One of the great privileges of serving as a member of the JCC’s Leadership Team is the opportunity to learn from every corner of our community. And through it all, I’ve come to believe that everything I need to know to be an effective leader, I’ve learned from our own Early Childhood Development Center.
This week our early childhood educators from both Squirrel Hill and South Hills gathered for their annual in-service experience. I had the opportunity to join this amazing group of professionals in an exercise where we shared our most memorable moments from the last year and what made them so meaningful. Before too long it became very apparent that this was much more than just a walk down memory lane.
Instead, it was an intentional provocation asking us to draw upon one of the Sheva lenses which guide our work inside of early childhood and has most significantly influenced me as a professional – d’rash (reflection and curiosity). Reflection invites us to pause, consider, and grow; curiosity compels us to ask questions, seek new perspectives, and remain open to possibility. Together, they are powerful tools not only for educators and children, but also for leaders striving to cultivate healthy, inspired, and connected workplaces.
Each day, I work to embed reflection and curiosity in how I lead—by fostering a culture where colleagues feel empowered to contribute, to collaborate, and to bring their full creativity to the experiences they create for our community. It is through this collective spirit that we continue to make the JCC a place of belonging, growth, and joy. Thank you, early childhood, for taking the time this past week to invest in yourselves and your professional practice and to once again demonstrate that the principles that guide high-quality early childhood education also apply to building strong organizations and communities.
Wishing you and your families a Shabbat shalom,
Jason
