Head of School Hebrew Academy Rabbi Alexander S. Gross Miami Beach, FL The Rabbi Alexander S. Gross Hebrew Academy (www.rasg.org) is a Jewish day school serving 570 students Early Childhood through grade 12. Hebrew Academy is an Orthodox school that welcomes and serves students and families of varied levels of religious observance. The school places equal emphasis on excellence in both college preparatory curriculum and traditional Judaic religious instruction. Students receive a strong and wellrounded education that prepares them for their own individual paths in life. Believing that all Jewish children have the right to a Jewish education, Rabbi Gross dedicated his life to developing the first Jewish day school south of Baltimore. In September 1947, with an enrollment of 80 students, the Greater Miami Hebrew Academy opened its heart and doors to welcome students into its bilingual program. Today the school is located in Miami Beach, two blocks from the ocean. The high school building is across the street from the main campus which houses the early childhood, lower and middle school divisions, as well as the administrative offices, chapel and recently completed (fall 2013) gymnasium. Hebrew Academy s commitment to excellence in Jewish and secular education makes it one of the leading Jewish day schools in Florida. The Hebrew Academy community seeks an innovative, knowledgeable, inspiring and committed leader to serve as Head of School beginning July 2014. This is a tremendous opportunity for an energetic leader who is eager to partner with the school s many invested stakeholders and build on the school s numerous strengths. VISION The Vision of the Hebrew Academy is to inspire and equip students to achieve their greatest potential academically and spiritually by focusing on their individual attributes and instilling eternal Torah values in a changing world. CORE VALUES We promote a love of Torah, Israel, and Learning. We encourage a sense of mutual responsibility for one another. We offer the highest standard of Judaic and General Studies education. We have staff members who are role models. We maximize every student's potential. We teach children how to learn and work together. We imbue within the students a strong moral character.
Hebrew Academy is a happy place to be. We offer an integrated education that is practical and fosters critical and creative thinking. We are committed to community service, to America and its democratic heritage. SCHOOL STRUCTURE and GOVERNANCE In addition to the Head of School, Hebrew Academy s core administrative team includes the Dean of Academic Affairs, Dean of Admissions & Institutional Advancement, Director of Development and Operations Coordinator. The four divisions are overseen by Coordinators in Early Childhood, Lower and Middle School and by two Assistant Principals in the High School. Additionally, there is a Director of Business & Human Resources, a Facilities Manager and a Registrar. The Board of Directors numbers twenty eight individuals and is committed to supporting the school s successful transition to the next Head of School. There are 120 faculty and staff. The faculty is compromised of a mix of longer-tenured and newer faculty. Faculty speak with sincerity about their commitments to the students, the strong school community and the mission. Faculty members appreciate the close relationships they develop with students and the positive collegiality amongst teaching staff. With a yearly operating budget of $8.5M, the school awards $2.5M annually in financial assistance to about 60% of the student body. During the 2012-13 school year, Hebrew Academy raised $1.8M in annual giving and has an endowment of $2M. The recently completed gymnasium project was enabled by $2.2M in donor gifts. Hebrew Academy is affiliated with the Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education, is a beneficiary of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and a member of the Yeshiva University School Partnership. ACCREDITATION A school of distinction, the Hebrew Academy has earned to accolades associated with accreditation from Advanc-ED and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. An ongoing relationship with this organization has been established for more than 30 years. The Association of Independent Schools of Florida (AISF), a leading accrediting agency along with the National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA), recognizes the high educational and professional standards adhered to by the Hebrew Academy. The Florida Department of Children and Families has issued the Gold Seal Quality of Care certificate to the Early Childhood Education program. Quality Counts, an accreditation agency with Miami-Dade County, has played a significant role in training Early Childhood personnel and has overwhelmingly recognized the program for its outstanding work. ACADEMIC, ARTS and ATHLETIC PROGRAMS Hebrew Academy is committed to ensuring students receive an excellent education in general and Judaic studies. The Early Childhood program, which currently serves 99 children,
offers programs for children as young as six-weeks-old (primarily providing a wonderful day care option for faculty parents) through Pre-Kindergarten. The Elementary School, Kindergarten through grade 5, serves 227 students. There are 99 students currently enrolled in Middle School, grades 6 though 8, and 144 students in the High School. Candidates are encouraged to explore each division s curriculum and offerings as detailed on the website. Early Childhood offers a developmentally and age appropriate, hands on program. Classroom activities, davening in circle time, outdoor play and thematic curricula, including opportunities for literacy and language development in both Hebrew and English are central to the program. Elementary school provides students with rigorous learning in a dual and integrated curriculum. Skills introduced in math, language arts, science, social studies, Chumash, Halacha, Tefillah, Mishnah and Ivrit are complimented each week with music, art, computers and technology, and media center experiences that bring content full circle. Beginning in grade three, classrooms are gender separated. When General Studies classes are leveled, boys and girls study together in the Middle and High School. In Middle School, academic subjects become departmentalized across the broad spectrum of Judaic and general studies. The middle school experience encourages growth in organizational skills and time management and also includes a thoughtful commitment to a student s personal and social growth. The High School offer students a wide range of traditional college preparatory classes, including Advanced Placement opportunities, and Judaic Studies courses in Chumash, Navi, Talmud, and