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Dr. Ivy Kidron
Lecturer in Mathematics
Machon Tal
Even
as a child "teaching" her dolls, Ivy Kidron always knew she
wanted to be an educator; she never anticipated, however,
that she would one day reach the upper echelons of the
Israeli academic world where she is today. As a lecturer of
mathematics at Machon Tal and a scientific advisor at the
Weizmann Institute, Dr. Kidron attributes much of her
teaching success to the strong secular and Jewish studies
foundation she received growing up in Paris from her
education both inside and outside her home.
Upon her aliya to Israel, she entered the halls of higher
learning, receiving a Masters and a Doctorate in Science
teaching from Hebrew University before continuing her
post-doctoral studies at the Weizmann Institute. Her ability
to balance her academic career with her responsibilities in
raising a family is remarkable, and serves as an example to
all women that success can be achieved without compromise.
As the mother of eight, she credits her husband with her
success in maintaining a strong Torah home and a profession,
for he provides continuous support and maintains a partner
role in parenting.
Dr. Kidron's love for teaching is displayed both in and out
of the classroom. "All of
my research has been conducted on using the tools that we
currently have to make mathematics pleasant and enjoyable to
learn," she says. Dr. Kidron seeks to instill the importance
of the practical application of technology to her first and
second year students at Machon Tal. Beyond the
classroom walls she works just as hard, building strong
relationships with students, and serving as a role model by
offering guidance and support.
Dr. Kidron devotes endless hours to her teaching and
preparation.
"I love offering lectures, and I need to make sure they are
very good
as there are a lot of different ways to teach any given
topic," she explains.
"The girls at Machon Tal are high quality. They are serious
and focused
and work hard to succeed," she says. The middot tovot
(positive character traits) of the women also impresses Dr.
Kidron.
"I was excited when I first heard about the opening of
Machon Tal, as I knew that there was a great demand for such
a school. The
girls love Machon Tal, it's obvious to see. They have
created a school
that is a like a family - close and personal," Kidron says.
While stress often
permeates academic institutions,
Kidron believes the personal integrity and behavior of
Machon Tal students helps maintain the institution's unique
tranquil environment, even with the mixed student body
coming from different backgrounds, cultures, and countries.
Dr. Kidron hopes her teaching will help the students
succeed, and she anticipates that the education they
receive at Machon Tal will give them the tools to choose
their careers. She recommends that students balance work,
studies, and a family life. When she sees the husbands
holding babies waiting for their wives to finish a lecture
lining the halls of Machon Tal, she knows they are doing
just fine.
Other outstanding faculty profiles:
Professor Yehuda Badichi
Dr. Shlomo Engelberg
Dr. Tirza Hirst |
