Growing Together: Reflections from the 2025 Paradigm Project Conference
Posted on 11/14/2025 @ 05:00 AM
Colleagues from ElevatEd at at the 2025 Paradigm Project Conference: Joe Winner (Chicago Community Coordinator), Angelena May (Atlanta Community Coordinator), Sasha Kopp (Senior Director of ElevatEd), Yehudis Smith (our very own Miami Community Coordinator), Edna Anziska (Northern New Jersey Community Coordinator)
By Yehudis Smith, Director of CAJE’s Robert Russell Early Childhood Department
Last week, I had the privilege of participating in the 2025 Paradigm Project Conference, held in Tarrytown, NY, a picturesque and peaceful setting that beautifully matched the spirit of reflection, learning, and connection that filled the days.
It was a truly uplifting gathering of hundreds of passionate early childhood educators from across the country who are committed to reimagining what Jewish ECE can look and feel like for children, families, and educators.
The energy throughout the conference was electric; the learning was deep, and the sense of belonging to a shared movement was palpable.
Miami Educators at the 2025 Paradigm Project Conference The Gan Frida: Tanya Crocitto, Mily Saiz, Vero Swoboda, Judith Levy | Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus ECA: Yamila Garber, Franli Fajardo, Jessica Frid, Gaby Eydelsteyn | Michael-Ann Russell JCC: Daisy Duarte, Adriana Arnau, David Beraha | The Gordon School: Gaby Castillo, Veronica Guevara Perata, and director Sara Zamikoff
A Community of Educators, Learners, and Visionaries
What makes a conference so meaningful isn’t only the powerful workshops and ideas (though there were many!), but the people.
I reconnected with colleagues who have been part of my professional journey for years - the ones I learn from, laugh with, and continue to grow alongside.
I also had the joy of meeting new educators, directors, and thought partners from across the country whose passion for children and families is inspiring and contagious.
Throughout the conference, the hallways and shared meals became extensions of the classroom - filled with rich conversations about practice, leadership, educator well-being, community partnerships, and the evolving landscape of Jewish early childhood education.
These were not surface-level exchanges; they were heart-forward, reflective, and values-rooted dialogues that helped me feel renewed and energized.
Miami Shined Bright
I was especially proud to see Miami so beautifully represented at a national level. Educators and leaders attended from: The Gordon School, Gan Frida, Michael-Ann Russell JCC, and Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus ECA.
“The Paradigm Project conference was a truly fulfilling experience for us. We had the opportunity to meet educators from across the country and exchange knowledge, ideas, and inspiration. We came away with many helpful strategies and feel motivated to continue growing in our teaching practice. We look forward to attending again in the future.” - Jessica Frid, Franli Fajardo, Yamila Dresler, and Gaby Eydelsteyn, educators from Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus ECA
Together, we showed up as learners, contributors, collaborators, and ambassadors for the powerful work happening in South Florida.
It was incredibly meaningful to sit together, reflect on what we were learning, and imagine how these ideas could ripple back into our schools and touch our children, families, and teams.
Standing in community with them was a reminder that we are part of something much larger than our individual schools.
We are part of a national movement grounded in shared values and a collective belief in children’s capacity, potential, and belonging.
Presenting and Learning Together
At the heart of the conference were the learning sessions that were full of curiosity, vulnerability, and courageous reflection.
I was honored to contribute by presenting three times on the following two topics:
- Responsive Teaching for Diverse Learning Needs: Sameness is Not Fairness
We challenged the long-held belief that “fair means everyone gets the same” and explored how our desire for equality in the classroom can unintentionally create barriers for children with diverse learning needs.
Through case studies, hands-on reflection, and discussion, we examined what true equity looks like in early childhood education and how responsive teaching opens the door to belonging for every child.
- Transforming Educators, Elevating Classrooms: Emotional Intelligence is the Foundation of Educator Impact
We explored the inner world of the educator, recognizing that who we are in the classroom shapes everything - relationships, regulation, culture, and learning.
Together, we reflected on the emotional landscape of our work, the protective patterns that can show up under stress, and the intentional practices that strengthen our emotional presence and our impact on children.
I was deeply moved by the openness, storytelling, and honesty participants brought into these rooms. Their willingness to look inward, stretch their thinking, and consider new possibilities reinforced my belief that true transformation begins with the educator from the inside out.
Hundreds of ECE Educators from across the USA participate in the Paradigm Project Conference each year.
Carrying the Work Forward
As I return home, I do so with a full heart and a renewed sense of purpose.
I carry with me:
- New ideas that spark curiosity and possibility
- New and strengthened relationships rooted in shared values
- Inspiration for the work ahead in Miami and beyond
- A deepened belief that our field is full of brilliance, courage, and heart.
I am grateful to the Paradigm Project team for crafting such a meaningful gathering, to the educators who showed up ready to learn and contribute, and to CAJE for believing in and investing in this work.
CAJE and the Robert Russell Memorial Foundation not only made it possible for me to attend and present at the conference but also subsidized and supported the Miami educators who joined, ensuring that our community had a strong and meaningful presence.
This level of investment is far more than financial, it reflects a clear and intentional commitment to elevating the field of Jewish early childhood education, nurturing our educators, and strengthening the fabric of our schools.
Our educators and I returned home not only with new strategies and tools, but with renewed confidence, expanded vision, strengthened relationships, and a sense of pride in the holy work we do.
May the seeds planted at this conference continue to grow in our schools, in our homes, and in our hearts.
For more information about Early Childhood Education in Miami or the work of the Robert Russell Department of Early Childhood at CAJE, contact YehudisSmith@caje-miami.org
