Our Work
Faculty Beit Midrash empowers educators to become thought leaders by providing opportunities for practical and collaborative learning through research, scholarship, discussion, and writing.
- Election Season at SAR High School – A conversation with Rabbi Jonathan Kroll, Principal and Dr. Rivka Press Schwartz, Associate Principal
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“On this special episode of the Grand Conversation, Rabbi Shmuel Hain hosts a discussion with Rabbi Jonathan Kroll and Dr. Rivka Press Schwartz about the upcoming presidential election. In this polarized moment, how has SAR High School tried to foster an environment where all members of our community, staff and students, can engage in political discussion with civility and respect?
Transcript Notes: Election Education: A Presidential election provides an opportunity for our students to explore important issues that affect the future of our country. While the political theater is often full of divisiveness we believe that our students can engage issues civilly and with deep respect for each other. A committee of staff members is coordinating educational programming for our students over the course of the next few months. During in-service we shared this draft of an affirmative set of principles that guide the way we as a community approach the election.”
- Ungrading: It Turns Out that Getting Rid of Grading Changes Everything (Well, A Lot)
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SAR educators, Dr. Rivka Press Schwartz, Ms. Sarah Medved, and Ms. Rebecca Glassberg, who have experimented with different forms of ungrading–removing teachers’ grading power in the classroom and making students responsible for their own learning–talk about their experiences, what brought them to ungrading, and the anticipated and unanticipated outcomes.
- Confidence Project with Rabbi Tully Harcsztark, Mr. Aaron Mitchell & Mr. David Sable
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David Sable and Aaron Mitchell join Rabbi Harcsztark to discuss The Confidence Project, a Machon Siach initiative to connect SAR students and faculty with their peers in three Bronx high schools. This follows on the relationship that SAR Academy has developed with Atmosphere Academy in Riverdale. As we began to bring SAR students together with students from Comp Sci High, The Theater and Arts Production Company School (TAPCo) and the Fannie Lou Hamer School, our teachers worked with Aaron Mitchell and David Sable to prepare our students for conversations across cultural differences. David and Aaron share their professional experiences and guidance as Rabbi Harcsztark shares his vision for this project.
