Chicago Hosts Prizmah Jewish Day School Conference; 1,000+ Leaders and Educators Explore New Ideas and Innovative Approaches to Jewish Education

CHICAGO, Feb. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Displaying a fresh approach to the field of Jewish education, Prizmah, Center for Jewish Day Schools, opens its inaugural Jewish Day School Conference today in Chicago.  The three-day interactive learning experience, designed for Jewish day school educators and lay leaders, is being held February 5-7, 2017 and will include attendees from across North America.

The theme "The Power of Story" was chosen for Prizmah's first conference because – like Prizmah itself – the collective voice of the Jewish day school community is stronger when woven together.  The stories that Jewish day schools generate every day embody the future that the Jewish community wants for its children – and for itself. 

"Jewish day school leaders are coming together to learn from each other and address our community's needs in unison," explains Paul Bernstein, Prizmah's CEO. "We chose the theme 'The Power of Story,' because the future of Jewish day school education is a story for all of us to tell.  Through sharing their experiences and learnings about what works to enhance their schools, and innovations such as game-based learning and new technologies, and hearing from world-class speakers like Jane McGonigal, Prizmah Conference participants will bring new strength back to their home communities."

"One of the most exciting aspects of this conference is bring together leaders from across the denominational spectrum to focus on our shared values and goals," said Kathy E. Manning, Chair of Prizmah's Board of Directors.

Along with conference-wide collective experiences such as plenaries, networking opportunities, meals, entertainment, and excursions to nearby sites of interest, participants are able to develop individualized journeys that meet their preferred learning and engagement styles. 

Innovative elements include an interactive learning "Playground" where participants can partake in facilitated design-thinking experiences; explore innovations in the field; learn about the latest education technology; and engage with content, experts, and peers in dynamic ways. The Second City Works will help participants apply "Yes, And" to take collaboration, communication, and creativity in schools to a new level. 

The Lay Leadership Experience

A school is only as vital as its leadership, and recognizing the importance of partnership between professional educators and community lay leadership, the Conference provides a unique Lay Leadership Experience program. 

With access to a range of experts, Prizmah board leaders, a community of leaders, and professional from across North America that are deeply engaged in the day school enterprise, lay leaders attending the Conference will benefit from interactive sessions on storytelling, student recruitment and retention, school governance and mission, funding development, and leadership development – allowing them to leave the Conference with concrete action steps to empower them to strengthen their school and community's future.

Prizmah - New Organization; New Thinking; New Programming

Prizmah is a powerful resource, thought leader, and advocate for the Jewish day school field. Along with research, data analysis, communities of practice, convenings, and publications, Prizmah offers dozens of programs and services with proven track records of success within the Jewish day school network.

An overarching goal of Prizmah is to help schools achieve educational excellence, financial vitality, and to amplify the profile of day schools within the Jewish communal agenda and beyond.  Prizmah hopes to create new funding opportunities for the Jewish day school field, and strengthen the field's standing and influence. Recognizing the importance of Prizmah's first Conference, generous donors have come forward to provide a multitude of resources and subsidies.  These include the AVI CHAI Foundation, The Jim Joseph Foundation, and The Jewish Federations of North America.

The Conference is expected to draw more than 1,000 attendees from across North America, and will explore innovative ways to craft, tell, listen, and to respond to the powerful stories surrounding the Jewish day school experience, in order to amplify their reach, deepen their impact and strengthen the Jewish day school field.

Details and information can be found on the Prizmah website.

About Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools
Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools was founded in 2016 with a mission to transform the North American Jewish day school landscape. Prizmah provides day schools with tools to foster the educational excellence, financial vitality, and community support that will make day school education the first choice for Jewish families.  Prizmah is a powerful resource, thought leader, and advocate for the day school field. Along with research, data analysis, communities of practice, convenings and publications, Prizmah offers dozens of programs and services with proven track records of success within the Jewish day school network.  Prizmah places an emphasis on the individual needs of schools, be they religious needs and sensitivities, communal needs, demographic needs, school size, or other points-of-distinction. The goal is to meet schools where they are at to help them reach the milestones that are right for them.  Prizmah's vision is of a thriving, passionate, engaged, and committed Jewish community – nurtured by Jewish day schools, for generations to come.

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SOURCE Prizmah