Chabad Educator Wins National Award

Rabbi Meir Muller, a Shaliach of Chabad Lubavitch and director of the Columbia Jewish Day School, has been named as a national early childhood professional of the year, a top national award program recognizing early childhood educators.

Early childhood experts and advisors from Scholastic Publishing selected the five grand-prize winners from over 700 nominees. Judging criteria included the educator’s overall commitment to advocacy, developmentally appropriate curriculum, cultural sensitivity, leadership, and community outreach, as well as their ability to mobilize resources.

"I can not imagine a more worthy recipient for the Scholastic Early Childhood Professional Award than Rabbi Meir Muller,” said Dr. Irma VanScoy, Associate Dean, USC College of Education. “He is a truly extraordinary early childhood educator in every way: excellence, leadership, advocacy, mentoring, and outreach. Rabbi Muller is truly an exemplary role model for others.

“We are thrilled that Rabbi Muller has been recognized for his dedication to our school,” said Rabbi Hesh Epstein, executive director of Chabad South Carolina. “Rabbi Muller has always put our children first and our families have long benefited from his commitment to high quality education. The proof of his leadership is our students who continually graduate from our school and become academic leaders with strong grounding in ethics and values. Our full classrooms and waiting lists are a testament to his skill and devotion.”

Rabbi Muller holds both rabbinical ordination and a master’s degree in education. He is currently completing his doctoral degree in education at the University of South Carolina. Rabbi Muller was recently appointed to the governor’s South Carolina Child Care Coordinating Council and serves on local and national early childhood committees. He has served as principal of the Day School for the past 15 years and also teaches at the University of South Carolina’s College of Education. He is vice chair of the Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch National Accreditation Board, and has served on the international committee which set new standards for accrediting agencies under CITA, the Commission on International and Trans-regional Accreditation. 

Each of the grand-prize winners will receive a roundtrip ticket to Atlanta GA, to attend the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Conference and a collection of Scholastic products. They will also be featured in the November/December 2006, issue of Scholastic Early Childhood Today, the leading magazine reaching over 50,000 early childhood professionals.