A team of teachers from the Moriah School recently participated in a three-day professional-development session focused on developing actionable implementation plans for personalized learning. These teachers will receive ongoing support from BetterLesson coaches to refine and implement their plans throughout the 2016-17 academic year. The program is funded by The AVI CHAI Foundation in partnership with BetterLesson as a way to advance the Foundation’s goal of improving “the quality of day school education by increasing individualized data-based instruction and enabling students to develop skills and ways of thinking needed in the 21st century.”

BetterLesson’s PersonalizedPD involves a two-pronged approach: an in-person Design Studio where teachers work with coaches to develop their pilots and ongoing coaching as they implement the plan in their classrooms.

Lauren Adler, Coordinator of Instructional Technology at Moriah, stated “Our teachers have been focused on personalizing their learning so that every student feels supported and challenged at the same time in a fashion that allows them to maximize their academic potential. The coaching they receive this year will allow them to continue to build upon the success we have experienced to date.”

Participating teachers included Zeva Epstein, Lauren Grossberg, Jordana Schwartz, Batya Kinsberg, Milana Lazareva, Chaya Devora Senft and Miriam Finkelstein.

AVI CHAI Senior Program Officer Rachel Abrahams remarked on the leadership provided by BetterLesson coaches: “To a tee, they were professional, friendly and model teachers. It was a pleasure to watch them work and to watch our teachers learn from them. Most of the attendees found the experience extremely powerful and are looking forward to the coaching.”