Philadelphia Hebrew Public approved by School Reform Commission

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For immediate release

May 24, 2018

Philadelphia Hebrew Public approved by School Reform Commission
New charter school in East Falls set to open to students August 26, 2019

Philadelphia, PA – In tonight’s meeting of the School Reform Commission (SRC), the majority of members present voted to approve with conditions the charter of Philadelphia Hebrew Public Charter School. Hebrew Public currently operates three nonprofit public charter schools in New York and supports an affiliated network of schools across the country. At a time of persistent racial and economic isolation in our nation’s schools, Hebrew Public is a leading network in the emerging movement of “diverse-by-design” charter schools: schools that are intentionally designed to be racially and economically diverse, and to help reduce patterns of racial and economic isolation in America’s public schools.

“We have a national model of success that we are excited to bring to Philadelphia,” said President and CEO Jon Rosenberg. “We are educating a cohort of global citizens through our diverse student body and rigorous curriculum. Hebrew Public has seen these values across Philadelphia which is echoed in out outpour of support. We have been working in a multitude of neighborhoods and are looking forward to this vision becoming a reality next Fall.”

Philadelphia Hebrew Public Charter School’s mission is to inspire and prepare its diverse student body for advanced studies through a rigorous K-8 curriculum, instruction in Modern Hebrew, and the integration of global citizenship competencies. Ultimately, the school aims to  serve as a model of how meaningful integration in public schools can boost academic outcomes and positively develop student skills and values. Students will emerge as highly educated, globally aware, ethical citizens who are prepared with a foundation for success in high school, college, the workplace, and society.

The application received extensive support from community organizations, potential partners, politicians, preschool centers, and interested families including more pre-enrollment forms than there are spots available in the opening year. The school will open in in August 2019 serving 156 students in grades K-1 in its inaugural year and expand to 702 students in grades K-8 by 2026-27.

For those looking for more information on the school and pre-enrollment are encouraged to visit http://philadelphiahebrewpublic.org.

From the President: Philadelphia Hebrew Public Charter School Application

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To: Philadelphia School Reform Commission
From: Jon Rosenberg, Hebrew Public CEO
Subject: Philadelphia Hebrew Public Charter School Application
Date: May 17, 2018

On behalf of the whole Philadelphia Hebrew Public team, I’d like to thank the SRC for your consideration of our application to open a new school in 2019. We were pleased and grateful to have received such a positive Evaluation Report from the Charter Schools Office. We took feedback from the Charter Schools Office and SRC adjudication very seriously, and we strongly believe that the revised application addressing each note from evaluators demonstrates our commitment to Philadelphia.

We are confident that we have met the requirements of the Charter School Law relating to new school proposals. Further, we have met each of the criteria put forth in the charter school application guidelines: including complying with the Charter School Law, demonstrating our capacity and capabilites to provide a comprehensive learning experience to all students, demonstrating sustainable community support, and serving as a model for innovation as Philadelphia’s first diverse-by-design charter school.

We appreciate the Charter Schools Office’s prompt revision of the Evaluation Report, so that it now acknowledges that our application fully meets state curriculum standards. The report noted some concern about the appeal of Modern Hebrew to families in Philadelphia. We think this concern is unwarranted, given the overwhelming demonstrated interest from parents, including more intent to enroll forms than there are spots for eligible families in our opening years. Further, we continue to receive intent to enroll forms each day, including a dozen more from eligible families since our revised application submission. These families represent diverse communities and are all interested in our model of Modern Hebrew and global citizenship.

Twenty-five elected officials, community organizations, churches, program partners, and preschool programs submitted letters detailing their support of our model, intent to partner with us, and request for the SRC to approve our school. Among this group are Representatives Donna Bullock and Jared Solomon, both of whose nearby and diverse communities we would serve. Teachers, parents, and center directors at KenCrest early childhood education centers expressed deep support for the school, particularly given the diverse crosssection of families enrolled in their HeadStart and PreK Counts programs.

