Hidden Sparks

What Hidden Sparks does

Hidden Sparks is a New York-based nonprofit organization founded in 2007 that delivers professional development, coaching, and parent education services to Jewish day schools across North America and Israel. The organization's core offering is its proprietary Learning Lenses framework, which trains educators to understand diverse learners through three analytical lenses: neurodevelopment, temperament, and classroom ecology. Supporting products include a four-day comprehensive Learning Lenses PD course ($199/registrant), Differentiated Instruction training ($150/registrant), Faculty and Peer Coaching Training, On-Site Coaching (weekly coach visits over a five-year engagement), Social-Emotional Learning programs, Free Interactive Webinars, the NYC Parent Education Center (free 1:1 counseling), and the Parent Learning Series. An External Coach Program is priced at $25,000 per school per year and includes five years of weekly visits.

The organization serves a narrow vertical—Jewish day schools and the educators and parents within them—operating from a headquarters in New York with regional operations in Jerusalem via partnership with the Society for the Advancement in Education (SAE). Go-to-market combines relationship-driven sales to school administrators, free webinars as top-of-funnel content, annual retreats (18th held March 2025), and presence at the Prizmah Conference. Since inception, Hidden Sparks has cumulatively trained approximately 8,000 educators, reached 3,000 parents, trained 400+ peer coaches, and partnered with 430+ Jewish day schools across 39 US states and 9 countries.

Revenue is generated through three streams: subsidized program/training fees, an External Coach Program at $25,000/year per school, and—most significantly—foundation grants and donations from a sustaining base of major funders including George Rohr Foundation, FJC (fiscal sponsor), The Covenant Foundation, UJA-Federation of New York, Polinger Foundation, CIJE, The Associated Jewish Federation of Baltimore, Avi Chai Foundation, and the Leo Oppenheimer & Flora Oppenheimer Haas Foundation. The organization operates with 1-10 employees, suggesting a lean operating model that leverages a distributed network of external coaches rather than a large in-house staff.

Name

Hidden Sparks

Legal name

Hidden Sparks

Website

https://hiddensparks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hidden Sparks is a nonprofit delivering professional development, coaching, and parent education programs to educators and parents in Jewish day schools across North America and Israel, using its proprietary Learning Lenses framework based on neurodevelopment, temperament, and ecology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Professional Development Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Gifted & Talented Education (GATE) Programs (EDAJAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Inclusion, Special Needs & Early Intervention Training (IEPs/IFSPs, Neurodiversity) (EDACAIAF)

Keywords

• Educator professional development
• Differentiated instruction
• Jewish day schools
• Social-emotional learning
• Parent education services

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Foundation Grants: Hidden Sparks is a nonprofit organization primarily funded through generous donors and foundation support. Major funders include George Rohr Foundation, FJC A Foundation of Philanthropic Funds, Polinger Foundation, CIJE, The Associated Jewish Federation of Baltimore, Leo Oppenheimer & Flora Oppenheimer Haas Foundation, UJA-Federation of New York, and The Covenant Foundation. Donations are tax-deductible and can be made via PayPal through fiscal sponsor FJC.
2. Program Fees for Training: Hidden Sparks charges registration fees for professional development courses: Learning Lenses course at $199 per registrant (includes kosher dairy lunch), and Differentiated Instruction at $150 per registrant. These fees are subsidized through donor support. CTLE hours available for $15 administrative fee per webinar.
3. Parent Education Center Services: The NYC Parent Education Center provides free services to parents of students attending NYC yeshivas or Jewish day schools, funded through grants and donations. Parent Learning Series has a highly subsidized cost with contact for pricing details.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hidden Sparks is a nonprofit organization that develops and delivers professional development courses, on-site coaching, workshops, and webinars for educators and parents in Jewish day schools. Its flagship Learning Lenses course uses neurodevelopment, temperament, and ecology frameworks to train teachers to support diverse learners, supplemented by Differentiated Instruction training, five-year on-site coaching programs, social-emotional learning programs, and a NYC Parent Education Center offering free 1:1 counseling.

