JEIC managing director Sharon Freundel joined Tavi Koslow, chief academic officer, and Tikvah Weiner, founder and CEO of Kadima Coaching in Seattle last week. Together, they led an immersive series of professional learning experiences for 20 Jewish day school classroom educators and administrators, building on the momentum of the 2025 Innovators Retreat. The sessions focused on advancing Student-Centered Learning (SCL) and God-Centered Learning (GCL) practices, encouraging teachers to rethink classroom dynamics, and empower students in their own learning journeys. Attendees experienced an engaging blend of activities—live debates, interactive polls, chavruta learning, and Socratic seminars—designed to spark reflection, challenge assumptions, and surface new ideas for facilitating students’ developing relationships with God, for focusing on alternative assessments rather than tests, and for elevating authentic student empowerment.
In addition to Tavi and Tikvah’s SCL strategies, Sharon delved into the spiritual heart of Jewish education with sessions dedicated to “Encounters with God.” Drawing on research and insights from JEIC’s work, she guided educators in deepening their own relationships with Hashem and making God-centered learning an organic element of classroom life. Through reflective exercises, practical frameworks, and collaborative lesson design, participants explored ways to infuse their teaching with meaning, purpose, and connection—ultimately shaping students who feel both intellectually and spiritually engaged. The goal: that these educators return to their schools equipped with new tools, renewed inspiration, and concrete next steps to enrich Jewish life and learning.
Teachers left the sessions feeling energized and supported, expressing gratitude for the practical wisdom and spiritual focus. One teacher began with a powerful reflection: “Student-centered learning is like God’s relationship with us — He sets the parameters, but gives us free will to choose how to act in the world.” “Thank you for the back and forth on helping us figure out ways to connect the kids in our school to God, which may be different from other schools,” shared one teacher in the post-session survey. “Thank you for giving me ideas to incorporate God in Hebrew classes,” expressed a Hebrew teacher.