The Judaic Studies Help Desk
"Teachers open our eyes to the world. They give us curiosity and confidence. They teach us to ask questions.... We have lots of heroes today.... But the influence of good teachers stays with us. They are the people who really shape our life."
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Optimism to Hope
How is the Help Desk different from coaching?
Push vs. Pull
The Help Desk is a "pull" model: services are requested by the teacher as needs arise.
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Coaching is a "push" model: services are assigned to the teacher based on projected need.
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Tactical vs. Strategic
The Help Desk takes a tactical approach, supporting teachers in the implementation of the school's vision.
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Coaching tends to be strategic in nature, building a teacher's toolkit slowly in order to improve his or her potential.
Impromptu vs. Scheduled
The Help Desk is available on an "as needed" basis, and can be accessed without an appointment.
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Coaching consists of a series of meetings scheduled at a regular cadence.
Can a teacher receive support for all of the courses that he or she teaches?
The short answer is yes.
The role of the Help Desk is to help the administration achieve its strategic vision by providing tactical support to the teachers so that they can implement this vision in the best way possible. Therefore, teachers are welcome to contact the Help Desk regarding any of the courses that they teach, and are not limited to a specific class.
What if a teacher needs more involved support?
The Help Desk is designed to address practical queries regarding lesson and project design, instructional techniques, and classroom management. The Zoom sessions allow for exploration of a specific area in more depth, but the goal of the serivce is to provide short-term, results-oriented support.
If a teacher requires more involved guidance, the administrator would be engaged to discuss what additional resources could be employed to best help in each scenario. This could include more consistent coaching or assistance with curriculum planning, which would be additional services outside of the Help Desk framework.
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