From finances to curriculum, the On the Mark! ICJA’s Strategic Plan for 21st Century Learning is guiding ICJA’s community to further the mission of academic excellence for all students. Consulting funding for the plan is provided by a joint grant from the Institute for University School Partnership of the Center for the Jewish Future of Yeshiva University and PEJE (Partner for Excellence in Jewish Education). ICJA is one of only a handful of day schools nationwide working on school improvement as part of this joint initiative.

Academy Students Overwhelmingly Prepared for College

The vast majority of the senior class of 2011 is prepared for college in all four areas of general studies: English, math, reading and science, according to the most recent ACT results. Sixty-two percent of Academy seniors demonstrated complete college preparedness, more than triple the state average and even more than top schools like New Trier.

Perhaps even more impressive is that only 38 percent of the students were on track for college readiness before they entered ICJA. “That so many of our seniors met these national benchmarks demonstrates the strength of our general studies program,” says Rabbi Matanky, “And all of this was achieved in addition to an outstanding Judaic studies program.”

The measurements used came from three national tests: EXPLORE, taken in eighth grade; PLAN, taken in tenth grade; and the ACT, taken in eleventh or twelfth grade. Tracking the results of these tests is part of the Strategic Plan to use research-based data to measure and improve student achievement.

The goal is to increase the percentage of college-ready seniors with each successive year.

In addition to tracking students’ achievement, the college guidance department increased the number of universities visiting ICJA in the fall by 15 in the past two years. At the same time, Rabbi Louis Fliegelman, guidance director, has personally visited over 20 schools to see campuses firsthand and to meet with admissions professionals directly. He plans to visit another 14 colleges in 2011. The goal, says Rabbi Fliegelman, is to seek schools that are appropriate for our students on every level, both academically and Jewishly. “Eighty percent of our seniors have chosen schools that meet various benchmarks of having a strong Jewish life.”

Strengthening Curriculum, Two Subjects at a Time

Each year, Academy staff and administration are committed to evaluating and enriching curriculum in two subject areas—one Judaic and one general studies. This year’s areas are tefillah and math. Rabbi David Aaron--Rosh Yeshiva of Orayta, founder of Isralight and noted author--is working with Academy staff and students to pilot a new tefillah program. The year-long lesson plan takes place during regular class time and focuses on three areas of tefillah: “HaShem 101, the Dynamics of Tefillah and the Siddur.”

Each of the three modules consists of six units, beginning with a trigger video, co-produced by Rabbi Aaron and ICJA, and following with a discussion and source materials. Rabbi Aaron visits ICJA from Israel to launch each module as well as meeting with faculty via weekly teleconferences.

Rabbi Aaron says, “This is about enjoying and elevating the tefillah experience. The first thing you have to do is know who you are and know who you are talking to.”

Tefillah has been identified in national surveys as a key indicator of successful day school experiences. The program will be available for other day schools in the future.

Faculty members of the math department are in the third year of implementing the ACT Quality Core curriculum for freshman through junior year math courses. The curriculum, developed by ACT, improves the quality and rigor of high school math courses in order to better prepare students for college. At the end of each year, students take a test administered by the ACT, so staff will know if the students are on track in college preparedness. Stephanie Pederson, math department chair, and Marlene Wasserstrom, long-time Academy teacher, spent a week at a Quality Core seminar to learn how to implement the new curriculum. The curriculum, says Mrs. Pederson, teaches students to internalize the material as opposed to just memorizing formulas for a test. Lessons build on each other so that students realize that certain concepts are fundamental to mathematics and can appear on future exams. “This year I’ve really seen a shift from just teaching the kids algorithms to saying, ‘Here’s the math, let’s think about it, discuss and understand it.’ We’re fostering thinking as opposed to just memorizing.”

In accordance with the Strategic Plan, ICJA faculty plan to focus on Tanach and science for next year’s curriculum, in addition to continuing with the tefillah and math programs.

Academy Showcased as ‘Model School’ at National Assembly

ICJA was showcased as a model of school-based strategic planning at the Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education (PEJE) biennial assembly in Baltimore. More than 1000 lay leaders and heads of Jewish day schools attended the assembly geared toward ensuring the future of Jewish education and focusing on finances and program quality. Rabbi Matanky, Deva Zwelling, director of development, and two ICJA board members all attended the conference and presented the session on strategic planning.

The ICJA presentation was the second time in two assemblies that ICJA representatives were asked to lead a session. The group, which included Michelle Friedman, immediate past board president, and Kevin Kirshenbaum, Strategic Planning chair, worked as a team to highlight ICJA’s strategic plan process. Facilitating the session was Dr. Harry Bloom, the director of planning and performance improvement for Yeshiva University’s Institute for University-School Partnership, who has worked closely with the Academy on the Strategic Plan.

More than 80 people attended the session, which focused on the advantages and challenges of implementing a school-based strategic plan. “We were honored to be showcased as a model school at the PEJE conference and thrilled that so many other school representatives were interested in what we are trying to accomplish with our Strategic Plan,” says Rabbi Matanky.

In addition to presenting a session, the ICJA representatives all participated in several educational sessions at the PEJE conference, benefiting from the wealth of knowledge available for growing and improving a school. “It is inspiring and motivating to be at a conference with 1200 heads of schools and leaders of day schools from across North America, and it is invigorating to be part of a conference with so many others who share our passion for the future of Jewish education,” said Michelle Friedman.

In February Rabbi Matanky also presented at the North American Jewish Day School Conference in Los Angeles on “Using Strategic Planning to Improve Student Achievement.”