The Efshar Project Announces Jennifer Korman as Incoming Board Chair

DENVER, Colo. — June 2026 — The Efshar Project is pleased to announce that Jennifer Korman will assume the role of Board Chair effective July 1, 2026. Korman succeeds Shayna Friedman, who has served as Board Chair for the past three years and will transition into an Emeritus Board Member role in recognition of her exceptional leadership and service.

“Shayna’s leadership has been instrumental during a transformative period for Efshar,” said Kelli Pfaff, Executive Director of The Efshar Project. “Under her guidance, Efshar strengthened its impact across Colorado’s Jewish early childhood ecosystem, deepened partnerships, and successfully launched as an independent nonprofit organization. We are deeply grateful for her vision, dedication, and commitment to our mission.”

Korman brings more than two decades of involvement in Jewish early childhood education initiatives in Colorado. She has been a champion of Jewish early childhood education since 2004 and has been actively involved with Efshar and its predecessor organizations since 2008.

“I have experienced firsthand the profound impact Jewish early childhood education can have on families,” said Korman. “When my family enrolled our children in a Jewish early learning program, it transformed our connection to Jewish life, traditions, and community. Jewish early childhood education is one of the most important gateways for families to engage with Jewish life, and I am honored to help lead an organization that makes those experiences possible for so many families across Colorado.”

The Efshar Project strengthens the Jewish early childhood community by enhancing quality and supporting an accessible, interconnected network of Jewish early childhood programs and providers throughout Colorado. Through professional learning, leadership development, coaching, technical assistance, advocacy, and strategic partnerships, Efshar supports educators, school leaders, children, and families while helping programs navigate an evolving early childhood landscape.

Originally founded under the auspices of the Colorado Jewish Early Childhood Education Initiative (COJECEI), Efshar has grown from a small collaborative effort into a statewide backbone organization serving Jewish early childhood programs across denominations, including synagogues, JCCs, independent schools, Chabad programs, and home-based providers. Today, Efshar supports approximately 275 educators, 25 school leaders, more than 1,200 children, and over 900 families across Colorado.

As Board Chair, Korman is particularly excited about expanding access to high-quality Jewish early childhood education, strengthening partnerships with the Colorado Department of Early Childhood and other public entities, and supporting the growth of Jewish early childhood programs in underserved communities where young Jewish families live.

“Jen brings a deep understanding of both Jewish community-building and educational excellence,” said Pfaff. “Her personal experience, strategic perspective, and longstanding commitment to Jewish early childhood education make her the ideal leader to guide Efshar into its next chapter.”

Korman emphasized Efshar’s unique role in bringing together diverse Jewish communities around a shared commitment to children and families.

“One of the things I value most about Efshar is its ability to bring together programs and leaders across denominations in service of a common goal,” she said. “By investing in quality early childhood education and ensuring families have access to excellent programs, we are investing in the future vitality of Jewish life in Colorado.”

About The Efshar Project

The Efshar Project is a Colorado-based nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening Jewish early childhood education by advancing quality, expanding access, and fostering a connected network of Jewish early childhood programs and providers. Through leadership development, educator support, coaching, advocacy, and strategic partnerships, Efshar helps create thriving learning environments for children, families, and communities throughout Colorado.

Media Contact
Carly Schlafer
Director, Development and Marketing
The Efshar Project
cschlafer@efsharproject.org

For more information, visit www.efsharproject.org.