Community and synagogue leaders who teach are role models for our kids, for their own kids, and for other leaders in the community. We need to create a culture in which Jewish teaching becomes the obligation of Jewish leaders. Motivating communal leaders to teach in Jewish schools needs to become the role of the community. It shouldn't be the sole responsibility of school principals. We have outstanding people taking adult education classes.
Adults are hungry to learn.
If we do a good job cultivating our adult learners, one of the things they will come to understand, as Herb Bridge learned, is that teaching is all about learning. Community leaders meet to discuss potential donors and how to bring them into the system in meaningful ways. I recommend adopting a similar model for teacher development. Compile a list of those people who might be great teacher material. Just as we do in the fundraising world, make sure that each prospective teacher is taken to lunch by a community leader who has spent some time in the classroom.