New Jersey Jewish schools have a new advocate at work for them. Josh Caplan, a long-time resident of Edison, has joined the Orthodox Union’s Teach NJS as the New Jersey director. With a background in Jewish education administration, advocacy and media, Caplan brings all his experience to bear in his new role.
Teach NJS is focused on increasing state funding for nonpublic schools through community outreach and advocacy in Trenton. Caplan joins a team of lobbyists, lay leaders, partner schools and other activists who are working to increase security funding, nursing aid and technology grants for nonpublic schools, including Jewish day schools and yeshivas.
Caplan has been involved in political advocacy throughout his career, most recently as the director of development and community outreach for Manhattan Day School, where he was responsible for the school’s political outreach and advocacy.
Caplan previously worked as an advertising sales executive in the cable television industry, where he handled political advertising sales, and was the primary liaison for local elected officials, both state and federal. He received his bachelor’s degree from Yeshiva University and holds an advanced certificate in Jewish philanthropy from YU’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work.
At Teach NJS, Caplan will spend his time meeting with parents, lay leaders and school administrators, and introducing members of the legislature to the schools, parents and students they represent. Most recently, he and his team brought U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) to Yavneh Academy in Paramus and Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle (LD 37) to the Moriah School in Englewood.
Caplan is also working to expand the coalition of nonpublic school supporters, bringing different communities, religions and denominations together. He recently joined the New Jersey Nonpublic School Advisory Committee, a division of the New Jersey Department of Education.
Teach NJS urges members of the New Jersey Jewish community to get involved and become advocates for fairness in education funding. Interested individuals can contact Caplan at [email protected].
