Rabbi Shelley Kniaz
Professional Experience
Shelley is an instructional coach who strives to enable teachers, coaches & school leaders to meet the needs of all their students. She is passionate about student-centered, project-based & collaborative learning that incorporates student choice. She believes we have a moral imperative to foster caring environments in classrooms & schools--a necessary foundation for learning. She specializes in Jewish Studies & Hebrew Language as well as Social Studies & Literature. She has been privileged to serve as a: teacher (pre-K - adult); curriculum writer; teacher trainer; school leader; instructional coach to teachers and school leaders; & consultant in strategic assessment, re-envisioning & making positive change in schools. Based in Teaneck, NJ
Educational Background
Shelley has her BA in Hebrew & Semitic Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She holds Rabbinic ordination & an MA in Jewish Education from JTS (Jewish Theological Seminary). She also holds certifications in Day School Administration (JTS), Special Needs Education (MATANKids), MSCEIT (Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test) administration & coaching, 4MAT Curriculum Design & Teacher-Trainers’ Training, and Differentiation, Instructional Coaching, Leadership through Change, & SEL from BetterLesson.
Expertise
Teacher Training
- Lesson Planning from A to Z
- Curriculum Design
- Formative Assessments
- Protocols for student engagement
- Creating a dynamic and respectful classroom culture
- Analyzing student work
Leadership Training
- Aligning vision and implementation
- Navigating difficult conversations
- Supervision and observations
