The Davidson School’s Day School Leadership Training Institute Cultivates Advanced Leaders for Jewish Day Schools and Yeshivot of All Denominations

Lori Binder, Associate Head of School at Gray Academy of Jewish Education, recently completed the Day School Leadership Training Institute (DSLTI), an intensive training program for educators of all Jewish denominations presented by the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education of The Jewish Theological Seminary. The current cohort of DSLTI fellows includes a mix of educational leaders from Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, Orthodox, and community Jewish Day Schools.

“Our fellows represent a broad range of North American Jewry,” says Dr. Ray Levi, director of DSLTI. “What they have in common is their tremendous intellectual gifts, commitment to educational excellence, and desire to serve and perpetuate the Jewish people. Their diversity enriches every aspect of the institute and provides a living laboratory for Jewish pluralism.”

DSLTI offers a rich understanding of day school headship through the lenses of

 Judaism – Exploring how a Jewish worldview informs educational theory, practice, and decision making

 Education – Enhancing knowledge of curriculum development and assessment, theories and practice of learning, professional development and school culture

?Leadership – Developing skills in budget and finance, development, admissions, board relations, and organizational change

“I am grateful to have had the opportunity to create lasting relationships with my 15 fellow graduates. While geographically far away, we are a professional network of support to one another as we all navigate the exciting challenges and opportunities that come with being a day school leader in North America,” says Lori Binder, Associate Head of School, Gray Academy of Jewish Education.

DSLTI courses are interactive, and include case studies, simulations, and problem-based learning as primary approaches. In addition to fostering individual development, DSLTI is committed to forming a cadre of outstanding Jewish educational leaders who share a common language, and support each other as they take leadership positions in day schools across North America.

“The Davidson School is deeply committed to the preparation of Jewish education leaders across different settings and denominations,” says Dr. Zachary Lasker, director of Educational Projects for the Melton Research Center for Jewish Education and The Davidson School of JTS. “DSLTI fills a vital need by offering Jewish educators in the field advanced skills, a peer network, and the individualized support they need to move their careers forward and take on positions of leadership. In this case, diversity amoung our participants adds value to the experience by encouraging collaboration and emphasizing similarities.”

“This is an incredible opportunity for Gray Academy of Jewish Education,” says Rory Paul, Head of School and CEO for the Winnipeg Board of Jewish Education. “Having someone with Lori’s expertise on staff, leading us toward being a premiere 21st Century school ensures our future and our community’s future.”

Participants in DSLTI join a network of more than 100 alumni serving in senior leadership positions in Jewish day schools throughout the United States and Canada. Each graduate has access to continuing professional development and networking opportunities.

DSLTI is funded through the generosity of the AVI CHAI Foundation and the Alan B. Slifka Foundation.

The William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education of JTS is North America’s largest pluralistic school of Jewish education, granting graduate-level degrees in Jewish education and providing professional development and curricula programs to educators currently in the field. It continues to fill the ever-growing demand for well-trained, competent leaders in Jewish education across the continent and beyond.

For more information about DSLTI, please contact Dr. Janette Silverman at The Davidson School:

[email protected]  or at (212) 678-8850.