15 Years of the Jewish New Teacher Project

Well-trained and supported teachers are integral to high quality and effective Jewish Day Schools. They deserve opportunities to continuously refine and improve their skills, and, equally as important, must have a desire to remain at their schools.

Now in its 15th year, the Jewish New Teacher Project (JNTP) addresses both of these areas, helping Day Schools offer support to new and veteran teachers in Jewish and general studies through their intensive mentoring and mentor training programs.

With full conviction I can say that I would not have stayed in teaching if not for the mentoring I received through JNTP!
– Tamar Kaplan Appel, Assistant Principal, Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls
former JNTP new teacher; current JNTP mentor

What began with a select group of Jewish Day Schools in Metropolitan New York, JNTP now engages mentors and new teachers elsewhere in the east coast and Midwest. Over the past 15 years, JNTP has worked with more than 1,000 educators in Jewish day schools across North America, helping schools achieve teaching excellence by increasing teacher effectiveness and teacher retention and by bringing the language of teaching standards, collaboration and professional development into school culture.

JNTP currently is training 154 mentors to work intensively with 174 new teachers from 69 schools across the country, with program hubs in New York, Baltimore, Chicago and Miami. JNTP also coaches early-career administrators and, between its Baltimore coaching cohort and one-on-one coaching work, has supported 47 new administrators in 25 schools. This year JNTP’s work is influencing the education experience of over 18,000 students in Jewish day schools.

JNTP’s model was adapted from the New Teacher Center in Santa Cruz, California, which trains veteran teachers to provide two years of intensive mentoring to support new teachers in public schools across the country. JNTP’s efforts elevate teaching and learning in the world of Jewish education and enable schools to have more effective educators and school leaders positioned to help every student meets his or her potential.

The Jewish New Teacher Project started as a pilot program of The AVI CHAI Foundation in 2003. The Jim Joseph Foundation continues to invest in JNTP today.