Welcome to the VCEI 2014 Class Blog - Since we won't be meeting each other in person, we're hoping that this will be an active part of the class.  Students and guides will pose questions here, and students and guides will provide responses.  It will also be a place where we post articles and links to videos that will help you, both in the course and in your work in the classroom.

As an introduction, please introduce yourself, tell us where you are teaching and what grades and subjects, and what you do with your time when your are not teaching in a congregational school.  We'll start:

I'm Steve Kerbel.  I've been a full time Jewish educator for 20 years, following an 8 year career in law, during which I worked as a youth group adviser and informal educator, tutor and religious school teacher.  I have worked in day schools, Jewish camps and I have directed to religious schools in the last 16 years.  I'm currently working as an education consultant to Jewish schools and agencies.  I have 2 adult children, both are educators, a civilian wife (not in Jewish communal work) and a small black dog.  In my spare time I drink and collect Israeli wines and conduct wine tastings throughout the east coast of the United States.

Hi, Everyone - 

I'm looking forward to meeting everyone soon - and want to thank Steve for taking the lead on this tech piece. 

Here's a little information about me: 

I've been involved in Jewish education for over 25 years - first as a convert and as a parent, and then as a religious school teacher.  I've also been the education director at two schools in Maryland, and was the founding director and teacher at a Jewish Cooperative Preschool up on Capitol Hill. And I'm a founding member of RENA - the Reconstructionist Educators network group.

Currently, I'm teaching Confirmation class at Beth El Hebrew Congregation in Alexandria, and am serving as a mentor with the Matan Institute.  In my "spare" time, I run "Morah Mary Consulting" and do professional development workshops for adults and teens.  

This online course is a new venture for me - and I'm looking forward to collaborating with Steve and with all of you.  

Chag Sameach!

Mary