Enhancing Education and Leadership
By: Noah Rosenthal
Lisette Lalo, Director of Student Services and Program Operations, and Kathy Shabot, Director of Arts and Culture, recently attended separate programs to enhance their work performance. These opportunities have allowed them to grow both personally and professionally, bringing valuable insights back to the Sephardic Community Center.
Lisette has worked at the SCC for 17 years, and her passion for learning and growing strengthens every day. In collaboration with The Jewish Education Project, Lisette, along with other educators from across New York, traveled to Israel for a four-day trip. The focus of the trip was to explore Israeli education strategies by examining the country’s school system and discovering effective methods that could be integrated into the curriculum at the SCC.
Upon returning, Lisette shared the wealth of knowledge she had gained, emphasizing that the major takeaway from the trip was the concept of “less is more” in the classroom. This approach encourages children to develop self-regulation skills and fosters creativity. Lisette explained, “Children start learning early in life. They need to be independent and solve problems on their own, which supports their development.” She also pointed out the evolution of education over the years, saying, “Learning today is different than it was 10 years ago, and I enjoy updating my teaching methods to reflect that change.”
In light of the October 7 attack, Lisette also sought to learn more about trauma-informed practices in schools, During her visit to Gan Kalalit in Kibbutz Alumim, located in the Negev, she observed how teachers manage the stress of blaring sirens. To help students cope, teachers sing songs, offering a sense of calm. When dealing with family loss, teachers acknowledge children’s emotions and work to find ways to support them. In Gan Efrata, the teacher supported children by listening and acknowledging feelings. She noticed that it was important to help children progress through art, acts of kindness, and conversations. Students also sold strawberries and sent the proceeds to soldiers and displaced families.
Inspired by these experiences, Lisette plans to bring a Hebrew language teacher to enrich the preschool curriculum and expose the children to Hebrew to connect them to Israel. Children will also learn about Israeli art by having the children create an art gallery. “It is incredibly rewarding to watch the development of students,” Lisette said, “and I can’t wait to bring Israel’s innovative teaching strategies to the Center!”
Kathy pursued her own professional development by attending the High Impact Strategies for the Experienced Manager program, organized by the UJA-Federation of New York. This program offered Kathy an intensive, fast-paced opportunity to strengthen her leadership skills, collaborate with other professionals, and enhance her coaching skills.
Through the program, Kathy expanded her understanding of some major issues faced by the Jewish community. Many professionals working within JCC’s throughout the tri-state area experienced the impacts of October 7 in different ways. “It was very interesting to hear the perspectives of the various agencies, not only in terms of how they felt but also how their members felt,” Kathy noted. They also focused on addressing difficult issues while keeping in mind their target audiences and lay leadership. The ultimate goal was always to work towards creating successful programming.
A key aspect of the program involved a variety of personality tests that were both enlightening and transformative for Kathy. “It helped me learn a lot about myself as a leader and employee,” Kathy explained. “The test provided clarity on how I collaborate more effectively within a team.”
With 12 years of experience at the SCC, Kathy was particularly interested in improving her conflict management skills. She worked closely with instructor Rachel Wallins, who has 30 years of experience in creating leadership development programs. The program was highly interactive, incorporating role-plays, small group discussions, and presentations, all of which gave Kathy the tools to enhance her leadership style.
Both Lisette and Kathy are passionate about their roles at the Sephardic Community Center, and their commitment to professional growth ensures that the Center will continue to thrive. Their dedication to learning after many years of service highlights the importance of staying adaptable in an ever-changing world. By adding new skills and insights to what they already bring to the Center, it ensures that we provide the best experience possible for our community.
