Career Choice Factors and Perceptions of Jewish Education Careers Among Orthodox Jewish Undergraduates

• In Event: Teachers, Religion, Faith Formation: Private and Public Schools

Abstract

This study explores undergraduates’ perceptions of Jewish education careers and identifies factors that contribute to choosing a career in Jewish education. In addition to exploring demographic data, survey questions are structured according to the FIT-Choice model of career motivation (Watt & Richardson, 2007) to assess collegiates’ ratings of the importance of various job characteristics and whether they believe such factors are present in general educational careers and Jewish educational settings. The resulting data provide information on career decision-making that could directly impact how we recruit to the field of education, where resources are allocated, and what changes may be necessary to identify and engage potential religious educators.

Authors

• Elana Riback Rand, Yeshiva University

• Laya Salomon, Yeshiva University

• Suzanne Brooks, Yeshiva University

• Jenny Isaacs, Yeshiva University

• Rona M. Novick, Yeshiva University