I come from New York City, one of the most segregated cities in the US.  Despite that segregation, Hebrew Public has created 3 schools there that are among the most racially and economically integrated in the City.  Philadelphia is a great city that nonetheless suffers from its own severe segregation.  We urge you to approve our creation of a diverse and integrated school here.  This map shows both the extreme segregation in the city’s neighborhoods and the diversity of communities from which Philadlephia Hebrew Public would draw students.  If approved to open, we will create a school to make Philadelphia proud, one that will bring together teachers, students, and families from a wide array of backgrounds, and that will forge a community of shared values of empathy, cross-cultural communication, caring, and excellence.

Thank you.

Jon Rosenberg

 Jon E-Signature

Hebrew Public Announces New Advisory Committee for Israel Studies

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For Immediate Release

May 10, 2018

Hebrew Public Announces New Advisory Committee for Israel Studies
Council to provide guidance on teaching students about Israel

New York – Hebrew Public, the network of 10 racially and economically diverse public charter schools, will launch a new advisory council for its Israel Studies program.  

Hebrew Public’s newly expanded Israel Studies program is part of its broader global citizenship program, which also includes the study of Modern Hebrew. Students study Israel in a comparative context with the US and other countries, which helps them gain an understanding of their own country’s history, institutions and environment.

The new council, comprised of seven members from various expert backgrounds, will help guide the organization as it expands to serve an increasing number of middle school students. It will offer strategic guidance on Israel Studies and Israel-related experiences to both the network schools in New York City and Hebrew Public’s affiliate schools across the country.

Some features of the Israel Studies program that the council will support include: the history and culture of Israel; the diversity among its peoples; Israel’s geography and resources; and the array of complex issues that the Israeli society faces. The council will also help advise on the Capstone Israel Trip curriculum.

Jon Rosenberg, president and CEO of Hebrew Public, said the council will help strengthen the program so that students explore Israel through an intercultural lens by reflecting on their own perspectives as Americans.

“The group that we have assembled is truly exemplary in their individual and combined expertise. They are knowledgeable in training teachers to address complex subjects and in deepening students’ historical understanding and critical thinking,” Rosenberg said. “We look forward to leveraging their knowledge and experience to deliver world class Israel educational experiences for our growing community of young scholars.”

Hebrew Public is leading a national movement of exceptional, diverse public charter schools that teach Modern Hebrew to children of all backgrounds and prepare them to be successful global citizens. The network includes schools in Brooklyn, Harlem, New Jersey, Washington, DC, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis. The network’s schools provide a robust academic program, that immerse students in the Modern Hebrew language, teaches about the history and culture of Israel, its diverse religious, ethnic, and linguistic communities and emphasizes students’ commitments to each other, to their communities, and to the world.

 

Hebrew Public Welcomes New Chief Talent Officer

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KimWe are excited to announce that Kim Kassnove has joined our team as Chief Talent Officer, leading our new Talent department.

Kim began her career in education as a member of the New York City Teaching Fellows. After spending time in the classroom as a middle school language arts and theater teacher, she worked for non-profit Roads to Success. While there, she supported program implementation and design and led the training and support of individuals facilitating the curriculum in classrooms in New York City, West Virginia, and New York. Roads to Success evolved to become an after school program provider, and Kim then became Program Director. She later developed the organization’s first Workforce Development Initiative wherein the Roads to Success youth development workers were trained in 21st century skill development.

Prior to joining Hebrew Public, Kim worked for New Classrooms as the Director of Growth and Expansion. In this role, she supported schools and districts to transform their classrooms into personalized learning environments.  Kim also worked for Newark Public Schools as the Executive Director of Staffing and Recruitment and led that team from 2013-2016.

“I am thrilled to be leading the talent department and to ensure that Hebrew Public’s mission is supported by a robust, inclusive and inspiring talent practice, Kim said. “I look forward to supporting the network to find, grow and retain teachers and leaders with diverse backgrounds who agree that school should be immersive, joyful and transformative.”

Kim has a master’s degree in education from Pace University and a bachelor’s degree in theater from Tufts University.  She lives in New Jersey with her husband, two kids and their cat.