It’s not surprising that careers are becoming more focused in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). According to Edutopia, 80 percent of the fastest growing careers in the United States require employees to have some form of STEM education. The U.S. Department of Commerce has reported that over the past ten years, STEM jobs have grown three times as rapidly as non-STEM jobs. The same study has also reported employees in STEM careers earn 26 percent more than those who are in other careers.
To ensure that our children and the next generation are job secure and have equal opportunities for their future success, it’s important that we invest in STEM education. STEM programs inspire children, boost creativity, and work to create the next generation of innovative thinkers and makers.
Exposing children to STEM education sparks interest in science and technology that could lead to life-changing inventions or discoveries. Not only is it important for children to understand STEM to function in the world, but also to improve society for the better.
Providing a cutting-edge education in STEM has become more and more challenging, as the national teacher shortage reaches a crisis point. Our schools are not immune to that. Finding qualified STEM teachers at an affordable rate has become close to impossible.
This is where Teach NYS comes in. Its mission: to make safe, affordable, quality Jewish education a reality. Since its inception in 2013, Teach NYS and thousands of parents and students have been working in tandem with bipartisan policymakers each year to ensure that Jewish day schools and its students receive government funding and resources—including access to highly qualified STEM teachers.
“Since Teach NYS’ founding in 2013, state funding for nonpublic schools has risen an astounding 105%,” noted Ronit Tarshish, regional field director of Teach NYS. “These increases reflect not only growth in the existing nonpublic school programs, but also the creation of entirely new funding programs for security and STEM teachers.”
Consider the recent Babka Bake, which Ronit helped orchestrate to perfection. They came, they baked, they ignited our community with fervor and fierce determination—150 strong—coming together in a show of unity that was nothing less than inspiring. Representing each of the ten yeshivas, Bais Yaakovs, and day schools attended by their children, the women had convened for an entertaining, elucidating, and enjoyable event at TAG. Featuring a celebrated master babka baker, the takeaways were both delicious and eye-opening, heightening communal awareness regarding the importance of advocating for government funding and its impact on our children’s future.
“This event is school-based because that is the heart of the mission of Teach NYS—to create stronger, safer, and more affordable schools,” said Ronit as she welcomed the guests. “Teach NYS was started by our schools and today we have over 100 schools in our coalition from Far Rockaway to Brooklyn, Queens to Westchester, yeshivas to Bais Yaakovs, Modern Orthodox, Litvish to Sefardi—talk about unity!
“I personally spent my entire life in schools—first as a teacher for a decade and a half at Bais Yaakov of Boro Park, then as a school psychologist there, and then as a General Studies director, before coming to Teach NYS as a regional field director, and in every case I saw clearly ‘Im ain kemach ain Torah’—you can have vision and manpower—but teachers need supplies, guidance counselors need materials, administrators need to pay teachers and meet all their budgetary items, and most importantly, parents need to be able to afford tuition. But there were no practical solutions for too long for schools to get the funding they so desperately need, to try and alleviate the tuition burden on already overstretched parents.”
Teach NYS arose to address this. It is the only advocacy group exclusively dedicated to the affordability and sustainability of Jewish education through government funding and resources. To advocate for equitable government funding for our schools. To help our schools obtain the most government funding available today, and to push for more and more funding in the future.
They created brand new programs on the state level, like state-funded security programs because security funding for our schools never existed until Teach NYS, as well as their incredible funding program for STEM teachers. This program reimburses the salaries of qualified STEM teachers, saving the schools millions of dollars in salaries.
“The funding that we receive from the work of Teach NYS is invaluable in helping us provide the highest quality education for our students,” said Baruch Polatoff, executive director, Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam. “We appreciate that Teach NYS never stops advocating for our schools.”
“As a teacher, I’m personally grateful that Teach NYS helps our school receive important funding that enables our yeshivos to create facilities that promote learning and discovery,” shared Mrs. Elisheva Zicherman, general studies teacher, Yeshiva of South Shore. “We wouldn’t have our amazing robotics lab without the STEM funding Teach NYS helped us obtain.”
“I love being involved with Teach NYS because there are so many tangible things that they’re working on to help all our schools,” said Chayale Gorlin, a Darchei/TAG parent, who is actively involved with Teach NYS. “I was proud to be a hostess at the Babka Bake because it’s important to show our appreciation and support them because they support our schools and community.”
The enthusiasm elicited at the Babka Bake was infectious; however, maintaining the momentum is imperative to secure increased and continuing government funding for top-tier teachers and education for our children. With Hashem’s help, this can only be accomplished with your active involvement. Our children are precious, and we must ensure their future and that of the generations to come. We dare not sit back and be complacent.
“We must stand up and join together to advocate for ourselves, because no one else will do this for us,” Ronit opined. “We need to advocate for ourselves and our children because your support matters. Meet with legislators, host meetings in your home to spread awareness, join a legislative tour organized by Teach NYS at your school. Come to Albany with us on a mission. Become involved today with Teach NYS because your support matters. Whether as a donor, do-er, or door opener, you can help us realize our vision of a stronger, safer, higher quality education for the children of our community.”
Please get involved! For further information, please contact information@teachcoalition.org or teachcoalition.org/join.
Rochelle Maruch Miller is a contributing editor for the Five Towns Jewish Times. She is a journalist, creative media consultant, lecturer, and educator, and writes for magazines, newspapers, websites, and private clients. She welcomes your comments at Rochellemiller04@aol.com. Read more of Rochelle Miller’s articles at 5TJT.com.
