MILTON Educator Jill Stepak Awarded Kohelet Prize for Excellence in Jewish Education
March 7, 2019 by
We are thrilled to announce that MILTON Educator Jill Stepak has been awarded the Kohelet Prize for Excellence in Jewish Education. The MILTON Art Specialist was recognized for her work in the category of Differentiated Learning and is to receive the $36,000 Kohelet Prize.
The Kohelet Foundation selected Stepak’s entry of Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB) among myriad entries by educators who are creating and implementing innovative and effective means of differentiating instruction for a diverse student body. TAB is a choice-based art education approach that is grounded in the interests and ideas of students. The program fosters experimentation, creative development, intellectual and creative risk-taking and authenticity. Learn more about TAB at MILTON. Head of School Naomi Reem noted that “The TAB art curriculum is aligned with the rest of the school’s philosophy. At MILTON, faculty members embrace each child and guide them to stretch and grow as learners and unique individuals. We engage students’ curiosity and make learning meaningful, experiential, and enduring across all grades – in our classrooms, Science Labs, Design Lab, and studios.”
This is the third year in a row that MILTON educators have been recognized by the Kohelet Prize for Progressive Education. In 2017, two teams of MILTON educators received the Kohelet Prize: the Kindergarten teaching team won for the South Campus Community Library, and a team of Elementary School teachers won for Election Project: Kids’ Voices Count. In 2018, the Kindergarten teachers also received an Honorable Mention in the category of Learning Environment for their in-depth, multi-disciplinary project to create the South Campus Community Theater project. Now in its third year, the Kohelet Prize was created to celebrate extraordinary accomplishment, stimulate breakthroughs and enrich the field of Jewish day school education.
Kol Hakavod to Jill on this honor and a heartfelt thank you to all our amazing educators!
