Janet Harris

janet.harris [at] aju.edu
harris headshot

    Janet Harris was most currently the Senior Director of Family Engagement at the Jewish Community Federation. She has worked in the field of Early Childhood Jewish Education for over 40 years. During that time, Janet has worked for a central agency of Jewish Education in the East Bay, has founded both an Orthodox and Conservative Jewish preschool, and has been a Jewish community preschool Director for many years. Janet is a graduate of the Melton Program for Jewish Education in the Diaspora, a year-long fellowship program based at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. She has also been a Wexner Heritage Fellow, completed the Mandel Teacher Education Initiative, and has been a Richard Dinner Fellow at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. Ms. Harris holds California Teaching Credentials in Early Childhood Education and Parent Education.  Ms. Harris received the Diller Award for Lifetime Achievement in Jewish Education in 2023. Janet studied at Pacific Oaks College for her bachelor’s degree in Human Development and holds her master’s degree in Educational Leadership. Janet works as a parent coach, and is the proud grandparent of Ezra, Mila, Eliana and Eva.  She is a member of Congregation Netivot Shalom in Berkeley, CA.