About
Dovid Kossowsky
Shalom Aleichem,
I’m a certified coach and a mechanech with decades of experience, and I work with educators like you – principals, teachers and rebbeim at all stages of the chinuch game.
My mission: to empower and guide you in unlocking your potential and honing your craft in a way that connects deeply to your personality and strengths.
Education:
B.A., Hebrew Letters, 1994.
M.A., Talmudic Law, 1996.
D.T.L., Talmudic Law, 2002.
Chaver Hanhalah, 2016
Certified Coach, AAPC, 2021
My story
First Stop: Up Close and Personal with Teens
I began my career 32 years ago… as a dormitory counselor.
That’s where I began to learn about the challenges teens face as they encounter new environments and experiences. For many of these young men, this was the first time they needed to get along with non-family members on a semi-permanent basis. Understanding another person’s perspective is notoriously difficult for a teen, especially when he himself is feeling hurt. During my time as a dorm counselor, I provided a safe space for them to work through many of their relationship issues, such as challenging roommates, a demanding rebbi, and disappointed parents.
Second Stop: The Dynamic Classroom
I was 28 and living in Detroit, Michigan, when I first stepped into a classroom role: initially as a Chumash rebbi in Yeshiva Gedolah, then a Math teacher in the secular department, and finally as a 7th grade rebbi in Yeshivas Darchei Torah.
I learned how to help my students see their inner greatness and succeed. (Nowadays, one of my greatest pleasures is running into a former student – seeing how far he has come and knowing that I helped him on his journey.)
Rising through the ranks, I gained first hand perspective on each role within the school ecosystem. By 2010 I was a principal in two of the local schools, serving as the assistant principal in Darchei Torah and the general studies principal in the Yeshiva High School.
Back when I had been a 7th grade rebbi, I had been frustrated that my students did not appear to retain the skills and information they learned in previous years. I was convinced that we needed a curriculum that could reinforce those skills as the students advanced through elementary school.
One of my first projects in Darchei Torah was to create a Chumash curriculum that spanned the 1st through 7th grades.
Third Stop: The Collaborative Office
2012 was the year we moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where I was able to focus all of my energies on one school. During my tenure as principal there, I didn’t want to be a manager handing out rules and regulations; I wanted to cultivate an environment where the staff and student body would be empowered to grow and thrive. I began to adopt a coaching approach as a means of supporting and maximizing the effectiveness of each member of our school community. Collaboration + open communication were my guiding lights. I was able to work closely with students to unlock their full potential, while also keeping parents engaged and informed. I maintained a focus on promoting the professional development of our staff, leveraging their talents and insights.
Home
Raising five beautiful children has been an even deeper and more extensive chinuch experience than all my years in the school system. My children taught me how to appreciate the individual qualities of each child, and that love means letting go and helping each child find his own path and identity. My two children with special needs and severe learning and behavioral challenges required me to break out of all my previous boundaries and assumptions, reevaluate my priorities, learn new skills and dig deep to help them reach their potential.
Recently, my family and I moved to Israel, and I learned how to change directions and adapt to a new beginning, a new lifestyle and a new career.
Here are some of the things satisfied clients are saying…
My wide range of life and work experience along the full spectrum of education shaped me into a person who is passionate about helping others succeed in life, no matter what challenges they face. We all must learn how to accept what Hashem has given us, finding ways to grow and flourish while helping and caring about the people around us.
I’m dedicated to helping you discover purpose and direction, whether face-to-face or digitally. Let’s work together to overcome obstacles, navigate transitions and reach your fullest potential. By sharing expertise, collaborating and forging meaningful relationships, I’m confident we can achieve incredible things!