Schwartz recalls 15 years of education growth
By Deborah Moon Seldner
article created on:
While declining to take credit for all the changes in Congregation Neveh Shalom's education programs during her nearly 16 years there, Barb Schwartz did have a warm glow as she talked about the burgeoning high school program, the creation and growth of the Hebrew school, the evolution of family programming and an overall shift in perceptions of Jewish education.
On July 31, Schwartz moves on from her post as Neveh Shalom's education director. Her position is being divided into two posts, which will be filled by Susan Bernstein, who becomes the new education director Aug. 8, and Roz Andronescu, who will serve as part-time high school director. Schwartz was honored at parties in May at the final sessions of Wednesday Night School and Sunday School, from which student, parent and staff comments were reported in the June 1 Jewish Review.
"Formerly, there was an attitude that Jewish education was a bitter pill you had to take," said Schwartz. "I have seen a change. Now children and parents understand the importance of Jewish identity and Jewish education, they value it and they are willing to make the huge commitment in terms of time, resources and priorities to get a Jewish education."
The increased commitment to the high school program, according to Schwartz, is due in large part to Israel scholarships and conversational Hebrew classes
She said the largest motivator has been the Teen Israel Experience. Created by the Oregon Board of Rabbis and the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, with additional funding from the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation, it provides scholarships for peer programs in Israel for students who meet strict Jewish high school attendance standards.
Some students are able to meet their high school foreign language requirements with the conversational Hebrew classes, she said. Neveh Shalom now offers Hebrew instruction from third to 12th grade, with the emphasis shifting from bar/bat mitzvah preparation to conversational Hebrew in eighth grade.
"The conversational Hebrew coupled with the Israel scholarships have motivated our kids to identify Jewishly in ways that are far more intense then we've seen in the past," said Schwartz.
Schwartz said when she joined Neveh Shalom's high school program nearly 16 years ago, only four high school students participated. Now about 75 to 80 students attend six classes for students in ninth through 12th grade and another four classes introduce seventh- and eighth-graders to Wednesday Night School.
Schwartz said Neveh Shalom introduced its afternoon Hebrew school 10 years ago. At that time, about 20 percent of Neveh Shalom's pre-b'nai mitzvah students attended a community afternoon Hebrew school.
When Neveh Shalom launched its own three-day-a-week Hebrew School (Sundays and two afternoons a week), she said they hoped to match that 20 percent figure. Instead 50 percent of Neveh Shalom's third-grade students signed up for the first year of the program.
Now, said Schwartz, 85 to 90 percent of third- through seventh-graders attend the Hebrew school, which has added a shomer Shabbat option on Saturdays.
Schwartz said the Hebrew school has benchmarks that children are required to meet before they can schedule their b'nai mitzvah date.
"That's been very motivating," she said. "Kids get very excited when they meet the benchmarks."
Bringing the family life program into the religious school was another major shift under Schwartz's tenure. Though Neveh Shalom formerly offered family programs, they were outside of school hours and not tied to the religious school program.
Schwartz said now the school offers one to two programs every year for each grade from kindergarten to 11th-grade where parents are invited to come spend the day learning with their children. From classes ranging from the sh'ma and bedtime rituals to "Driving Under the Influence of Jewish Law" for 10th graders, families come together for a shared learning experience.
The family life program has multi-faceted benefits, she said. Children see parents modeling Jewish learning, parents gain a shared base of knowledge providing a basis for home discussions and "maybe parents' knowledge is expanded too."
Schwartz said she also has been very pleased to see the growth in youth activities under the guidance of the youth activities director, whom she supervises. Naomi Leavitt is leaving that post the end of July and being replaced by David Tauber.
"I don't take credit for all of it, but the growth of our youth activities department has been a joy to watch," said Schwartz. "It benefits kids, families and the whole community because it is open to the whole community."
Three youth groups for students in third through 12th grade offer fun activities such as roller skating, rock climbing and tie-dyeing once a month. The groups also offer at least one weekend retreat a year for each age group, she said. And for the second year, Neveh Shalom offered a one-week summer camp for youth.
"To see all that programming and to be able to support it is gratifying," she said.
Another innovation during Schwartz's tenure has been the addition of a community-wide special needs class, which was developed in cooperation with TASK, the disability awareness program of Jewish Family and Child Service.
The synagogue offers a special needs class for children in kindergarten through sixth grade during its regular Sunday School hours. The class is open to any Jewish child who needs extra support to succeed in religious school.
In past years, a similar class was offered during Wednesday Night School, but no students signed up last year, said Schwartz. She said the synagogue would resume the high school class if it is needed.
"We have a wonderful special needs program," said Schwartz. "We take it for granted now."
Schwartz, who emphasized she is not retiring, said she has no firm plans for her future. But she said she is happy to have such a solid program to pass on to her successor.
"I'm really excited that Susan can come in and take a solid program and help it grow and expand and take it to higher levels of accomplishment," Schwartz said.