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August 9, 2002/Elul 1 5762, Vol. 54, No. 47
Pardes teacher recognized
JESSICA BARBER
Editorial Assistant
Forty-four Jewish educators across the nation were recently recognized for their dedication and commitment to integrating Jewish culture and values into the lives of religious school children. Among them is Pardes Jewish Day School kindergarten teacher Gayle Feldman, the only local recipient of the third annual Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish Education. The recognition includes a $1,000 cash award as well as a $1,500 stipend, presented to the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Phoenix, for Feldman's professional development. In addition to the cash awards, Feldman will also be invited to attend the General Assembly of the United Jewish Communities, including a reception and professional development seminar, Nov. 20-22 in Philadelphia. The award includes airfare and hotel accommodations.
The Harold Grinspoon Foundation and Jewish Life Network, in partnership with the Jewish Education Service of North America, presents the award.
"When I was nominated (for the award), it was very nice," says Feldman. "But boy, when I got the letter (listing the awards), it was really nice."
Feldman, a three-year veteran of Pardes, has been involved in Jewish education for the majority of her 25 years as an educator. Throughout her career, Feldman has sought unique ways to integrate academic skills with Jewish values.
"In addition to teaching children the curriculum and what they need academically," says Feldman, "I think it's my job as a Jewish educator to integrate our Judaism, the values that Jewish people live by, and our heritage and traditions."
Feldman accomplishes her integration goals by using traditional Jewish holidays and cultural practices as foundations for math, reading, writing and science skills.
"In math we integrate our money unit into our tzedakah coins each week to sort, graph, compare and count the value of money," explains Feldman. "We turn science into discovering the changes of tadpoles into frogs just in time for Passover, and reading and phonics can be blended into reading and writing our own stories about Shabbat and holidays."
Problem-solving and social skills are also blended with Jewish aspects, explains Feldman.
"When our class has problems, like someone cutting in line, I like to have a talk about how we're a class, a family, a mishpacha," says Feldman. "Every time a student does something nice, I like to celebrate it."
Feldman hopes to attend seminars or events that will provide information to share with others.
"Hopefully (the knowledge) will expand to other people and I can pass it on to other teachers," says Feldman. "That's how I grew. I grew due to a lot of good role modeling and a lot of wonderful people and teachers."
Feldman and her husband, Ira, reside in Scottsdale. The couple has three adult sons, Blair, Eric and Adam. The family belongs to Temple Beth Israel.
In addition, Feldman is a lifetime member of Hadassah and is co-president of Gesher Hadassah, a local chapter. She is also a member of the Tri-City Jewish Community Center.
Feldman hopes to continue her quest of finding new and unique ways to combine Judaism with academics.
"My aspiration as a Jewish educator is to continuously find more ways to integrate each phase of a child's academic, social, physical and emotional development with a love and pride of Judaism," says Feldman.
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