 and create
travel opportunities to
Washington, D.C., New
York, Poland and Israel.
"They could have the
biggest impact of all," Mr.
Gelberd said of Mr.
Lupovitch and Ms.
Dorfman. "Kids want to get
out of the classroom. The
challenge is ours — to have
travel with content, not a
tour, but Jewish education
in a variety of environ-
ments...eating corned beef
in the Lower East Side,
discussing politics on the
floor of the Knesset, pray-
ing at Auschwitz and danc-
ing with other teens about
to enter the Israeli army."

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All personnel will be in
place for the 1993-94
school year.
In addition to the new
positions, many job
descriptions will be altered
and some posts remain
unfilled.
Nancy Kaplan, Midrasha
director, will act as coordi-
nator of adult education.
Under the direction of
Hebrew language consul-
tant Nira Lev, Midrasha
will refocus to. teach
Hebrew and Bible text. Ms.
Kaplan will assist congre-
gations in developing their
own adult education pro-
grams, coordinating class-
es, reducing duplication
and acting as a center of
information about visiting
educators.
The positions of librari-
an, high school principal
and financial manager
remain open.
AJE also is determining
the best way to reach out
to the community in terms
of its library, resource cen-
ter and special education
capabilities. Each area will
be studied and community
needs and desires will be
considered when formulat-
ing policy.
By the end of June, Mr.
Gelberd will have a clearer
idea of which options are
financially feasible. AJE
requested $1 million from
Federation this year.
"We've provided the com-
munity with a credible
plan and we're confident
the community will come
through with the funding,"
Mr. Gelberd said. "This
was studied for the last
five to seven years. People
are anxious, they're ready
to move. People are tired of
talking about problems,
they want to be a part of
solutions. A lot of people
are rooting for this to
work." D

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