Conversational Hebrew, as well as Judaic Studies electives. The High School typically graduates classes of about 40 students, with virtually all graduates attending fouryear colleges or yeshiva upon graduation or after a gap year. In addition to the academic program, Hebrew Academy has a commitment to extracurricular and athletic activities. Hebrew Academy was the first school to require community service hours for graduation, and community services opportunities abound. Clubs include Model UN and National Honor Society, as well as ones based on interest. Additionally, students are offered musical and performing arts opportunities through elementary school and a Fine Arts program K-12 in the recently renovated Art studio. An active intramural and competitive athletic program offers options in karate, volleyball, soccer, basketball, tennis and baseball. Hebrew Academy athletes compete as the Warriors in the Florida High School Athletic Association. OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES Hebrew Academy is a school of many strengths. A new Head of School will have the opportunity to lead efforts to build on these through partnering with an invested Board,
loyal faculty and a committed parent body, all in service of providing a strong community and excellent educational program for a positive, engaging student body. In order to promote the school s continued success and competitiveness in a region with a number of other strong educational alternatives, it will be essential to articulate clearly and market effectively the values of a Hebrew Academy education. A Head of School who understands and embraces the complexities and joys of leading a school community grounded in Orthodox values while welcoming families from varying levels of observance will help Hebrew Academy articulate its values and define itself effectively for families looking for the right educational community for their children. Throughout the school s four divisions, the strengths of the academic program can be seen, but there are opportunities to coalesce faculty school-wide to ensure and articulate a cohesive program Early Childhood through grade 12, defining a shared vision regarding essential outcomes. Thus, a leader who can enthusiastically lead a process that brings faculty from all divisions together to examine the curriculum, ensure its relevance in terms of well-preparing students for the 21st century, will be well matched to address this challenge and will underscore the school s commitment to academic excellence. As the new Head of School becomes acquainted with the school community, developing a plan as to how to communicate effectively with the school s many stakeholders will be a strong initial step in meeting the community s desire for enhanced communications. Additionally, the new Head of School will have the opportunity to assess the administrative structure in order to ensure that it effectively serves and supports the school s needs and constituents. Stakeholders will appreciate communication that clarifies administrator roles and responsibilities. Like many independent schools in today s economically challenging times, Hebrew Academy needs to continue to work toward a financially sustainable model that will enable the school to support students across the socio-economic spectrum, ensure competitive faculty compensation, enhance the physical plant and provide the additional resources for strong professional development opportunities and innovative program enhancements. A Head of School who embraces the role of chief ambassador, inspires others to invest in the future of the school and develops strategic partnerships will serve the school well in shoring up its financial base. A confident Head of School who is well versed in school governance will be able to work effectively with the Board of Directors to build a positive leadership partnership and ensure clarity of roles which will serve the school well in achieving its strategic initiatives. LEADERSHIP NEEDS Hebrew Academy is a school that greatly values community and relationships and needs a leader who will thrive in this culture. A Head of School who is highly visible, joyfully builds relationships and invites and fosters a culture of communication and collaboration will be
well-received. Additionally, a leader who is energized by building relationships and partnerships with organizations and individuals in the greater Miami community will enhance opportunities for the school. Social intelligence, vision, alignment with mission as well as visibility and accessibility will be important traits in the successful candidate. He or she will enthusiastically embrace the school s Orthodox mission, model its tenets and serve as a sincere and energetic member of the community. The successful candidate will be a confident, hard-working, strategic and creative leader who: Has the ability to inspire and execute as an educational and intellectual leader Is Jewishly knowledgeable, ritually observant, and embraces the school s mission Has a track record of successful relationship building, fund-raising and marketing and is excited about serving as the school s chief ambassador, communicating Hebrew Academy s mission adeptly and authentically Has well-honed strategic skills, including the ability to initiate and manage change and to build and work with effective and well-functioning teams Connects genuinely, warmly and joyfully with students, parents and faculty Will coalesce the school community through strong two-way communication and active, visible leadership Leads with clarity and high expectations, building a culture of trust, respect and accountability Utilizes a decision-making style that is open to appropriate input from constituents and balances collaboration and decisiveness Has excellent written and verbal communication skills Is skilled at integrating groups and building partnerships The opportunity to lead Hebrew Academy is an opportunity to lead a vibrant school and school community. It is a position for an individual of boundless energy whose enthusiasm for leading will be apparent to all. The ideal candidate will be an individual who has a track record of success as a leader and is a perceptive, knowledgeable, a strong communicator, listener and relationship builder. This is a great opportunity for an experienced, enthusiastic and good humored professional to enhance a strong school. FOR CONSIDERATION Please send electronically: Resume, Letter of Interest and Educational Philosophy or Personal Statement to: Jane Armstrong or Bill Lyons, Managing Partners Independent Thinking it@independent-thinking.com 617-332-3131 Hebrew Academy offers a competitive salary and benefits. All inquiries will be treated confidentially and review of candidate files will begin immediately.