Allegra Franco School

Family, friends and community members recently gathered at Congregation Beth Torah to celebrate the sixth commencement exercises of the Allegra Franco Sephardic Women’s Teachers College. The graduates, Barbara Laniado Blanco, Violet Galapo, Grace J. Timsit and Adelaide Sabbagh Yadid, represent a cross-section of community women. They have spent the past several years mastering not only the vast content of the Judaic studies curricula of our yeshivahs, but the latest pedagogical techniques as well. Each graduate interned in one of the community schools under the guidance of a mentor teacher, recognized by that school as a master educator. In addition, they participated in several skill-building workshops on topics of current educational interest. They will now join previous graduates of Allegra, who are employed as Judaic studies teachers, Qriya (Hebrew reading) and Ivrit specialists, coordinators of student activities, mentor teachers, guidance personnel, and Judaic studies principals in community schools.

Founded by Ezra S. Ashkenazi and named in honor of his grandmother, the Allegra Franco College has just completed its eighth year of growth. Its mission is simple: “Educating Our Children, One Teacher at a Time.” Their goal is to ensure the highest quality education for community children within the framework of maintaining their Sephardic heritage by inspiring and training women to become Judaic studies teachers for our community’s yeshivahs, and by offering an intensive continuing education program for those striving for excellence in Judaic studies. This mission is carried out daily by the school’s top-notch staff, and overseen by its Board of Directors, which is led by Chairman of the Board Jeffrey A. Cohen, and President, Carol Tawil.

Candidates for the teacher training track are carefully screened for academic excellence, and are selected for their potential to be role models to the children of our community. Coursework for the teaching certificate complies with the requirements for a BJE license as a teacher of Judaic studies. Women who choose not to pursue a career in education can opt to take a wide range of college-level Judaic studies classes, in areas including Tanakh, Halakha, Jewish Philosophy, Jewish History, Hebrew Language and Grammar.

The administration of the school is responsive to student requests, and several unique courses have been developed as a result of student interest. For example, a group of students approached Rabbi Moses Haber to request a course in the halakhot (law) involved in education. After extensive research in traditional and contemporary sources, Rabbi Haber prepared a unique and comprehensive curriculum, covering areas such as confiscation of student property, speaking to others about students, class size, teacher contractual rights and obligations, and priority in determining curricular goals.

Classes are scheduled to accommodate students who are also attending college or have family or work obligations; most courses meet once a week. Selected courses can also earn credit through Brooklyn College.

Because the school draws in students of all ages from throughout the community, it is not uncommon to have mothers and daughters taking the same class.

Many women begin the program by just taking one or two courses they are interested in, and then ultimately decide to pursue a career as a teacher.

This year, Allegra Franco formally began a new initiative: its fast track program for women returning to school and the workplace. This program allows women to compress the three-year program into two years, without sacrificing the quality or comprehensiveness of the training. Two of the 2011 graduates, Violet Galapo of Deal and Grace Timsit of Brooklyn, were the pioneers of this program.

The goal of the instruction that students receive at Allegra Franco is to remain on the cutting-edge of teaching, while maintaining a connection to the traditions and teachings of the community. To that end, Sammy and Margie Saka generously donated a SMART Board and co-sponsored the initial training on its use for students and faculty.

Allegra Franco is now the only Judaic studies teacher training program—and one of only four teacher training programs in general—in the tri-state area with a SMARTBoard dedicated to student training. Other Judaic studies teacher training programs have noticed, and are now requesting training from Allegra staff. The school hopes to be able to accommodate them in the near future.

Learning at Allegra Franco never stops. The school even moves with the rest of the community to Deal for the summer. Sponsored by the SCA, and coordinated by the Educational Director of Allegra Franco, a wide gamut of classes is being offered at the Safra Shul of Deal, with both daytime and evening classes available. Many of the summer program’s faculty members are Allegra Franco faculty, allowing attendees to sample the excellence that is the hallmark of their classes. Whether you are a graduating high school senior, a young woman with a bachelor’s degree, a new mother looking for something more, or an experienced woman with an eye towards a new future, you can find out what Allegra Franco might have for you.

For more information, contact Jo Dwek, Recruitment Director, at (732) 673-8324, or Gitta Neufeld, Director of Education, at (718) 962-4744. The summer schedule can be accessed on their website: www.allegrafranco.com.