A Night of Elevation: Honoring Our ElevatEd Graduates
Posted on 02/20/2026 @ 10:23 AM
By Yehudis Smith, Director of CAJE’s Robert Russell Early Childhood Department
On February 5th, our community gathered at Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center for a truly meaningful celebration - the ElevatEd Graduation Dinner.
Nearly 90 educators, family members, community leaders, Federation representatives, CAJE partners, and honored guests filled the room, creating an atmosphere of pride, gratitude, and shared purpose.
ElevatEd is a national initiative dedicated to elevating the field of Jewish early childhood education by investing in educators themselves.
Through mentorship, cohort learning, and deep professional development, ElevatEd strengthens teaching practice, builds leadership capacity, and affirms that early childhood educators are foundational to the vitality of Jewish life.
Our Miami cohort has been part of this powerful movement and Thursday night marked the culmination of this cohort’s journey.
The night opened with a beautiful moment of connection through song led by Aventura Turnberry's Cantor Roger Rosenthal. The evening was emceed by Yehudis Smith, Director of the Robert Russell Early Childhood Department at CAJE, who opened the program by reminding the room that this milestone was not simply about completing a professional development initiative. It was about recognizing the courage it takes to grow as an educator and the sacred responsibility of shaping young children during their most formative years.
In her remarks, she spoke about watching a toddler attempt to put on their own shoes - mismatched, backward, imperfect - yet filled with determination and pride.
That small moment, she shared, captures the heart of early childhood education. It is not about perfection; it is about fostering autonomy, competence, and identity.
The work these educators do every day builds the foundation for how children see themselves in the world - capable, resilient, and valued.
She emphasized that early childhood education is not “just preschool.” It is the architecture of confidence and emotional regulation.
It is where children learn to repair after conflict, to use words instead of hands, to trust adults beyond their families, and to try again after frustration.
These are not small lessons - they are life skills.
Yehudis Smith (center) with Sasha Haas Kopp (L), and Orna Siegel (R).
They are made possible because educators are willing to continually deepen their own understanding and practice.
We were deeply honored to welcome Orna Siegel, Executive Director of ElevatEd, and Sasha Hass Kopp, Senior Director of Education and Engagement at ElevatEd, who flew in to stand alongside our graduates.
Their presence reflected the significance of this milestone and the strength of our Miami community’s commitment to elevating early childhood education.
The evening also featured meaningful reflections from mentor Karina Shulman of Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus Suzy Fisher Early Childhood Academy and emerging educator Michelle Miller of the Michael-Ann Russell JCC Early Childhood Academy.
Karina spoke about the power of mentorship and the transformative nature of shared learning, reminding the audience that “strong teaching often starts with listening and being present.” Her words highlighted the relational heart of education and the importance of growing alongside one another.
Karina Shulman
Michelle Miller
Michelle shared her experience as a rising professional in the field, describing how the program shaped her personally and professionally. As she reflected, “ElevatEd, to me, has truly been elevating,” explaining how the program created a safe environment to reflect, question, and grow, and helped her become more intentional in her practice.
Their words reminded us that when we invest in educators early in their careers, we are shaping the future leadership of Jewish education.
We then celebrated graduates from across our Miami Jewish educational landscape. Educators from Alper JCC, Beth Torah ECA, Gan Katan Miami, Gordon School, Michael Ann Russell JCC, Margaux School at Temple Judea, Miami Jewish Montessori, Scheck Hillel, Shalom Montessori, Tauber Academy (ATJC), Moses Montessori, The Gan Frida, Yeshiva Toras Chaim Toras Emes, and Yeshiva Elementary School proudly walked across the stage to receive their certificates.
As each name was called, applause filled the room.
Directors stood beside their teams.
Families beamed with pride.
It was a visible reminder that when a community invests in its educators, everyone rises together.
The celebration continued with dinner and a lively mentalist performance by Larry Greenberg, who brought energy, humor, and amazement to the room. His interactive show had guests laughing, gasping, and fully engaged - a joyful way to honor a group of professionals who spend their days captivating young minds.
But beyond the elegance of the evening and the entertainment, what stood out most was the depth of commitment in the room.
These educators have chosen to grow - to reflect deeply on how they understand children, how they respond in challenging moments, and how they shape classroom environments.
When educators strengthen their practice, children experience classrooms that feel safer and more connected.
Families feel supported. Schools become stronger. And our entire community benefits.
Mazal tov to our ElevatEd graduates!
And thank you to every educator, mentor, partner, and supporter who believes that the earliest years truly matter.
An especially important THANK YOU to the Greater Miami Jewish Federation – this would not have been possible without their ongoing philanthropic support.
To learn more about the important work CAJE is doing in the world of Early Childhood Education, visit the Robert Russell Early Childhood Department or contact Yehudis Smith at yehudissmith@caje-miami.org
