Who We Are
Mission
Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism (ECE-RJ) is committed to serving early childhood educators and leaders in congregational settings. We believe in elevating the professional self of our members through education, networking, and collaboration. We believe that the work of ECE-RJ increases the status and visibility of our profession and our schools within Jewish communal life, ensuring the continuity of thriving, high-quality Jewish Early Childhood programs.
Vision
ECE-RJ will be seen as a key player and influencer in the Jewish Early Childhood Education sphere. ECE-RJ and its members will be recognized as experts, leaders, and advocates of change by all who collaborate with and support Jewish early childhood education. As a mission-driven organization that is strong, stable, vibrant, and enduring, ECE-RJ will have financial stability, an ongoing leadership pipeline, an engaged membership, and clear internal and external communications.
Benefits of Membership
ECE-RJ is a network of dedicated, supportive, and passionate professionals who understand the unique challenges and rewards of working in Jewish early childhood education.
Reform Pension Board
Retirement Plan and Benefits
Preparing for retirement is crucial to your financial well-being. That's why ECE-RJ provides a retirement plan and other benefits through RPB, the Reform Movement's retirement plan provider for more than 75 years.
RPB offers a 403(b) retirement plan, a deferred compensation plan for additional retirement savings, retirement contribution insurance, as well as long-term disability insurance and life insurance to protect your family's financial stability. And, if you change employers within the movement, your RPB account stays with you, providing you with a lifelong retirement plan.
Any ECE-RJ member who works at a URJ affiliated organization is eligible to participate in RPB's retirement plan. Start planning for your future today! Enroll or learn more at rpb.org or call RPB at (212) 681-1818 x228. Be sure to indicate ECE-RJ as your primary affiliation when you enroll.
E-Newsletter: Unite
Each month members receive UNITE, an easy and quick-to-read newsletter that provides practical information. Each edition contains three articles, each one written for a specific audience: teachers, directors, and supporters of ECE programs. It also contains information on member opportunities and events.
Reform Pension Board
ECE-RJ offers a private forum for Directors/Assistant Directors and a separate private forum for Teachers. The Forums allow members to network with other professionals as they ask questions, share knowledge, gather information and resources, and support one another. All Director/Assistant Director and Teacher members of ECE-RJ are automatically enrolled in their respective forum based on membership status, and can immediately begin conversations with colleagues throughout North America.
Monthly Meet Up Calls
Monthly Meet Ups are conference calls hosted by ECE-RJ Members with designated topics of interest to our members. Each session is one hour in length. Calls will include rich discussions about the topic at hand. All you have to do is dial in!
Professional Development
ECE-RJ plans and hosts an annual learning opportunity for educators. Opportunities for meaningful professional networking, mentoring and personal growth are complimented by trips to local venues along with many opportunities for fun and free time all of which are built in to the learning experience. We offer two formats in alternating years as follows:
National Conference
Held in odd numbered years in designated cities with multiple URJ synogogue based early childhood centers, conferences provide opportunities for local and North American educators of all affiliations to come together to study and collaborate. A cutting edge topic is chosen as the theme and learning is enhanced through a prominent keynote speaker, special guests, and a variety of workshops. Conference attendees have numerous opportunities to network, strengthen partnerships, classroom and school management skills, specific teaching strategies, spiritual growth and Judaic knowledge.
Intensive Kallah
Held in even numbered years, a kallah is a more intimate learning experience hosted in an exciting venue. A Scholar-in-Residence leads this smaller community of learners. Attendees explore the kallah theme on a deep and meaningful level in this supportive setting. Guest speakers facilitate additional exploration of the kallah theme as well as opportunities for meaningful application.
Private Teacher Facebook Group
All teacher members of ECE-RJ are invited to join our private Facebook page, just for teacher conversations. This is a platform where teachers can share ideas, pose and answer questions, share successes and challenges, post interesting articles or curriculum ideas and engage with colleagues throughout the country. Teachers can join the conversation themselves by going to here.
ECE-RJ Facebook Page
All members of ECE-RJ are invited to visit and ‘like’ the Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism Facebook page. This is a platform where we share current information, articles and information related to early childhood, early engagement. We encourage our members to share articles and photos to share current perspectives and highlight the wonderful programming goining on at our schools.
Reduced ARJE Membership Rate
Early Childhood Directors who are full dues paying members of ECE-RJ and whose primary job responsibility is early childhood and family engagement may join ARJE (formerly NATE) at a reduced complimentary rate. Visit www.natenet.org for more membership information.
Postings of National Job Opportunities
As a service to our membership and their supporting congregations, ECE-RJ is proud to share job openings in Early Childhood Centers supported by a Reform Congregation. Postings and pertinent information related to the position are made available via our email Discussion List as well as in ECE-RJ’s site on The Tent.
URJ Knowledge Network Access
(The Tent/Yammer)
ECE-RJ is proud to be part of THE TENT, the Reform Movemet's digital community, uniting 7000 lay and professional leaders from across North America. ECE-RJ's uniuqe site on the Tent unites early childhood professionals via discussion boards and a searchable resource library. All conversations on the ECE-RJ site are private.
National Referrals for Relocating Staff and Families
ECE-RJ helps your staff and families who are relocating. It is a tremendous benefit to have high qualified staff members as well as engaged families within our network of programs. Through ECE-RJ, you can help your staff members who are moving find a new position and you can assist families find exceptional early childhood program in their new city or town. Relocation announcements are made via our email Discussion List as well as in ECE-RJ’s site on The Tent.
