Request for Proposals

We are seeking interactive presenters to facilitate breakout sessions at the annual ECE-RJ Conference, B’Simcha: Do It With Joy – Nurturing Passion and Purpose in Jewish Early Childhood Education, on Friday, January 23, 2026. This year’s conference invites participants to explore the transformative role of joy in our work as Jewish Early Childhood professionals.

Our conference attendees seek connections to colleagues and thought leaders, as well as inspiration to innovate and build the Jewish future in their home institutions. Through three dynamic Intensive Tracks, we will dive deeply into key areas of professional growth:

• B’Simcha: In the Classroom – Bringing joy and purpose to your early childhood practice.
• B’Simcha: Supervising and Supporting Educators – Fostering leadership and mentorship in your programs.
• B’Simcha: Through Communication – Strengthening connections with children, families, and colleagues in your community.
• B’Simcha: Adaptive Leadership – Navigating change with resilience and creativity in your management style.

With your session, we hope you will invite participants to explore meaningful questions such as:

• How can we intentionally cultivate joy, passion, and purpose in Jewish early childhood education, both in our daily practice and long-term vision?
• In what ways can joy serve as a guiding principle for how we lead, teach, and build relationships in our schools, communities, and/or institutions?
• What tools, strategies, or mindsets can help us navigate change with resilience, creativity, and a sense of purpose?
• How do Jewish values and traditions support joyful, purpose-driven approaches to early childhood education, and how can we bring these to life across diverse settings?
• What are current challenges in our field, and how might joy-centered practices help us respond to them in meaningful and sustainable ways?

Duration of breakout sessions: 75 min

Submission deadline: Priority will be given to RFP submissions received by August 27, 2025 and the final deadline is September 15, 2025.

Questions? Please reach out to Sue Yulis at [email protected] to talk through your presentation or find out more about our conference.