Professional Development That Nurtures Educators

June 13, 2024

By:

Amanda Phillips

20231212_173534

Article Credit: Originally published on the Makom Community website April 4, 2024

The Mishnah tells a story about Rabbi Nehunyah ben HaKanah. It shares that he offered a brief prayer when he entered the Beit Midrash (House of Study) and again when he left. When he entered, he prayed that no mishap would happen because of him, and when he left, he offered thanksgiving (Mishnah Berakhot 4:2).

Two years ago, I started my journey in Cohort 10 of the Mandel Teacher Educator Institute (MTEI). During that time, I traveled to Chicago for 6 Professional Development seminars. Similar to Rabbi Nehunyah, before each seminar, I would pray that I completed all the necessary tasks in my personal and professional lives so that those I was leaving behind felt supported and that nothing too crazy happened because of my absence. And, upon my return, I would offer thanks; gratitude to the remarkable faculty at MTEI, gratitude to my colleagues for supporting my ongoing learning and days away from our lab school at Makom Community, and gratitude to my family for the few days I was away (as well as to Chicago for some delicious deep dish pizza).

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