Product overview

Hidden Sparks is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of professional development programs and coaching services for Jewish day school educators and parents. The core offerings include the Learning Lenses Comprehensive PD Course (a four-day foundational training using neurodevelopment, temperament, and ecology frameworks), Differentiated Instruction Training, On-Site Coaching (five-year intensive program with weekly coaching), and a Social Emotional Learning Program. These are supplemented by Faculty and Peer Coaching Training (add-on courses), Personalized Coaching and Workshops, and Free Interactive Webinars. For parents, the portfolio includes the NYC Parent Education Center (PEC) offering free 1:1 counseling and the Parent Learning Series for parents and caregivers. The organization also operates a regional program in Israel through partnership with the Society for the Advancement in Education. Together, these products form a comprehensive ecosystem supporting educators, parents, and students in Jewish day schools across North America and Israel.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Learning Lenses Comprehensive PD Course A four-day professional development course for Jewish day school educators that uses neurodevelopment, temperament, and ecology frameworks with real-life case studies to help teachers identify student strengths and challenges and develop strategies for all learners including those who struggle academically and socially. Topics include attention, memory, language, sequencing, social cognition, higher order thinking, and temperament. Priced at $199 per registrant.
• Differentiated Instruction Training Multi-school or on-site training program that helps educators rethink lessons with flexibility and multiple entry points so every student can thrive. Participants gain practical differentiation strategies customized to their grade level and subject. Priced at $150 per registrant.
• On-Site Coaching Comprehensive coaching engagement in which a Hidden Sparks coach spends one day per week for five years working with teams of Judaic and General Studies teachers, conducting classroom observations, mentoring teachers, and facilitating monthly Hidden Sparks meetings to review learning profiles and teaching strategies. Thousands of days of onsite teacher coaching provided.
• Faculty and Peer Coaching Training Two-day training program following the Learning Lenses course that trains administrators and educators to become resident coaches or peer coaches, embedding the Learning Lenses framework in their school's teaching practices through collaborative peer partnerships.
• Personalized Coaching and Workshops Custom one-on-one coaching and workshops designed for school teams, covering topics such as Navigating Difficult Conversations with Parents, Understanding Social Cognition, and Supporting Higher-Order Cognition.
• Social Emotional Learning Program Program that equips educators with classroom routines and practices that strengthen students' connection, engagement, and investment in school, covering topics such as language that transforms how kids think, feel, and achieve, normalizing vulnerability, and creating inclusive environments.
• Free Interactive Webinars Free interactive webinar series for Jewish day school educators, administrators, and parents that brings practical strategies and meaningful insights to refine classroom practice and expand understanding of learning, behavior, and differentiated instruction. CTLE credits available for $15 administrative fee.
• NYC Parent Education Center (PEC) Free confidential 1:1 counseling sessions and guidance for parents of students attending NYC yeshivas or Jewish day schools, covering social skills, organization, time management, and study skills. Delivered virtually by phone or Zoom.
• Parent Learning Series Course for parents and caregivers that helps them understand, support, and communicate with their children, covering learning profiles, social challenges, communication strategies, and partnering with teachers in Jewish day school settings.
• Hidden Sparks Israel Regional program partnered with the Society for the Advancement in Education (SAE) to bring Hidden Sparks training, coaching, and curriculum support to Israeli schools with translation of materials into Hebrew and Arabic. Recognized by the Israeli Ministry of Education for 60 continuing education credits. 42 peer coaches trained, 211 teachers coached in 9 schools across 5 cities, helping 1,825 students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8,000 educators trained since 2007
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, key, regional and supporting.

