DRIVING IMPACT

1. DRIVING IMPACT Metrics-Based Performance Management in Experiential Jewish Education Josh Langer May 25, 2011

2. INTRODUCTION Research Question Thesis Literature Review

3. RESEARCH QUESTION • How can the lessons – positive and negative – of initiating metrics-based performance management in the formal educational world be leveraged to define objectives for and measure the success of experiential Jewish educators?

4. THESIS • The field of experiential Jewish education is increasingly gaining respect • The field generally lacks the systems to measure impact • Implementing a metrics-based performance management system will enhance BBYO’s ability to motivate and measure the success of its experiential educators • This new system could have broader implications for the maturation of the field as a whole

5. THEORY OF EXPERIENTIAL JEWISH EDUCATION • “The teacher is not in the school to impose certain ideas or to form certain habits in the child, but is there as a member of the community to select the influences which shall affect the child and to assist him in properly responding to these influences.” • Dewey, John (1897). My Pedagogic Creed, Page 9. • Informal Jewish education: “an individual-centered and highly interactive educational approach focused on learning through experience, with knowledgeable and committed educators who use group process and a ‘curriculum’ of Jewish ideas and values to create a holistic educational culture.” • Chazan, Barry (2003). “The Philosophy of Informal Jewish Education.” • “To be a truly professional informal Jewish educator one needs Judaic knowledge; a Jewish lifestyle; a knack for group dynamics; the ability to be inter-active and to listen; the ability to engage others; and the ability to impart ideas and values twenty-four hours day, seven days a week. One has to be accomplished in many areas – encompassing both content and method, Jewish and general – often demonstrating proficiency over and above that required of teachers.” • Chazan, Barry (2003). “The Philosophy of Informal Jewish Education.”

6. THEORY OF EXPERIENTIAL JEWISH EDUCATION (CONTINUED) • Recreation – Provide participants with social comfort, fun and belonging in a Jewish context • Socialization – Provide the knowledge, skills and attitudes to be an active member of the Jewish community • Challenge – Encourage participants to undertake the challenge of stretching themselves and growing towards a more complex participation in one’s Jewish life

7. PROS AND CONS OF PERFORMANCE-BASED EDUCATOR MANAGEMENT Potential Benefits Potential Drawbacks • Set consistent objectives and expectations • Focus educators on student impact • Establish compelling case to donors/other stakeholders • Identify internal strengths and weaknesses • Make data-based decisions • Inconsistent implementation • Importance of setting correct measures (making art a science) • Managing educators’ concerns • Potential to over-complicate, distract from ultimate goal

8. YIKES.

9. JOHN KOTTER’S CHANGE MODEL • Create a Sense of Urgency • Form a Powerful Coalition • Create a Vision for Change • Communicate the Vision • Remove Obstacles • Create Short-term Wins • Build on the Change • Anchor the Changes in Corporate Culture

10. BBYO’S PLAN Proposed Measures

11. * TDMI refers to the different categories of impact into which teen participants will be grouped based on the number and type of experiences they attend. T = Transformational, D = Deep, M = Moderate, I = Initial. ** Teen Connection is BBYO’s experience for 6th-8th grade students, with the objective of maintaining a connection with tweens beyond their becoming a Bar/Bat Mitzvah and transitioning them to continued Jewish participation in high school. BBYO’S MEASURES OF PROGRAMMATIC SUCCESS

12. BBYO REGIONAL HEALTH SCORECARD

13. FINDINGS AND APPLICATION Conclusions and Recommendations

14. THE PDI PERSPECTIVE • Survey conducted of BBYO’s 34 PDI participants. • Represent multiple functions within BBYO • Generally considered BBYO’s “top performers” How will the role of the Program Director change?

15. CONCLUSIONS FROM RESEARCH • Decent alignment between what PDI participants believe BBYO values most and what they believe is most important in terms of KNOWLEDGE  • PDI participants do not believe BBYO values knowledge of sacred Jewish texts, nor do PDI participants believe knowledge of sacred Jewish texts is important to success • Interesting contrast to Barry Chazan • Both PDIers and BBYO value the “Ability to inspire and empower others” • Beyond that item, there seems to be a gap in the understanding of which abilities are keys to success as a program director • 3 of 4 four metrics that PDI participants identify as the best indicators of success will be measures in the strategic plan • The Regional Health Scorecard is on the right track

16. CONCLUSIONS FROM RESEARCH (CONTINUED) • The Overall Chapter Quality Score was considered to be the best indicator of success. • Program Directors have least direct control over this metric. Interesting. • The organization lacks a clear definition of the Program Director role. • BBYO does have a unique operational challenge in that it exists as a hybrid of a centralized and locally autonomous organization. • Several comments note a desire for higher program standards and for more advanced metrics. • Suggests buy-in is possible.

17. RECOMMENDATIONS TO BBYO • Develop concrete Program Director/Associate job description that staff can consistently articulate • Incorporate language from Chazan, Reimer/Bryfman into job description • Incorporate Regional Health Scorecard details into annual performance evaluation • Add section to annual evaluation focused on knowledge development • Weight performance in skill-based areas based on relative importance to execution of job description • Initiate training to set expectations for performance as part of new hire on-boarding • Prioritize buy-in of field; follow recommendations of change model to manage transition to new system

18. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FIELD OF EXPERIENTIAL JEWISH EDUCATION • As the field continues to grow and mature, professionalization of systems is needed: • Clarity of educational vision and educator performance management go hand-in-hand • Philanthropic community increasing insistence on hard data to substantiate funding • Best practices can extend across all modes of experiential education • Potential to attract more talented, serious educational professionals

19. THANKS! What an audience!?! Looking forward to your questions and comments.