Rewarding Beyond Measure
This post is the fourth in a series on the Helen Diller Family Awards for Excellence in Jewish Education.
Judaism has always been an integral part of Sylvia Gitlin’s life. Nurtured by a small Jewish Community in Mexico, Gitlin realized when she moved to the United States that she wanted her children to have a meaningful, comparable Jewish experience. She volunteered at their day schools only to discover a hidden passion for teaching. She loved modeling Jewish values and traditions for young people.
Gitlin explains in her own words: “Working as a teacher for the last sixteen years has been rewarding beyond measure. The most meaningful aspect of my job has been the opportunity to help families nurture their child’s appreciation for learning, and spirituality.”
She hopes that through her work she can help motivate students and parents to become more active members of the Jewish community, and she strives to pass on what she describes as “treasured values.”
As a result of her focus, love, and dedication, Sylvia Gitlin was nominated last spring by her peers to receive a $10,000 award from the Helen Diller Family Foundation. She won the category for Excellence in Early Childhood Education. “I felt more honored than I could possibly express for that recognition,” Gitlin reflects. “It was truly a privilege to be rewarded for doing work that provides me with such great enjoyment and fulfillment.”
She thanks the Diller Family and the Jewish Community Federation’s Award Committee for selecting her for such an honor, and for recognizing the importance of Early Childhood Jewish education. She feels blessed to teach at T’enna preschool in Palo Alto where she remarks that her students, parents and colleagues “inspire, challenge, and trust me every day.”
If you know an outstanding educator you would like to nominate for the 2014 Helen Diller Family Awards for Excellence in Jewish Education, nominate online today. Nominations for this year’s awards close March 7.
For further information or questions about the Helen Diller Family Awards for Excellence in Jewish Education, please contact Galya Segal or call 415.512.6242.
