Cohort 12

Welcome to MTEI! We will launch the twelfth national cohort of the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation’s Mandel Teacher Educator Institute (MTEI) in March 2026. Participants in this program will join a national cadre of educational leaders who share a vision of teaching and learning and who support one another in developing new models of professional development for teachers who work in a variety of settings.

The Mandel Teacher Educator Institute invites educational leaders from around the country to share an immersive experience that intertwines best practices in teacher education and professional development with Jewish texts and “big ideas.” It is a two-year program consisting of six face-to-face seminars as well as assignments and on-line discussions in between meetings.

The program challenges you to think more deeply about teaching and learning and inspires you to develop a more sophisticated understanding of Jewish content, interactive and engaging learning processes. Together with a group of distinguished faculty members, you will critically examine the core assumptions, practices, and ideas that shape our approaches to teaching and professional development.

A critical dimension of the MTEI program is designing professional development opportunities that reflect the questions and the new approaches we investigate. You will be expected to complete a number of assignments that relate to your own setting, including designing new initiatives.

Projected Schedule

The learning at the seminars builds on each other. Thus attendance at all seminars is very important.

Projected Dates for Cohort 12

  • Seminar 1: March 8-11, 2026
  • Seminar 2: June 28-July 1, 2026
  • Seminar 3: November 1-4, 2026
  • Seminar 4: February 28–March 3, 2027
  • Seminar 5: June 27-30, 2027
  • Seminar 6: November 7-10, 2027

Each seminar begins on Sunday at 3:30 pm and concludes on Wednesday at 1:30 pm. There are always sessions in the evening on Sunday, and sometimes on either Monday or Tuesday. One night is always free.

Logistical and Financial Information

In order to accommodate participants from across the country, seminars take place in the Chicago area.

Participants (their communities/ institutions) are responsible for travel expenses including air and ground transportation. The Mandel Foundation covers hotel costs including all meals except for the one free night. Meals are strictly kosher and supervised by the Chicago Rabbinical Council. Scholarships are available if travel costs are prohibitive.

For further information or questions, please contact:

Deborah Niederman
MTEI Recruitment
debbie@mtei-learning.org

Seymour Kopelowitz
Mandel Foundation Program Director
skopelowitz@mandelfoundation.org

Cohort 12 Application Instructions