JEIC partners Rabbi Mitch Malkus (head of school at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School) and Lianne Heller (executive director of Sulam) were recently published in eJewish Philanthropy.
Their co-authored article, “Designing exceptional learning for all students: A collaborative approach,” maintains, “Research has shown that when students have agency in their own learning they become independent, resourceful, and motivated lifelong learners and critical thinkers who ultimately become expert citizens.”
This question went through my mind more times than I can count when sitting in meetings with faculty and staff, or having a conversation with a parent. Time and time again, the frustration of not being able to help others see my perspective as head of school was difficult to hide. It took me a while and some hard-to-take feedback to finally realize that it wasn’t just me asking that question – everyone in the room was thinking the same about me: how can I make her understand?
It seems so obvious, but it is not obvious at all. That’s the reason why so many books and articles about leadership, emotional intelligence, and about having difficult conversations are piling up in all our inboxes, nightstands, and e-readers.
How do we focus on understanding others, who are our partners in the difficult discussions in school life?
High-impact Jewish communities can only make effective change if we address challenges, pursue opportunities, and partner with others. Partnership with Purpose (PWP) builds diverse networks that revolve around shared visions and values and span across a variety of community purposes. We nurture the partnerships and relationships, understanding that every decision and collaboration must first start from a place of mutual trust. Success results in strengthening our community, schools, and institutions by being fiscally responsible, reducing overhead costs, sharing resources, and encouraging cross-pollination among our organizations.
The PWP model is built on trust of organizational leadership. There are, unfortunately, those who prefer to use the term “coopetition” meaning cooperation while being competitive. This mentality is destructive to community building and goes against the values of Partnership with Purpose. It fosters a sense of distrust and skepticism rather than building relationships anchored in our growth as a whole community.
