Photo of Sara Smith
Dr. Sara Smith

Dr. Sara Smith is the Assistant Dean of the Graduate Center for Jewish Education. She earned her PhD from New York University and M.A. and B.A. degrees from Brandeis University.

This week, we launched our Virtual Salons. The goal of the salons is to bring students, alumni, and friends together and build community while also providing an opportunity for learning and growth. We are lucky to have alumni engaged in fantastic work and for them to teach us about their experiences and passions in the field...

In this time of physical distancing, it was very fitting that we chose our first topic to be about relationships. We know that relationships are foundational in our roles as educators and those bonds were challenged with the onset of virtual learning a few months ago. Now educators are reflecting on lessons learned and planning for the new year. While relationship building is always core to our work as educators, perhaps it is even more important now. Our alumnae, Manda Graizel (MAEd, ’11) and Julie Schimmel (MAEd, ’91), spoke about how the partnerships between educators and families enable the educational work to happen. They touched on what it means to be in relationship in good times and when tensions run high. In addition, they discussed concrete tools and strategies for improving our relationships with learners, parents, and faculty and shared examples from their own experiences.

Watch the recording here

Photo of Sara Smith
Photo of Sara Smith
Dr. Sara Smith

Dr. Sara Smith is the Assistant Dean of the Graduate Center for Jewish Education. She earned her PhD from New York University and M.A. and B.A. degrees from Brandeis University.