Entrants's Name: Avigail Mazeh

Country: Israel

Field: Education

Innovation - idea: The Program stems from the beleif that the success of the learning process is greatly dependent upon the individual teacher’s continued growth. To advance this goal, grants are awarded to teachers who wish to try their own new idea in their classrooms. The Program encourages teachers to analyze the learning difficulties they encounter and to develop remedies which are enriching, lively

Innovation - why it is pioneering: The Israeli education system expects teachers to carry out the formal subject matter and to teach by the known methods. There is little room for teachers to introduce their own ideas or solutions to a situation in the classroom, especially if it requires extra resources. Our organization empowers them by recognizing their suggestion and by supporting its execution.

Strategy - how it achieves impact: 1.We only accept original proposals from teachers in the formal education system. 2.Each proposal is carefully examined for its degree of innovation and prospects for success. 3.School grants and awarded for the project's expenses and personal grants are given to the innovating teachers. 4.Each project is monitored financially, by site visits and reports. 5.We strive to increase the Ministry of Education's support and resources for the projects (but not dependant on them). 6.Great projects are funded for a second year and outstanding projects get a third year grant to document, expand or duplicate their projects else ware. 7.All projects are documented in a booklet and in the organization's data base on the Internet. www.keren-yozmot.org.il

Strategy - growth plans: Our growth paths are varied: 1.Increase our publicity. 2.Continue branding the organization as an exclusive club. 3.Accept more projects and better ones. 4.Encourage colorations between teachers and projects. 5.Develop active networks between the teachers. 6.Help bring other partners to support the projects 7.Enable more teachers to document and publish their work. 8.Conduct a research (amongst our teachers) seeking for an Innovative tool-kit in Education, the profile of an innovative teacher etc. Most projects are tailored for the exact needs of the pupils in the classroom. The idea is to distribute principles of a project or disseminate some activities rather than replicate entirely.

Impact to date: In addition to the immediate benefits that teachers and pupils derive from the success of a project, the Program has resulted in a number of fruitful contributions to Israeli education. Project teachers have conducted many seminars and workshops to introduce their methods to other teachers. Several books and articles based upon project materials have been published and some projects have contributed to remodeling National curriculums. Teachers do manage to find other resources to fulfill their educational dreams. As far as I know there is no other NGO with this kind of mission except the new Recanati award that was established 3 years ago. This is a prize that awards teachers for innovative work they have done already (some of them with our support).

Future impact: We would have doubled our demand and have the Ministry of Education put in matching rescores over our contribution. Schools will recognize the importance of encouraging teachers with them to be creative and innovative. The agenda and teaching program will become more flexible and able to absorbed original ideas in education. In fact, I would love to see schools demanding one initiative per teacher per year. Each leading teacher of a project will have at least one other school where he or she helps implement the essence of the project once again. Finally, other organization within the community and the government will allocate funds for supporting this kind of experimental teaching.

Sustainability - resource base: The program for Innovative Teaching was establishedin 1971 by Professor Marcella Brenner of Washington DC. It is funded by her through P.E.F. Israel Endowment Funds Inc.

The Program is administered from Jerusalem by a small staff and all its activities are conducted in cooperation with the Israel Ministry of Education and Culture. The program has a volunteering advisory committee of educators which includes both Principals and Education Ministry professionals. In addition, all the professional readers of the proposal are volunteers too.

Major challenge for the field: The biggest challenge is to help educators, in all levels comprehend that private initiatives (i.e of teachers) do not conflict with the interests of their larger organization.On the contrary, if they allow their teachers to prosper and develop it will shine on everyone.

Contact Information:

Name: Ms. Avigail Mazeh - Director
Mailing address: POB 4047, Jerusalem 91040
Country: Israel
Email: amazeh@keren-yozmot.org.il
Tel: +972-2-563-8895
Fax: +972-2563-4687

Bio: AVIGAIL MAZEH 12 Hamadregot Street Jerusalem, 94551 Tel: 02-622-2386 Cell: 0508-526298 E-mail: amazeh@keren-yozmot.org.il

WORK EXPERIENCE: 2002- Director, Program for Innovative Teaching. 2002-2001 Deputy Director, Program for Innovative Teaching. 2001-2000 Administrative Associate, Jerusalem Global Investment Banking (JGIB). 2000-1997 Administrative & Personal Assistant to Director, Mandel Center. 1997 Jerusalem Prize Coordinator, JAFI. 1996-1993 Secretary, David M. Duke Investments.

EDUCATION: 2002 M.A. in Non-profit Management, The Paul Baerwald School for Social Work, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 1997 B.A, in Political Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 1990-1987 "Neve-Hannah" High School, Gush Etzion.

MILITARY SERVICE (IDF): 1992-1991 Base Coordinator, Machva Alon 1991-1990 Non- Commissioned Officer, "Na'arei- Raful" Program

LANGUAGES: Hebrew: Mother tongue English: Fluent

COMPUTER SKILLS: Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel; Outlook, Internet

PERSONAL: Date of Birth: July 23rd, 1972 Country of Birth: Israel ID: 029507464 Personal Status: Married +2