Beginning in January a newly formed Commission on Jewish School Excellence will meet to begin to study ways to attract and train Jewish school teachers, and promote quality Jewish education, in a variety of settings. The 35-member commission includes rabbis, teachers, principals, and parents from all Jewish denominations, and will meet with nationally known Jewish educators, to help them learn about ways to make Jewish education in Colorado better than it has ever been, and increase the number of knowledgeable teachers. Currently there is a serious shortage of qualified Jewish school teachers, and the Commission will consider ways to increase the available pool of educators, from preschool through high school. CAJE Executive Director Daniel W. Bennett says he hopes to have new programs and initiatives in some schools by the fall of 2000, but that all schools should benefit from the Commission's efforts within a few years. "We are so excited to have the chance to work with the community on making our Jewish Schools excellent," Bennett says. "I've worked in Jewish education fore more than 20 years, and have looked for this kind of comprehensive opportunity for a along time. Now it's here." The Commission's work is being funded in part by the Allied Jewish Federation.