After the High Holidays, the URJ will launch a Full-time Early Education Community of Practice (FTEE CoP). The CoP model has proven to be a valuable platform for providing mutual support in areas of shared experience. Our 18-24 month CoP will provide a forum for exchange of best principles and networked learning for lay and professional congregational leaders who currently have or are considering a FTEE Program for families with children under the age of six.
Each congregation will assemble a team comprised of at least two people who are engaged with early childhood education at your congregation. This team should include a member of the professional leadership (clergy or staff) and the lay leader with primary responsibility for early childhood education in the congregation. If your congregation does not have a staff member devoted to this area of work, two lay leaders who are involved and invested in early childhood education may participate. You may eventually consider creating a slightly larger group around the CoP team, to support and advance the project within the congregation.
Participation in this CoP requires that you commit to monthly team meetings. The CoP will span 18-24 months, meeting monthly by video-conference. In addition to monthly meetings with all the congregations participating in the CoP, each congregation will also attend coaching sessions with the CoP director focusing on your individual CoP team. Team members should be available for as many of the meetings as possible. There will also be an in-person gathering held in Boston at the URJ Biennial in December, 2017.