BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Spotlight on…

Mrs. Gitty Itzkowitz 

Business Name and Position:  Ohr Shraga’lech of Marine Park , Program Director 

Location:  4205 Ave P

Number of Employees:  10

Can you tell us a bit about your job?

 
I have been working in early childhood education, and teaching in general, for over eight years. In addition to directing the Ohr Shraga’lech program, I teach the UPK class and the oldest three grades as well.  It’s been an enjoyable and rewarding experience so far, baruch Hashem.

 How do you choose the teachers who work for you?  

Teaching is a career that someone should choose because they genuinely care about what the job entails. No one is in it for monetary purposes only, but because they understand the Importance of chinuch at a young age and how impressionable young children are. .That said, I look for people who are experienced and passionate about what they do and who strive to create a warm It’s the best feeling for both parents and staff when children ask their parents, “I want to go to school, can we leave already?” Our teachers are just as excited to come to work and greet the children each day. 

How often should the parent of a preschool child communicate with the teacher? How do they know when to approach the director instead of the teacher?

In general, never approach a director before the teacher. The teacher is the one who spends most of the day with the child, not the director. Therefore, if the parent thinks the child is undergoing a problem in school such as bulling, behavioral issues, or difficulties keeping up, they should approach the teacher. Communicating with your child’s teacher at school at least once or twice a week is integral to giving your child a wholesome learning experience. Beginning from the first day of school, work on building a good relationship with your child’s teachers as it can go a long way. 

What can a parent do to optimize a child’s preschool experience?  

Aside from building a good relationship with his teachers and keeping up with his progress at school, try your best to extend what they learn at school to your home. That means doing their homework in a positive way, reading their newsletters, and reinforcing things they learn in school, like saying brachos aloud or reviewing alef-bais. Keeping to a steady routine is crucial for structure, so keeping bedtimes, suppertime and so on consistent helps the child cope as they know what to expect throughout the day. If a change is happening, such as parents going away on vacation or moving to a new home, prepare your child as best you can for the change in routine and notify teachers as well so the changes will be as smooth as possible.

How do you handle children with separation anxiety or who cry excessively upon drop-off? 

When parents don’t leave right away it just prolongs the agony. Time is the best factor in this case. With time children learn to cope, and they settle down once things become routine.

Do you allow therapists into your classrooms?  

Therapists are allowed in the classroom. If a child is approved for hours of SEIT and other related services, the school does its best to fill the required hours. There have been times when a child needed therapy and required more help in the classroom, and in those cases I’ve reached out to the child’s parents to discuss what could be done.  Parents, for the most part, are receptive and willing to work as a team to ensure a successful school experience for their child. Many times the child will be reevaluated and steps will be taken to ensure his needs at school are met. All parts of the child’s teaching team, from the parents to the teachers to the therapists involved, should work together to remain on the same page so that an effective educational plan is set in motion for the child at the center of it all. 

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?

There are many aspects that are rewarding about my job, but highest on the list would definitely be hearing back from previous students and their parents. I love hearing from parents and checking in on how students from past years are doing. It is really pure nachas when I get regards from them and they have good memories and moments that would like to share with me.