Meet the Chinuch Shliach
Rabbi Yossi Evers
Principal of Grades 3–5 at Oholei Torah in Crown Heights
What inspired you to go into education?
Growing up on shlichus, I wanted to continue on that same path. As I got older, it became clear to me that chinuch is my shlichus. If you look at how the Rebbe talks about the importance and greatness of chinuch, it’s clear that this is a fundamental shlichus. It may not be as glamorous or exciting as going out to a faraway place, but that doesn’t diminish its importance. Maybe that itself shows how valuable and fundamental the shlichus of chinuch is.
How do you support students’ academic excellence and emotional well-being?
The two really go hand in hand. Today, many people complain about a lack of self-confidence or self-esteem and try in all sorts of ways to remedy that. But the basic remedy for low confidence is feeling successful—and here we can see how academic success and emotional well-being go hand in hand.
Feeling successful comes in many different ways. For a young talmid, it might be knowing how to read fluently; for an older boy, it could be feeling comfortable with a piece of Gemara. I’ve seen this so many times—when a boy gets extra support in academics, many other problems begin to resolve.
Of course, if there’s a more intense case of emotional dysregulation, professionals need to be involved and make a personalized plan. But even then, learning and academic growth must be part of that plan. The bottom line is that success in one area will bring about success in other areas.
How do you create an environment where both students and teachers feel seen, supported, and motivated?
When Hashem told Moshe to appoint Yehoshua as his successor, He described him as an ish asher ruach bo—a man who has spirit in him. Rashi explains that he was able to deal with each individual person’s character.
That’s a powerful lesson in leadership. Yehoshua did this for all of Klal Yisroel, but we can learn from it on a smaller scale. Whether you’re a parent, a teacher, or an organization leader, it’s important to know the people you work with and connect to them personally. Once that relationship is there, it changes the whole environment. People feel like they belong, like they matter, and that they’re an important part of the whole.
How does the school work together with parents to ensure student success?
The Hayom Yom of 8 Adar I tells us that when the Alter Rebbe hired a melamed for his son, he didn’t just send the child to him—he created a partnership. That’s how it has to work today as well.
So I’d rephrase the question: what can both parents and the school do together to ensure success? A partnership means everyone works together.
We live in a time when communication is so easy—messages, emails, phone calls. But I’ve seen it many times: a child is struggling, the teacher doesn’t want to give bad news, the parent doesn’t want to bother the teacher, and the problem gets worse because no one communicates.
If there’s an issue, please pick up the phone. It can solve and de-escalate so much. In my experience, parents want what’s best for their child, and teachers want what’s best for their students. When both come together—and it doesn’t matter who reaches out first—that’s when real progress happens.
What is a challenge you deal with?
Oholei Torah is, Baruch Hashem, a very large school. Some people think it’s a factory where kids get lost. But we do everything in our power to know and care for every child. As a principal, it’s important for me to personally understand each child—where they’re holding academically, socially, in middos and emotions. We are in this field because we care, and we make it a point to care for every individual child. Every child is a whole world.
What is something you wish every parent would know or do?
First, going back to the earlier question—communication is so important. But it must be respectful and pleasant in order to have a positive effect. Keep conversations focused and calm—no blaming or pointing fingers. Teachers have told me that parents sometimes call them after 10 PM—please don’t do that. Others say parents keep them on the phone for over an hour. Most things can be discussed in 15–20 minutes, so please be mindful.
Also, not everything is an emergency. If it works better to talk the next day, that can be arranged. Just keep it respectful and goal-oriented, and the lines of communication will stay open.
The second is to learn with your child. Review what they’re learning in school—at least once a week, but preferably more often. Make it a pleasant experience. For example, after you review what they learned, you play a game or do something special that’s reserved just for after learning. It shows the child their importance, the value of learning, and parental care about their schooling. It keeps you informed of your child’s success, makes Torah learning enjoyable, and maintains open communication.
Third is the importance of family dinner. Sit together as a family, if not every night, then at least a few times a week. It takes planning and consistency, but the reward is huge. It’s a time when you hear things about your child’s day that you wouldn’t hear otherwise, and it shows them the strength and value of the family unit.
There are three partners in every child: the father, the mother, and Hashem. Teachers are cherished partners in the journey of chinuch, but the heart of a child’s growth begins at home. Lean on Hashem when it’s hard, and thank Hashem when it’s going well, Hashem is with you every step of the way.
This post was originally posted in the COLLIVE monthly magazine.
