Conferences and Workshops

Seattle Educators Strengthen Expertise in Building Relationships

Jewish educators from around Seattle came together to increase their ability to form meaningful relationships within the community they serve. The professional development session, entitled “The Quality of Relationships,” had more than 70 teachers brainstorming ways to improve their daily interactions with colleagues, families and, most importantly, children. Education Services sponsored the session, which was held at the Stroum JCC on November 7. It was facilitated by Diana Ganger, award-winning educational consultant.

Ganger emphasized identifying the qualities that are valued in personal relationships in order to create more fruitful professional relationships. “Practice begins at home,” she said. “You have to be in a relationship with yourself and know what that looks like so that you can build relationships with others.”

Educators eagerly generated a list of more than 30 ingredients that go into our most important relationships, with everything from effective communication to knowing when to give the other person space. Then, participants delved a little deeper with an excerpt from Gila Menolson’s Head to Heart. Ganger brought it back to creating a responsive classroom, one in which everyone feels valued and appreciated in an active, intentional manner.

Educators will take the positive energy demonstrated in the session back to our early childhood centers, day schools and supplementary schools. This professional development opportunity was the first in a series of four led by Ganger throughout this year. Future sessions will be held on February 6, April 29 and June 25.