By Michal Rosenberg
On my first trip to Israel with AMIT, I visited the Symma & Leon Miller AMIT State Technological High School (State Tech), a vocational school in the Kiryat Menachem neighborhood of Jerusalem. Vocational schools are known as last-chance schools whose students have had troubled beginnings and need some extra help. Unsure what to expect, I was profoundly inspired by the students’ resilience and the dedication and sincerity of the staff, who make such an extraordinary impact.
Principal Batsheva Sigawi introduced a panel of students to share their experiences with our group. As I listened to each student speak so openly and honestly (and confidently in English!) of their trials and triumphs, I was deeply moved. Their journeys to becoming healthy, happy teenagers with a plan for their future were messy and bumpy. But with tremendous courage, perseverance, and support, they had weathered the hard times and were so proud to share their stories.
They were also eager to give hakarat hatov (credit) to their teachers, whose support was essential in both their academic success and emotional health. The teachers looked on, beaming, as if the students were their own children.
Children at Risk
On the panel were Tuvia Ben Shabat and Eitan Yosef Maimoni—two boys who, for different reasons, were heading down the wrong path when they started at the school.
Tuvia had a troubled home life and was distant from his family. With his parents out of the day-to-day picture, he turned to high-risk behavior, gravitating toward an older, troubled crowd.
Eitan Yosef had a loving home and family but took it for granted, gravitating toward a bad crowd. He got into serious trouble and became manipulative, blaming his failures on others.
At State Tech, Tuvia and Eitan Yosef thought they’d find freedom and be able to slide by because “no one cares about grades if you are ‘children at risk,’” they thought. They were annoyed to find that it was the exact opposite. They felt a lot of pressure to perform in their studies, to the point that Eitan Yosef wanted to switch schools because he was so unhappy.
Making a Connection
Everything changed in 10th grade. Tuvia and Eitan Yosef found themselves reluctantly participating in a Yom Sport organized by their mechanechet (homeroom teacher), Moran Cohen.
Moran saw her students’ potential and was determined to break their self-destructive cycle. Her encouragement, persistence, and love, combined with AMIT programs aimed at children at risk, completely changed their trajectory.
As Eitan Yosef listened to Moran cheering on her class from the sidelines—“You’re the best in the school! I believe in you! You can do it!”—he realized he wanted to make her proud, and his classmates felt the same. These sidelined students who didn’t put much effort into anything put their all into the game that day—and won!
The pride of that victory changed Eitan Yosef’s and Tuvia’s attitude toward school. The teamwork that winning required brought them closer as a class, and the unwavering support from their teacher changed their perspective significantly. Instead of resisting Moran’s efforts to connect, something clicked, and they were now receptive to her ideas and advice.
Eco24 Program
Part of AMIT’s holistic approach to the whole child, the ECO24 program combines mentorship with immersive, real-world experiences. This dynamic learning environment goes outside the classroom, enhancing practical skills and preparing students for future careers.
Mentors, or homeroom teachers, connect students with internships based on their interests and strengths. Partnerships with a variety of industries, including medicine, engineering, mountain biking, agriculture, and entrepreneurship, give students responsibility, cultivating capable and driven individuals who will have a positive future impact in Israeli society.
And 24 means 24/7 for teachers: bringing a student to school in the morning because they have no other way of getting there safely; speaking to a student late at night when they need advice; hosting students in the teacher’s home after school. This is the norm for AMIT’s dedicated teachers.
The Symma & Leon Miller AMIT State Technological High School was one of the first AMIT schools to implement this program successfully. With the school’s population coming from difficult family environments, the proactive guidance and increased support benefited its students tremendously.
Through ECO24, Eitan Yosef and Tuvia became involved with Nirim BaShchunot, which helps at-risk youth build confidence and life skills. They also joined a military preparation program, building a connection with a mentor who has been instrumental in preparing them for the next stage of their lives.
Over time, the boys’ lives have shifted as they have taken ownership of their actions, become leaders who mentor other students, and expressed their tremendous gratitude for those who supported them along the way.
A Remarkable Transformation
During his turn on the panel, Eitan Yosef proudly announced that he was taking the level 5 bagrut, the highest-level matriculation exam, in electrician training. He credited Moran for his success, calling her a second mother to him and all her students: “Moran pushed me to excel in school and be part of the student council. She showed me that I could be a leader, that I could be more than what I had imagined. I really connected with her, and she helped me find my talents.”
Tuvia also thanked Moran for turning his life around. “She doesn’t give up on us; teachers here don’t let you fall through the cracks,” he said. “Seeing the care Moran gives all her students really motivates us. Teaching is one of the hardest jobs in the world, but one of the most important.”
For Moran, who finds the spark in each of her students, the satisfaction of seeing them progress as individuals and as a community is very gratifying. “It’s amazing to see the big advancement among everyone in the class,” she said. “They’re invested in their studies; they’re trying to be lochamim (fighters) in Tzahal.”
In fact, both Eitan Yosef and Tuvia have passed the selection process for elite army units in the Israel Defense Forces and are currently in the final stages of trying out for Sayeret Matkal (Special Forces). This is a huge achievement for any Israeli teen, but it’s incredible for these boys, who were unsure if they would even serve in the IDF a mere two years ago. After graduating, both boys will continue to a premilitary academy to prepare them for service in the IDF’s most demanding units.
Moran shared her approach to her students:, “When there is mutual respect, there can be tremendous success. Everything rests on this connection. The path isn’t easy, but the results are worth it. I learn from my students every day. We both give and both get, but always with respect.”
That respect carries over into relationships with family, friends, and other teachers and is now part of Tuvia’s and Eitan Yosef’s story—a story about the power of connection and education, being open to change, and seizing opportunities.
Every student we heard from credited Moran’s total devotion and motherly love for their incredible turnaround and success. When asked how she balances time with students and her commitment to her own family—she is the mother of five—she simply said, “In the classroom, you can lead with your head or your heart. When you lead with your heart, students feel it, and they are yours forever.”
