Summer Learning Lenses Course
AUDIENCE: All school faculty, including: Judaic and General Studies teachers, guidance and support personnel, & administrators
DATES: July 15, 16, 23 & 24; 9:30am-4:30pm each day
LOCATION: 1675 Broadway, New York, NY
FEE: $199 (includes kosher dairy lunch). Participants eligible for 24 NYS CTLE CEUs. Limited scholarships available.
Questions? RabbiHus@HiddenSparks.org/212-767-7707
Register here for the Learning Lenses Course
Note: Registration is through the Jewish Education Project’s website.
Summer Diffentiated Instruction Course
AUDIENCE: Judaic and General Studies educators of grades K-8, and administrators of those divisions.
DATES: July 29 &30; 9:30am-4:30pm each day
LOCATION: 1675 Broadway, New York, NY
FEE: $99 (includes kosher dairy lunch). Participants eligible for 12 NYS CTLE CEUs. Limited scholarships available.
Questions? RabbiHus@HiddenSparks.org/212-767-7707
Register here for the DI Course
Note: Registration is through the Jewish Education Project’s website.
Testimonials
“The Hidden Sparks training that I received has informed every aspect of my teaching. As much as I thought I was listening to students, working with their strengths, and helping them. Now there is a greater joy in teaching because I can figure it out and make a difference, and that’s going to affect my students for years to come. “ Rebecca Nenner, Teacher, Hebrew Academy of Nassau County, West Hempstead
“As an administrator, I found that I’ve always known that students do well if they can but I didn’t always know how to apply it in practice. Taking the training has given me more insight into how to reach every child on a practical level so that they can do well. When students come into my office with behavioral issues, I’ve found that I am in a better place to be able to understand what happened that caused the child to have a maladaptive response.” “ Rabbi Yaakov Sebbag, Principal, United Lubavitcher Yeshiva
Meet Our Facilitators
Deanna Stecker, Hidden Sparks’ differentiated instruction consultant, is a learning specialist with over 25 years of experience working in Jewish day schools, most recently at Schechter Manhattan where she was the Coordinator of Learning Support for 15 years. Her expertise includes guiding and mentoring educators, parents and students in the implementation of differentiated instruction across all subject areas, identifying and modeling high-impact evidence-based practices, and problem-solving around learning and behavioral challenges that impact student progress and school culture. Deanna has mentored teachers through the Jewish New Teacher Project (JNTP), and helped to create an early literacy program at the National Center for Learning Disabilities. Deanna holds an MA as a Reading Specialist from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Hollis Dannaham, M.Ed., is a special education and literacy consultant, coach, mentor, and workshop facilitator for Hidden Sparks. She has been empowering complex learners for 40 years as a learning/reading specialist, special educator, administrator, and consultant in public, private, Jewish Day, and charter schools. Along with her work for Hidden Sparks, Hollis currently is the Director of Student Support Services at the Middle Way School in Saugerties, NY, and has a thriving tutoring practice. Career highlights include working as a learning specialist at the Student Success Center of All Kinds of Minds, opening the Carmel Alternative High School, and being the founding Director of Academic support at a Brooklyn charter school. Hollis’ goal is to support joyful learning for all children and joyful teaching for all teachers.
Tamar Appel, Director of Education for Hidden Sparks, is a past Associate Principal of Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls in Teaneck, NJ, having served there as a teacher and administrator for a combined 18 years. As an educational leader, she has created a culture of ongoing professional development, supportive and productive mentorship of faculty, and academic excellence. She has also served as a mentor for school leaders through Prizmah’s YOU Lead Program and for new teachers through the Jewish New Teacher Project, and has pursued her own professional growth through programs including the Summer Institute for Principals at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Tamar is passionate and confident about the potential for growth in every student, teacher and school, and she is excited to facilitate this as part of the Hidden Sparks team.
