News Highlights Hebrew College Graduate to Lead National Initiative Addressing the Shortage of Preschool Teachers
Orna Siegel, a graduate of Hebrew College’s Master of Jewish education program and the director of enrollment at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville, Maryland, will serve as the inaugural executive director of a new nationwide initiative to address the shortage of preschool teachers.
The initiative is a joint effort by the JCC Association of North America, Jewish Federations of North America, and the Union for Reform Judaism.
Orna Siegel, graduate of Hebrew College's Master of Jewish education programMy experience at Hebrew College was foundational to understanding leadership, pedagogy, and the social and spiritual learning that are vital to Jewish educational spaces. This foundation, along with my professional experience and passion for building a thriving Jewish community, have led to my next adventure as executive director of Project 412. This new, inspiring initiative works to address the critical shortage of qualified early childhood educators in Jewish settings. Investment in this area is vital because early childhood is a gateway to lifelong engagement in Jewish life and a flourishing Jewish future.