12th Annual Directors Conference at Garrett Creek Ranch

Some sixty Directors and senior staff from Melton’s international network of community-based schools assembled December 10-13 at the Garrett Creek Ranch Conference Center outside of Dallas, TX for the 12th annual Directors Conference.  The directors participated in workshops on marketing, budgets, strategic planning, and models of collaboration to brush up on the ‘business side’ of adult Jewish education.  Dr. Yonatan Mirvis, the International Director was pleased that “this conference would help local Mini-School Directors become adept at applying sound business principles that will result in both the growth and the continued excellence of our network of schools.” In addition there were sessions devoted to study of Jewish texts – always an integral part of the Melton professional development experience. 

The Conference keynote speaker was Dr. Ellen Frankel, CEO of the Jewish Publication Society, and author of The Five Books of Miriam:  A Woman’s Commentary on the Torah, The Class Tales:  400 years of Jewish Lore, and Jewish Spirit:  Stories and Art. Her topic was “The Business of Collaboration.”

Mentoring was an important part of the conference and experienced directors were paired up with new directors, providing them with the opportunity to acquire, throughout the conference, valuable knowledge and insights from veteran directors.

Dr. Betsy Katz, North American Director and herself a member of faculty, felt that “coming together in Texas gave the opportunity to study and learn together in a relaxed collegial atmosphere. We all left infused with new knowledge and renewed energy.  We gave the business of education our fullest attention.  With interest in Jewish learning on the rise, educating all those who want to learn is a challenge we must meet.” 

A heartwarming moment of the Conference was when Esther Zimand was honored for her seventeen years of outstanding service to the St. Louis Mini-School. At the end of the year Esther and her husband will be making aliyah to Jerusalem.

Miriam Brunn Ruberg of Norfolk/Virginia Beach, VA, Don Goldman of Greater Kansas City, KS, Noah Hadas of San Diego, CA, Rosa Mandelblum of Sarasota, FL, Jackie Land of Washington DC, Ethel Melzer of Buffalo, NY, Janis Zaremba of Raleigh, NC and Annie Glickman of Dallas, TX were awarded certification in recognition of their work as innovators, professionals, and educational leaders.

This twelfth meeting of the Directors in Texas contributed to the strengthening of the international network of Mini-Schools, and building close ties between the directors, and between directors and the Mini-School staff in Chicago and at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The directors return to their schools invigorated and motivated to continue their excellent work in the implementation of our mission.

> More New at FMAMS