What is JEIC?

The Jewish Education Innovation Challenge is a dynamic movement that unites educators, funders and community leaders. Together, we work to spark excellence in Jewish day schools and produce students who feel deeply and irrevocably connected to Jewish identity, wisdom, purpose and spirituality.

JEIC’s offerings include: Site visits • Listening tours • Consultations • Creative convenings • Professional development • Advocacy for initiatives to reimagine and elevate Jewish education

Learn more about JEIC and how we can help you bring bold, lasting, and meaningful change in your Jewish day school.

What is JEIC’s Innovators Retreat (IR)?

The Innovators Retreat (IR) is JEIC’s annual flagship event, held in a different North American city each year. This exclusive one-and-a-half-day gathering unites educators, funders, and community leaders to explore innovative, collaborative approaches to sustainable school change.

What happens at the Innovators Retreat?

Participants connect, share ideas, and gain tools to drive meaningful impact in Jewish day schools.

 
 

Why come to the Innovators Retreat?

Watch this video to see why The Samis Foundation's Connie Kanter, Seattle Jewish Community School’s David Zimand, Seattle Hebrew Academy’s Ben Lipman, JDS Seattle’s Nance Morris Adler and so many other top Jewish educators find so much to learn and apply to their practice at JEIC's Innovators Retreat!

Atlanta IR26 FAQs

  • We plan on inviting nearby communities such as Memphis and Nashville. However, our primary focus will be the Jewish day schools in Atlanta itself.

  • Heads of school, educational leadership, Judaic Studies teachers, lay leaders, board chairs are all invited to attend IR. We also invite professional development providers, such as members of the DEEP Consortium; influencers and national thought leaders in the Jewish education field such as Prizmah staff; and long-time JEIC supporters.

  • We aim for between 100 and 125 participants. We want to keep it small for an intimate feel, to give people time to really speak with each other deeply and to network.

  • Absolutely! Each session builds on the previous one, and the experience can only be maximized if each person is fully present – in both senses of the word.

  • There is no cost to attend the retreat. Participants are responsible for their own transportation and lodging.

  • Participants network with various stakeholders in the Jewish day school ecosystem and across schools to learn from each other and increase collaborative effort. They engage in profound, authentic conversations and joint work that facilitate building trust in one another, leading to ongoing collaboration.

    Participants familiarize themselves with a shared vision for continually improving Jewish day school education through student-centered and God-centered learning and ongoing school culture change.

  • After the retreat, Judaic Studies staff from Atlanta schools will engage in JEIC-offered yearlong professional development on student-centered and God-centered learning.