Program Proposal: Abstract

Teacher Training Initiative

Proposal: To institute a series of professional development workshops for current Teachers and Rebbeim as well as for those considering a career in Jewish education, geared toward acknowledging the "at risk" phenomenon in our schools and providing both practical classroom strategies to help prevent students from becoming "at risk" and to help ensure that "at risk" students can safely remain part of the Yeshiva system.

Background: Over the past ten years, it has become clear that a significant number of Yeshiva students (between 5% and 20%) are seriously "at risk" for failing or falling out of the Yeshiva system. Once removed from the Yeshiva setting, the potential for their behaviors to spiral out of control increase exponentially. Many are drawn to alcohol, drugs, promiscuity, gambling and other deviant and destructive behaviors. Thousands of such students are identifiable in the New York area alone!

An adequately and appropriately prepared Yeshiva system is our best communal defense against the proliferation of "at risk" behavior.

Proposed Plan of Action: To offer a three session teacher training workshop crash course for the 2005-2006 academic year. Separate workshops for men and women will be offered concurrently. Workshops will provide both theoretical perspectives on the issues involved with "at risk" students and the role the Yeshiva system plays in preventing those problems, as well as practical, hands on classroom techniques for dealing with "at risk" and potentially "at risk" students. Ongoing qualitative and quantitative program evaluations will be made through the use of surveys and questionnaires.

Budget: Year 1.

Honorarium for 6 presentations at $300 per presentation: $1,800

Teacher incentives at $100 per session x 50 participants for 3 sessions: $15,000

Preparation of materials, facility usage and administration: $13,000

Promotional material and advertisements: $7,000

Refreshments: $500 per session for three sessions: $1,500

Total: $38,300

Expansion of Program: With the success of the initial 2005-2006 academic year three part crash course program, the program would be expanded to a full eight part workshop series for the 2006-2007 academic year with the eventual goal of an annual eight part workshop series both in the New York area as well as Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles.