Please introduce yourself-
I live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with my wife Ilana and seven children. I am currently a second-grade Rebbi in Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh.
How many years have you been in Chinuch?
I have been a Rebbi for 18 years. My first teaching job was in Lubavitch Yeshiva Ocean Parkway, and the following year I taught at Yeshiva Darchai Menachem in Crown Heights. The past 16 years I have been a second and eighth grade Rebbi in Pittsburgh.
What was your most inspiring moment as a mechanech?
Seeing the lifelong effects your teaching has on your students is inspiring. For example, when a former student shares that something he learned in my class has stuck with them, or an experience they had in class or on a field trip that remains a core memory of theirs. I have also been zoche to have a number of my students become colleagues of mine as they entered chinuch as well, and have expressed to me that they try to bring some of my teaching techniques to their classroom.
What is a struggle that you have in Chinuch?
I struggle when I have a student who needs more than I am able to provide for him. In an ideal world, there would be endless resources to guarantee that every student maximizes their potential in a school setting.
Is there someone or something that motivates you to stay in Chinuch?
The unbelievable paycheck… In all seriousness, my motivation has always been that Hashem has given me the ability to engage a classroom full of children in an educational way. When I see, daily, how many people appreciate what I bring to the classroom, there is nothing more motivating than that.
Is there anything you would like to share with potential mechanchim?
- Go for it! There is no more impactful and meaningful career that you can go into!
- Nobody is perfect at any job in the first few years they do it. Just commit to learning from your mistakes and those unpleasant experiences will happen less and less. Guaranteed!
- Be flexible! Never get stuck in one method of teaching. You’re dealing with humans, and the humans you’re dealing with need you to be flexible.
- Always greet your students with a smile. Telling a joke can do wonders too. Create an environment where your students are comfortable, and when they are comfortable they are open to learning.
