Honoring America’s 250th: Exploring Day School Students’ American Jewish Identity and Civic Engagement
This initiative, co-created by Civic Spirit and the The Jewish Education Project, aligns with the national semi-quincentennial commemoration in 2026, offering Jewish schools a unique opportunity to reflect on the American Jewish experience and reimagine civic belonging for the next generation of students.
Through this cohort, day school educators will explore how to meaningfully cultivate a strong, thoughtful American Jewish identity among their middle and high school students. Workshop leaders will share practical, pedagogical tools that can be used in the classroom.
This multi-phase program will include educator convenings and in-school follow-up support, and will set teachers up to facilitate a student Yom Iyun in their own school at the end of May. Dates and times for the in-school follow up and Yom Iyun will be coordinated with schools.
We encourage humanities and Judaic Studies teachers, student-life professionals, and administrators to apply.
Questions? Reach out to Gary Pretsfelder gpretsfelder@jewishedproject.org
- Day Schools and Yeshivas
Gary Pretsfelder is Senior Manager, Professional Learning and Growth at the Jewish Education Project in New York, where he consults with, and coordinates professional development for, Yeshivot and Day School educators in the New York area in support of educational and cultural change in their schools. Gary is a former long-time, day school Principal and teacher in New York who built communities that put students and active learning at the center.
Audi Hecht is a civic education specialist with deep experience in curriculum design, professional development, and educational leadership. She brings a rich background in Judaic Studies, American History, and American Government to her work. As Senior Director of Education and Innovation at Civic Spirit, she partners with schools nationwide to strengthen civic learning and support strong instructional practice. Previously, she served as Dean of Academics at Torah Academy of Bergen County, directed the Philosophy, Politics & Economics program at the Frisch School in partnership with the Tikvah Fund, chaired the History Department at Yeshiva University High School for Girls, and taught at the College of New Rochelle. Audi holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Political Science and is a doctoral candidate at the Azrieli Graduate School of Education.
Yael Steiner serves as the Sr. Director of Programs at Civic Spirit, leading experiential civic learning opportunities for students and public programs. Previously, she worked at Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools and RAVSAK, running leadership development, community engagement, and educational programs for Jewish day school leaders, teachers, and students. She has also taught at SAR Academy and Beit Rabban Day School. Yael earned a BA and social studies teaching certification from the University of Michigan and a dual MA in Education and Jewish Studies from NYU, where she studied as a Jim Joseph and Wexner-Davidson graduate fellow. She lives in New Jersey with her family.
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