Boulder ECE Educators Take Part in National Program

Boulder and Denver early learning educators from our Jewish Early Childhood Education (ECE) centers are sharing their talents and increasing their knowledge through a new Cross Community Learning Exchange to elevate the importance of Jewish ECE. Ten local ECE educators are taking part in a peer learning cohort with ten ECE educators from the Greater Chicago area to strengthen their teaching skills. The group met in Boulder in early April and will meet in Chicago later this year. Monthly virtual meetings will take place in between.

Jewish ECE is a key program area of JEWISHcolorado, supporting its mission of engaging the next generation in Jewish life. Studies point to the first five years of a child’s life as the most important years for building cognition, character and identity. With these developmental milestones in mind, Boulder and Denver Jewish early childhood educators strive to engage families and weave Jewish values and culture into daily experiences at ECE centers through top quality teaching.

JEWISHcolorado’s Director of Early Childhood Education, Judi Morosohk, said local educators are thrilled with this national recognition and excited to share their efforts with other communities. “Collaboration with others always provides a path to new insights and learning and we look forward to the impact this learning exchange will have on both of our communities and the overall field of Jewish ECE.”

The Community Learning Exchange is made possible by grants from The Jim Joseph Foundation and Rose Community Foundation. Rose Community Foundation Senior Program Officer Lisa Farber Miller shares, “Jewish ECE centers play an influential, yet often unrecognized, role in introducing children and their families to Jewish life and provide a venue for lasting Jewish friendships.”

Boulder and Denver Jewish ECE currently involves 220 educators teaching 1,100 children in 11 schools. “These educators are working to build healthy, successful learners and provide current and future Jewish engagement for Colorado families,” said Morosohk.

Michele Weingarden is the Communications Manager for JEWISHcolorado. Founded in 1946 and formerly known as Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado, JEWISHcolorado is the umbrella community organization focused on stewarding and strengthening Jewish community in Colorado, Israel and the world. JEWISHcolorado is a member of the Jewish Federations of North America, which is among the top ten charities on the continent. JEWISHcolorado raises and distributes funds in support of a wide variety of programs and partner organizations both locally and globally. For more information, visit www.JEWISHcolorado.org

Source: Boulder Jewish News