How I Organized Arizona's First Jewish Day School Educator Conference
When I first floated the idea of a conference for Jewish day school educators in Arizona, the reaction was a mix of excitement and skepticism. "That sounds amazing," people would say, "but no one's ever done it here." That's exactly why it needed to happen.
The Need
Arizona's Jewish day school educators were working in silos. Teachers at one school had no connection to teachers at another, even though they were often facing the same challenges — differentiated instruction, student engagement, neurodiversity, and burnout. There was no shared space for professional growth.
It Just Took a Little Chutzpah
Organizing a conference from scratch is no small undertaking. We needed a venue, speakers, funding, and — most critically — buy-in from school administrators across the community. Every step required persistence, creativity, and what I like to call "a little bit of chutzpah."
What Made It Special
We made deliberate choices that set this conference apart:
1. Teacher-Centered Design
Every session was designed with practicing teachers in mind. No theoretical lectures disconnected from classroom reality. Every workshop offered strategies teachers could implement the next Monday morning.
2. Neurodiversity as the Central Theme
We chose neurodiversity and differentiated learning through a Jewish lens as our focus. This resonated deeply — teachers finally had language and tools for challenges they'd been navigating alone.
3. Cross-School Community Building
We intentionally mixed teachers from different schools in every session. Educators who had never met discovered shared struggles and creative solutions. The cross-pollination of ideas was electric.
4. Caring for the Whole Educator
We built in moments of rest, reflection, and personal connection. The feedback that moved me most was teachers saying they felt cared for that day, as people and professionals. That's what we were going for.
The Ripple Effect
The conference drew over 120 teachers from 10 schools. But the real impact came afterward. We launched WhatsApp communities that connected educators across schools for ongoing support. Teachers who felt isolated suddenly had colleagues to call on for lesson ideas, encouragement, and collaboration.
Lessons for Anyone Organizing Community Events
- Start with a real need — Don't create programming for its own sake. Listen to your community first.
- Build coalitions — Get key stakeholders excited early. Their enthusiasm becomes contagious.
- Focus on experience — How people *feel* matters as much as what they learn.
- Plan for what comes after — The event is just the beginning. Build structures for ongoing connection.
The conference proved something I've always believed: when you create space for educators to come together, the results exceed anything you imagined.
