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Pioneer Schools
ElevatEd serves the needs of early childhood leaders and educators at all different stages to enact the greatest positive change.
Schools in pioneer communities will join regional and national cohorts to increase teacher recruitment and retention, improve quality, and serve as hubs for Jewish communal engagement.

Schools receive support in recruiting at least two emerging educators and cultivating mentor teachers to develop a stronger career path for experienced educators. Through ElevatEd, your emerging educators will receive a one-time stipend and funds toward earning a credential. Mentors will receive remuneration for their time, and schools will receive financial support for substitute coverage.

What does it mean for my early childhood center?

ElevatEd will help your school with:

New teacher recruitment
Recruit new teachers for the 2023–24 academic year and develop year-round recruitment strategies for the long term.

Recruitment training
Address systemic challenges of recruitment and onboarding.

Family engagement
Introduce innovative opportunities for family engagement.

Mentor program
Develop your experienced educators as mentors to new teachers to support career growth.

Teacher training
Onboard new teachers through an inspiring year-long core curriculum, which you can share with your entire staff.

ElevatEd schools and participating educators also receive financial and material support:

  • ElevatEd schools will receive financial subsidies for the cost of substitute coverage while new educators engage in training or work with mentors.
  • All new ElevatEd teachers will receive a stipend for participating, funds toward earning their credential, entoring, and a community of practice to support their professional growth.
  • ElevatEd mentor teachers will receive training, benefit from participation in a learning community of fellow mentors (community of practice), and receive a stipend for their work.
  • ECJE teachers and directors in participating schools will benefit from a strong professional network within and across communities.
Ideal applicant ECJE centers are:
Collaborative
ElevatEd schools acknowledge that the challenges of the ECJE field cannot be solved by any one person, school, or organization. The field will be stronger because of the diverse strengths, talents, and experiences of new and veteran teachers, regional colleagues, funders, and broader national networks.
Open hearted
ElevatEd schools will work in authentic relationships with one another and with regional and national leadership. Joining this pilot program as a pioneer means taking risks, exploring the unknown, and leading with trust.
Adaptive
ElevatEd schools will demonstrate adaptability within the broad community of stakeholders and ElevatEd programs and activities as we join this dynamic and ever-evolving national effort to improve the ecosystem of early childhood Jewish education and engagement.
What is the timeline for Cohort 2?
Launch &
Recruitment
March–August 2024
  • Recruitment
  • Schools join the program
  • Directors select mentors
  • Explore credentialing options
Core
Program
September–June 2025
  • Weekly training curriculum for emerging educators
  • Quarterly professional development for all educators
  • Community coordinator cohort learning and support
  • 18 months of mentoring program and support
  • Research and evaluation with Rosov Consulting
  • Experimentation grant for communities
Support
Phase
July–December 2025
  • Continued training and support throughout start of new academic year
  • Research and evaluation
  • Mentoring
How can my school apply?
Applications for Cohort 2 will open in spring 2024. All eligible directors will receive information through their community coordinator about the application process and timeline.
How can my school apply?
Applications for Cohort 2 will open in spring 2024. All eligible directors will receive information through their community coordinator about the application process and timeline.
JCC Association of North America
The Jewish Federations of North America
Union For Reform Judaism