Award Winner
The United States Department of Education recognizes BMA as a school of academic excellence.
| Teacher of the Month |
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Teacher of the Month - April 2010  Morah Devora Berger Kindergarten Judaic Teacher Our Kindergarten classes are designed as a bridge from Early Childhood to Elementary School. The teachers have the unique task of creating a center-based learning environment where children continue to develop their skills in small group settings, yet are expected to work more independently and within a more structured time-frame. Morah Devora has developed a program that supports this transition. She has high expectations for each child and encourages each one to work towards their potential. The fundamental lessons that precede all future learning are the focus of Morah Devora’s academic program. Morah Devora brings the parsha alive through her excitement and love of Torah. Tefillah is a meaningful and personal expression of the children’s building connection to Ha-Shem. The alef-bet is taught using a variety of modalities to ensure that each child’s learning style is accommodated. In Kindergarten children create a mitzvah book as they focus on different mitzvoth throughout the year. In Morah Devora’s class, mitzvot are not simply recorded in a journal, they are an integral part of each child’s daily experience. Morah Devora seamlessly integrates lessons in middot, from the abstract to the personal and highly relevant. Each social situation serves as a learning tool to model correct and appropriate responses. Our children are so lucky to have Morah Devora as their Kindergarten Judaic teacher. She is a wonderful role model for our children and we are fortunate and proud to have her as a part of our team. Teacher of the Month - March 2010  Mrs. Yael Waxman Hebrew Language Teacher & NETA Coordinator It is my pleasure to introduce to you our Teacher in the Spotlight this month: Mrs. Yael Waxman. Hailing from the Holy Land of Israel, Mrs. Waxman found her way to South Florida in 2002. Morah Waxman began teaching at Weinbaum Yeshiva High School in Boca Raton where she distinguished herself as a master NETA teacher. Several years later, Morah Waxman joined the BMA staff and we consider ourselves very fortunate to have been able to snag this outstanding teacher for our very own. Always with a smile on her face and a warm and welcoming demeanor, Morah Waxman quickly endears herself to all who meet her. Her love for teaching Hebrew Language, both in the Middle School and the Elementary School, is evidenced in her dedication to her students. Sitting in her classroom, one can immediately recognize the skill with which she expertly weaves her lessons; she involves her students in a lively paced discourse, where each child can practice speaking Hebrew in an environment where it is safe to express ideas, without the fear of making an error. As our NETA Head Teacher, Mrs. Waxman’s experience not only benefits her class but the entire Middle School student body. As such, she works intently with her colleagues to mentor them in best practices, focusing on the needs of each individual student. She works closely with our school’s NETA consultant to bring latest research based strategies that keep students engaged and motivated while enjoying their adventure on the road to greater Hebrew proficiency. She will be continuing her NETA training with an advanced course this summer in Boston, earning her a specialized certificate in NETA Hebrew Language instruction and leadership. Morah Waxman always goes above and beyond, giving to our school with a full heart. This year Morah Waxman has again undertaken the challenge of creating a Hebrew Language newspaper of original works from students throughout the Middle School grades. The students have been working earnestly to put articles together, using technology to position texts and adding graphics, enhancing the presentation of this work. I know how proud the students will feel when this project comes to fruition, knowing that they have taken ownership of this endeavor. But of all her sterling qualities, Mrs. Waxman’s integrity is one of her greatest gifts to our school. She has a keen sense of what is right and ethical and in a refined and dignified manner holds true to her beliefs. Always soft spoken, Mrs. Waxman looks to build relationships. As a loyal friend and colleague, Mrs. Waxman’s influence is apparent. She is a treasure, both as a teacher, and a caring human being. We are blessed to have her as part of our Judaic team. Teacher of the Month - February 2010  Mrs. Judy Macken General Studies Resource Teacher The school family is sometimes likened to that of a beehive, where there are a number of worker bees working at various jobs to make the hive productive. Some of these jobs are more obvious than others. And some of them are the kinds of jobs that require by their very nature, a more subtle worker, one who can support a teacher, work one on one with a struggling reader, attend to the myriad of administrative duties that Title I requires, and on her preparation periods, works with the spelling bee participants or can even get behind the lunch counter and serve lunches when asked. There is no job in the hive that Mrs. Judy Macken will not do for the success of BMA. That is why she is the teacher ‘worker bee’ in spotlight for this month. Mrs. Macken went to Faleigh Dickerson College and received her certification in education with a focus on varying disabilities from New York State before she came to Florida and began working for Broward County and BMA. She began teaching language arts in the Middle School, and when BMA grew in population and the school needed a specialized teacher for its Resource Room, Mrs. Macken jumped at the opportunity to do what she loves to best, work with students who need a little extra assistance and personalization. It is not rare to find Mrs. Macken in Grades 3 and 4 doing math and reading, working with the spelling bee students to win another trophy for BMA, working with