• Society for the Advancement in Education (SAE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Since 2014, Hidden Sparks has partnered with SAE to bring Hidden Sparks programs to Israeli schools. Together they have trained 42 peer coaches who have coached 211 teachers in 9 schools across 5 cities, helping 1,825 students. The curriculum has been translated into Hebrew and Arabic. Programs are recognized by the Ministry of Education for 60 continuing education credits.
• The Jewish Education ProjectkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with The Jewish Education Project to offer Learning Lenses courses in NYC. July 2026 course to be held at 1675 Broadway, NY, NY 10019 with joint marketing and registration support.
• REACH (Chicago)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerHidden Sparks partners with REACH to bring the Hidden Sparks program to Chicago schools. Expansion made possible with support of a Covenant Foundation grant.
• SHEMESH (Baltimore)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerHidden Sparks partners with SHEMESH to bring Hidden Sparks programs to Baltimore schools. Expansion made possible with support of a Covenant Foundation grant.
• Herzog GlobalregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Herzog Global, a division of Herzog College in Israel, to present an online course for Judaic Studies teachers focusing on differentiated instruction skills for 4th-12th grade classrooms. Asynchronous course taught by Hidden Sparks' Director of Education.
• Better LessonsupportingTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Better Lesson, a nationally recognized professional development agency, supported by the Avi Chai Foundation. 20 educators receive research-based instructional strategies directly into classrooms through one-on-one coaching.
• Catapult LearningsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHidden Sparks partnered with Catapult Learning to open the Parent Education Center (PEC) in Queens, the first in the borough to serve parents within the Jewish day school community.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• BetterLesson: BetterLesson is a national K-12 professional development provider offering coaching and workshops to educators. Hidden Sparks has an existing partnership with BetterLesson; competes for the same educator PD budget in adjacent (non-Jewish) school segments.
• Catapult Learning: Catapult Learning is a national provider of intervention, professional development, and school support services. Co-partnered with Hidden Sparks on the Queens Parent Education Center; competes in the broader K-12 PD and tutoring market.

Direct peers

• Gateways: Access to Jewish Education: Gateways provides Jewish special education services, professional development, and coaching in Jewish day schools and congregational schools. Highly comparable mission and customer base to Hidden Sparks, with overlap in differentiated instruction training.
• Matan: Matan is a Jewish education nonprofit that trains educators and supports Jewish day schools in inclusive practices for students with learning differences. Directly comparable as a vertical-specialist Jewish special education capacity-building organization.
• Yachad | National Jewish Council for Disabilities: Yachad supports inclusion of individuals with disabilities within the Jewish community, including programming in Jewish day schools. Comparable as a Jewish-special-education-focused organization, though broader in scope (lifespan rather than educator PD).

Regional players

• The Jewish Education Project: The Jewish Education Project is a Jewish education services organization serving NY-area schools and educators with PD and content. Direct strategic partner of Hidden Sparks (co-hosts courses); partially overlaps in adult Jewish learning PD.
• Society for the Advancement in Education (SAE): SAE is an Israeli nonprofit that operates the Hidden Sparks Israel program, having trained 42 peer coaches and coached 211 teachers in 9 Israeli schools. Closest functional peer for cross-border comparison of Hidden Sparks' international expansion model.
• REACH (Chicago): REACH brings Hidden Sparks programs to Chicago Jewish day schools. Acts as a regional reseller/partner for Hidden Sparks PD services and is comparable as a Jewish-education support organization in the Chicago metro.
• SHEMESH (Baltimore): SHEMESH provides Jewish special education support in Baltimore-area day schools. Partner organization that delivers Hidden Sparks programming locally; comparable as a Jewish-special-education capacity-building nonprofit in a specific region.

Others

• Prizmah Center for Jewish Day Schools: Prizmah is the central network and advocacy organization for Jewish day schools in North America. Not a PD competitor, but a key ecosystem partner and event channel (annual conference) for Hidden Sparks' GTM.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HiddenSparks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hidden-sparks
• Instagraminstagram.com/_hiddensparks

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hidden Sparks