14 | APRIL 11 • 2024 

for the success of all children,
” 
she said.
She described her team of 
101 dedicated professionals 
— doctors, special educators, 
physical speech, behavioral and 
occupational therapists, para-
professionals, reading and math 
specialists and social workers. 
“Together we unite with our 
passionate, caring, and loving 
teachers, principals and, most 
importantly, parents, hand in 
hand. We collaborate to create 
the best individualized educa-
tion plan for each child so that 
they will soar, and the results 
have been nothing short of 
miraculous.
”
Nearly 1,400 students are 
enrolled at the Yeshiva’s three 
campuses, and over 400 stu-
dents are actively serviced by 
the James Grosfeld Center for 
Special Education and Support 
Services. 
“When people hear ‘private 
school,
’ they often think of 
wealthy families,
” says Rabbi 

Shragie Myers, executive direc-
tor of Yeshiva Beth Yehudah. 
“But the plain facts are that only 
25% of the school’s budget is 
collected from tuition payments 
and parental support. The rest 
of the Yeshiva’s over $21 million 
budget must be fundraised 
every year. While the Yeshiva 
has great champions in the 
community, supporting this 
critical mission of ensuring that 
every child receives whatever 
they need to succeed, finding 
the funding is a continual strug-
gle, one that I would encourage 
everyone to join in supporting. 
What greater cause could there 
be than our community’s chil-
dren?”
Mrs. Rothstein expanded 
on the value of providing for 
these children. “Early educa-
tion investments are proven 
to change a child’s develop-
mental trajectory and result 
in increased success in school, 
work and life,
” she said. “This 
approach of accepting every 

child and integrating every 
child, meeting their needs 
alongside their peers, has creat-
ed a reality here at the Yeshiva 
where there is no stigma, no 
bullying and no judgment. As 
much as these extraordinary 
students gain from their typical 
classmates, their classmates 
benefit so much more from 
them.
”
From the moment students 
enter the program at age 3, the 
team embarks on a “journey 
of personalized educational 
planning in an effort to unlock 
every child’s potential,
” she said. 
“Regardless of diagnosis, our 
team of special educators and 
support staff collaborate on a 
case-by-case basis to enhance 
the educational experience 
of each child through proper 
assessment, timely intervention 
and ongoing monitoring.
”
As an example, she cited 
a first grader who spends an 
English language arts period in 
the learning center in a mixed 

group with a kindergartner and 
two second graders for an expe-
riential project-based class and 
then returns to his general edu-
cation classroom as indicated by 
his individual education plan. 
“In this way, students are 
seamlessly integrated with 
their peers while meeting their 
diverse needs,
” she said. “These 
resources are seamlessly inte-
grated into their school day. 
This means they have access to 
the general education curric-
ulum with unique accommo-
dations and modifications that 
empower them to succeed.
”
James Grosfeld, speaking 
passionately on behalf of this 
critical mission, said the chil-
dren at the Center touch his 
and his wife Nancy’s hearts. 
“The attention and love and 
care are so obvious on the faces 
of all the students that you’ll see 
here, and all the teachers make 
this a very, very special place. 
The education of every child, 
especially those whose poten-

continued from page 13

OUR COMMUNITY
COVER STORY

Guests from across the 
state enjoyed a delicious 
luncheon prepared by the 
Yeshiva’s kitchen staff

continued on page 16

