Viability and Sustainability Factors of a Professional Development Program

Founded in 2005, Hidden Sparks aims to meet the needs of diverse learners within Jewish day schools both in and beyond New York City. Its pedagogy and model, informed by the work of educational researcher Mel Levine, provides educators and administrators with the tools and strategies to better understand and teach children with social, emotional, and learning differences. Hidden Sparks enlisted the services of a Capstone team to assess whether its professional development model is sustainable and viable within its partner schools. The team interviewed teachers, administrators, and professional development coaches in three day schools, shadowed professional development sessions to view the trainings in action and participants’ responses, and developed case studies based on interviews and observations from each of the day schools.