Hidden Sparks is Pleased to Partner with REACH in Chicago
Hidden Sparks is pleased to announce its partnership with REACH, to implement the Hidden Sparks professional development programs in Chicago’s Jewish day schools. This expansion was made possible with the support of a Covenant Foundation grant. This year the program was launched in the Hanna Sacks Bais Yaakov Girls High School and the Joan Dachs Bais Yaakov, an elementary school. Additional schools are being approached for the upcoming year.
Highlights of the Hidden Sparks Professional Development and Coaching Program include monthly grade-level team meetings to learn about and discuss each student’s learning profile at each of the selected schools. During these meetings, which are led by Hidden Sparks’ trained coaches, teachers explore pathways of learning, temperament, classroom ecology and behavior to better understand the range of students. By including both the Judaic and general studies teachers, the teacher training meetings enable teachers to better meet the needs of diverse learners in a coordinated approach across all areas of the curriculum. Coaches assist teachers weekly with struggling learners in their classroom.
REACH, a collaboration of Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago (JFMC), Jewish Child and Family Services (JCFS), Associated Talmud Torah (ATT) and the Community Foundation for Jewish Education (CFJE), was founded in July of 2011 with the goal of increasing the capacity of Chicagoland Jewish Day Schools to address the varied needs of children with learning and/or behavioral difficulties. Its ultimate vision is to make it possible for every Jewish family, no matter the observance level, to be able to send their children to the school of their choice without worrying about whether or not the school can meet the child’s learning or behavioral needs.
REACH provides a continuum of services for day schools ranging from consultation and coaching for principals, teachers and parents, to direct intervention with students. REACH staff also work closely with school staff to assess the support needed by students. The Hidden Sparks model offers REACH a tested, systemic approach and curriculum to teacher training, incorporating components of learning, positive behavior supports, classroom strategies, and differentiated instruction for students with different learning styles and interests.
According to Julie Gordon, Director of REACH, “Our collaboration with Hidden Sparks will enable us to help schools improve their programs for a range of learners. As a former Hidden Sparks coach, I know from first-hand experience the impact of this program. I am particularly excited about making it available across the board to all schools. It aligns well with REACH’s vision of excellent, impactful teaching for all children.”
“We are very excited by our partnership with REACH” adds Hidden Sparks’ Executive Director, Debbie Niderberg. “As part of our strategic vision, we look for partners who share our programmatic commitment to meeting the needs of all students and capacity building approach for schools. Julie has been a valued member of Hidden Sparks since its earliest years and brings a wealth of expertise and knowledge to her work. Together with her team, with whom we have worked to launch Hidden Sparks in Chicago, we know that teachers and students will benefit from a thoughtful, substantive application, and we look forward to working together to helping even greater numbers of schools, teachers and students”.