individual students in any subject from any grade level, going to Title I meetings to manage our obligations in order to maintain our funding, serving lunch, substituting for late or absent teachers, setting up for SAT’s, cleaning up and setting up for workshops and school events, supervising Homework Club, etc. But the special thing about Mrs. Macken is that whenever you call upon her she never says, “no”, a word that is just not in her vocabulary. She is all giving to BMA’s students and can always be called upon go that extra mile. Many times she just arrives at the very time you can use an extra pair of hands and quietly goes to the exact spot where you need help. As she works, you often see her touch a student’s shoulder for positive reinforcement, reorganize a student’s notebook without being asked, and talking with students who need someone to just listen to them. There are many kinds of bees in the beehive and each one is as important as the other. But the quietest among them are sometimes the sweetest and their nectar is of the highest quality that can be produced. Congratulations Mrs. Macken, the teacher in the Spotlight this month. We are proud and honored to have you as a part of our beehive. Teacher of the Month - January 2010  Morah Zemadar Israel Nursery 2 Teacher The children who walk into Morah Zemadar’s room are fortunate to have her as their teacher. The warm, caring environment immediately helps them to feel ‘at home’. One of the greatest testaments to Zemadar is the plethora of parent letters that she receives at the end of each school year thanking her for the care she provides, her patience, and her extraordinary commitment to helping each child learn and grow. Morah Zemadar’s room is a model class. Each area of her room is set up and maintained according to the best practices in Early Childhood Education. Morah Zemadar seamlessly integrates Torah learning and Jewish pride into every aspect of the classroom environment. Her professionalism is reflected in the excitement with which she shares the latest dramatic parsha experience or literature-based class book that was created with the children. Her success is reflected in the joyful expressions of the children as they enjoy each special day of school. The parents of Nursery 2 often marvel that Zemadar comes to work each and every day with a smile and a positive attitude, ready to spend eight hours constantly engaging, modeling, helping, facilitating and teaching twelve two-year-old children. Morah Zemadar has maintained her passion for teaching throughout her career at Brauser Maimonides Academy and has continued her own education in both Jewish and Early Childhood programs. Zemadar studied with Abe Gittelson through the Melton program to deepen her understanding of Torah learning. She then was fortunate to participate in an Educator’s Trip to Israel sponsored by Orloff-CAJE Broward Jewish Federation. Zemadar received her CDA while working at BMA and is currently working towards her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. Last year Morah Zemadar was one of two teachers from our school who participated in a yearlong Documentation Mentoring Program to assist her peers in documenting children’s work in the classroom. Morah Zemadar often brings new ideas into her classroom and works as a great team player, sharing her plans and materials with her co-workers. Morah Zemadar is always thinking about how to improve the lesson, the environment, and the children’s daily experiences in the classroom. She asks questions, tries new approaches, and refines her teaching to become the excellent Early Childhood educator who greets your children when they enter Nursery 2. One of the parents aptly described Morah Zemadar when she said: “Morah Zemadar’s sole career is not that of a teacher. She is also: a photographer, librarian, doctor, mother and father, singer, party planner, interior decorator, news reporter, comedian, dietician, confidante, psychologist, and more...” Brauser Maimonides Academy is truly fortunate to have Morah Zemadar on our staff and we are thrilled to recognize her efforts and achievements as the Teacher in the Spotlight. Teacher of the Month - October 2009  Morah Elisheva Krevsky First Grade Judaic Studies Teacher I am proud to present Morah Elisheva Krevsky as the Teacher in the Spotlight for this month. It seems hardly possible that Morah Elisheva joined our staff just six years ago as a Kindergarten teacher; she is such an integral part of our school. Hailing from our very own South Florida, Morah Elisheva, as the 1st Grade Judaic Studies teacher, provides the children with their first taste of Elementary School. And what a sweet taste it is! To walk into her class, it is instantly evident that Morah Elisheva not only loves to teach her students Torah, but also takes a personal joy in their growth, accomplishments, and excitement. Her face beams with pride and pleasure as she watches the children grow as she meticulously nurtures them along their individual paths. Morah Elisheva shares her own love for tefillah with her students through stories about tefillah. The explanations she provides for the many new tefillot that they learn, and the love and exceptional care she invests ensures that all her students read the tefillot accurately and fluently. Morah Elisheva will soon be sharing her special talents with other students in the school as she visits various classrooms to share her inspiration with them as well. Morah Elisheva’s passion for Torah continues in the summer, when she often travels to Israel to enrich her own knowledge and depth of understanding through continued education. She is a graduate of Michlalah Seminary in Jerusalem and Neve Yerushalayim. This training is evident in her teaching. She is multi-talented; in addition being a highly effective professional, she plays guitar and has extensive martial arts training. We are proud to have Morah Elisheva as a part of our BMA team, and thank her taking loving care of our youngest Elementary Students. Mrs. Nechama Sheinkopf Director of Judaic Studies |