1. Educational Leadership

Advancing the Integrated Curriculum

Short Term (1-2 years)

• Continue documenting the integrated curriculum
• Research best digital platform to host documented curriculum
• Enhance existing integrations and add new integrations, especially for Tikkun Olam, Environmental/Outdoor (Garden), and Technology
• Develop a vision for an integrated technology curriculum that aligns with school’s educational philosophy
• Enhance leadership capacity for envisioning, directing, assessing, and enhancing integrated curriculum

Medium Term (3-5 years)

• Improve communication of the school’s approach to integrated learning to the broader community
• Upload all documented curriculum to digital platform for easy access, sharing, and updating
• Review and enhance French curriculum; research and consider enhanced French streams
• Implement enhanced integrated technology projects
• Develop curricula that engage partnerships with community organizations (e.g., arts organizations, environmental organizations, First Nations groups)

Long Term (5+ years)

• Develop in-house capacity to publish print and digital resources that support curriculum
• Develop in-house Apps that support curriculum and Heschel best-teaching practices

 

---

 

Continuing Teacher Development

Teachers’ relationships with parents and students are essential elements in the Heschel community. Teachers should be more integrated. The well-being of our teachers, their ongoing development and support, correlate directly to their success in supporting our children in their learning. We have had many opportunities to work with the Lola Stein Institute and participate in meaningful high level teacher development including partnerships with the Shalom Hartman Institute and the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. These partnerships, and other tools and supports for the school’s educators, are vital to ensuring their capacity, well-being, and engagement.

Short Term (1-2 years)

• Enhance understanding of Child Development
• Build greater capacity for Differentiated Instruction
• Enhance effective communication with parents (re: program, children, school philosophy)
• Implement a reflective practice mentorship program
• Enhance capacity in non-native language instruction (Hebrew, French)
• Enhance the capacity of non-arts specialists for teaching in the arts
• Continue high-level professional development opportunities in partnership with the Lola Stein Institute

Medium Term (3-5 years)

• Imagine alternative learning spaces: outdoors, broader community, digital spaces
• Continue to deepen all teachers’ Jewish learning
• Develop digital platform for sharing and developing best teaching practices
• Build reflective practice to include peer observations and feedback

Long Term (5+ years)

• Strengthen the Lola Stein Institute to share best-teaching practices developed / pioneered at Heschel in partnership with the Lola Stein Institute
• Develop capacity of teachers as researchers: identify particular issue, engaging in research and reflective practice to make recommendations for best-practices