From the Director
December 8, 2017
Seven years ago, colleagues and I drafted a letter to the Covenant Foundation in which we dreamed of developing "a network of colleagues who maintain trusting relationships and a shared language and vision."
These words resonate as we begin recruiting for the Paradigm Project's 4th Annual Conference. Whereas then we described our vision as one that is based around Relationships, Inquiry, Reflection, and Responsibility, today I write to you with those same sensibilities in mind, sensibilities that we aspire to exemplify in our gatherings.
Relationships. Caring about children from the deepest places in our hearts is made possible by caring relationships among our professional communities. Our gatherings strive be places where #ParadigmShifters can connect and forge new and nourishing relationships.
Inquiry. What is certain in our world today? What is the best way to make our schools safehavens that foster meaning making, creativity, and optimistic dreams of brighter possibilities for all? How can our gatherings inspire these same feelings and equip educators with the necessary skills and dispositions to support this kind of education?
Reflection. We believe that human beings learn through experience and through reflection on these experiences. In Reggio Emilia, educators spend 1/6 of their work weeks engaged in the process of reflective documentation. How can educators best support reflection with children, and how can our gatherings help school leaders fight to give children and teachers the resources for this kind of reflection?
Responsibility. We have believed all along that in this field we are responsible for one another. Together we can build a brighter future for children, families, educators, and the world. Doing the work alone is not enough.
The Paradigm Project was founded by early-career leaders who have now aged into their late thirties through forties. It was our stand--our way of saying that we felt responsible to "ask for support in order to advance the rights of families and children." Our theory of change remains: that by multiplying and nurturing the seeds of excellence in Jewish early childhood education we are best positioned to achieved our ultimate communal goal of using Jewish lenses to help families and children thrive.
As a grassroots organization, we ask for your continued partnership as we take on this responsibility of advancing our field together. #ParadigmShifters across the country continue to amaze us with the work that is shared in the Hub and at our gatherings; registration for this year's conference will feature expanded opportunities for #ParadigmShifters to contribute to the co-construction of our sacred time together. May it be God's will--and yours too!--that our collaboration will cause us to say, as the people told Moses in the wilderness, "The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done" (Exodus 36:5).
In Determination and Genuine Partnership,
Anna
Seven years ago, colleagues and I drafted a letter to the Covenant Foundation in which we dreamed of developing "a network of colleagues who maintain trusting relationships and a shared language and vision."
These words resonate as we begin recruiting for the Paradigm Project's 4th Annual Conference. Whereas then we described our vision as one that is based around Relationships, Inquiry, Reflection, and Responsibility, today I write to you with those same sensibilities in mind, sensibilities that we aspire to exemplify in our gatherings.
Relationships. Caring about children from the deepest places in our hearts is made possible by caring relationships among our professional communities. Our gatherings strive be places where #ParadigmShifters can connect and forge new and nourishing relationships.
Inquiry. What is certain in our world today? What is the best way to make our schools safehavens that foster meaning making, creativity, and optimistic dreams of brighter possibilities for all? How can our gatherings inspire these same feelings and equip educators with the necessary skills and dispositions to support this kind of education?
Reflection. We believe that human beings learn through experience and through reflection on these experiences. In Reggio Emilia, educators spend 1/6 of their work weeks engaged in the process of reflective documentation. How can educators best support reflection with children, and how can our gatherings help school leaders fight to give children and teachers the resources for this kind of reflection?
Responsibility. We have believed all along that in this field we are responsible for one another. Together we can build a brighter future for children, families, educators, and the world. Doing the work alone is not enough.
The Paradigm Project was founded by early-career leaders who have now aged into their late thirties through forties. It was our stand--our way of saying that we felt responsible to "ask for support in order to advance the rights of families and children." Our theory of change remains: that by multiplying and nurturing the seeds of excellence in Jewish early childhood education we are best positioned to achieved our ultimate communal goal of using Jewish lenses to help families and children thrive.
As a grassroots organization, we ask for your continued partnership as we take on this responsibility of advancing our field together. #ParadigmShifters across the country continue to amaze us with the work that is shared in the Hub and at our gatherings; registration for this year's conference will feature expanded opportunities for #ParadigmShifters to contribute to the co-construction of our sacred time together. May it be God's will--and yours too!--that our collaboration will cause us to say, as the people told Moses in the wilderness, "The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done" (Exodus 36:5).
In Determination and Genuine Partnership,
Anna
