ElevatEd Marks One Year of Strengthening Jewish Early Childhood Education in Seattle
Written by Ben Berman, August 5, 2025
The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle is a proud supporter of ElevatEd, a national three-year pilot initiative aimed at addressing the shortage of early childhood educators in Jewish settings. Seattle joined the initiative in August 2024 and is making a two-year investment of $150,000 in the program to strengthen Jewish early childhood education through recruitment, training, mentoring, and financial support for new and existing educators.
Over the past year, the program has made a significant impact on teachers and directors in ten Jewish preschools across the greater Seattle area. It offers tailored learning tracks for different career stages, providing valuable resources and a strong sense of community.
For new teachers, the program provides a space for growth and confidence.
“I am so appreciative of the funding for Jewish education…this has given me the opportunity to learn and I hope to pursue further education through scholarships and funding.”
Aleez Leff, Seattle Jewish Montessori teacher
Aleez Leff, a teacher at Seattle Jewish Montessori, found that the experience profoundly impacted her professional journey.
“I have gained so much confidence and knowledge that I will carry with me throughout my career,” she explained. Leff was so inspired by her learning that she now hopes to continue her education, something she previously thought was out of reach due to financial strain.
“I am so appreciative of the funding for Jewish education…this has given me the opportunity to learn and I hope to pursue further education through scholarships and funding.”
Directors of early childhood centers have also seen the tangible benefits of the program.
Edith Nuri, Director at Bellevue’s Gan Yalduti, described a challenge many schools face: teachers, especially newer ones, often lack the knowledge to confidently share Jewish traditions. Thanks to ElevatEd, her staff has been able to bridge that gap.
“My two emerging educators—one Israeli and one non-Jewish—have both learned so much through ElevatEd,” Nuri said. “The curriculum is broad and engaging enough that teachers are applying what they learn directly in our Israeli-style classrooms.”
The program also helped her realize a long-standing goal of creating a mentorship program for her teachers.
“ElevatEd trained my talented [educator] in mentorship and created a framework for regular meetings where she and her mentees share ideas and learn from each other.”
Jessie Cunningham, Director at Jennifer Rosen Meade Preschool at Temple de Hirsch Sinai, praised the program’s focus on professional development for administrators.
“I have learned so much from the director track, as far as marketing and recruitment are concerned,” she shared.
The sessions were so useful that Cunningham watched some a second time to take notes and make changes to her school’s marketing strategy. “Out of this learning I have updated our webpage and seen positive results. I am grateful for the support the ElevatEd experience has given me in my first year as a director!”
ElevatEd Seattle is building on a successful first year with a new professional development partnership with the Haring Center at the University of Washington. This year, early childhood educators will take part in a yearlong training on the Washington Pyramid Model: Social Emotional Learning (SEL) for All Children. This model equips educators with practical strategies to support children’s emotional development, build inclusive classrooms, and foster strong relationships with families. Teachers will also receive in-classroom coaching to help apply what they learn.
The series kicks off with a workshop focused on the research behind SEL, how to build a culture of friendship in the classroom, and ways to create more inclusive environments. A second cohort of new educators and mentors will also launch, continuing ElevatEd’s work to strengthen Jewish early childhood education across the region.
ElevatEd teachers from Seattle Hebrew Academy.
This vital work is a partnership between the JCC Association of North America, Jewish Federations of North America, and the Union for Reform Judaism, with funding from the Jim Joseph Foundation, Crown Family Philanthropies, and the Samuels Family Foundation, as well as local funding from the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and private donors. By investing in our educators, we are building stronger Jewish foundations for families and communities in Seattle.
Want to learn more about how Federation is supporting local early childhood educators?
Connect with Sonya Basseri, Federation’s ElevatEd & Leadership Program Manager, at sonyab@jewishinseattle.org to learn more, or reach out if you’re interested in getting involved as a substitute educator!
