1. Board relationships
Serve as the chief liaison between the school and the Board. He/she keeps the Board informed of pertinent matters at the school, and educates the faculty/staff about the Board's activities.
2. Organization
Create and organize the management team and work to produce smooth day-to-day operations.
3. Planning and analysis
Assist the Board with their strategic and long range planning while also developing tactical plans with the management team. He/she must also stay abreast of trends in education and school management.
4. Programs
Either assist with or oversee the design, implementation, and administration of student programs and services appropriate to the school's mission and the needs of those enrolled. In addition, the Head must help set standards of participation and achievement in each category: academics, co-curriculars, and character development.
5. Personnel
Define the school's teaching and non-teaching needs, hire appropriate personnel, set standards for growth and performance, and foster harmony among all staff members.
6. Program and service support
Administer efforts to provide support for academic programs, in such areas as facilities, equipment, etc., and assure that comprehensive school records are maintained as required by the Board and by law.
7. Environment
Work to create a positive environment (physical and emotional), which includes ensuring campus safety, administering rules and procedures for students, and promoting harmonious relationships among the administration, faculty, staff, and students.
8. Finance
Duties include working with the Board's Finance Committee on financial plans and the annual budget, working with the Business Manager to maintain the smooth financial operation of the school, and helping set tuition rates and salary increases annually.
9. Enrollment and recruitment
Recommend enrollment objectives with respect to numbers, character, and quality; and oversee the implementation of marketing and scholarship programs.
10. Fund raising
Advise the Board on fund-raising needs and plans, become personally involved in cultivation and solicitation for major gifts, and maintain a good working relationship with the Development Office.
11. Constituent relations
Help encourage and maintain meaningful relationships with parents, alumni, past parents, special interest groups, and the community.
12. Institutional image
The main responsibility is to function as a spokesperson for the school and to become a personification of the institution.
13. Plant management
Supervise the operation and maintenance of all school facilities, approve expenditures, and recommend necessary changes.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
The Thirteen Attributes of a Head of School.
I don't know whether ISM had the Thirteen Attributes of God from Parshat Ki Tisa in mind when it prepared this, or what statement ISM was intending when it chose the number 13 to apply to a Head of School, but the following is a list ISM created regarding the 13 responsibilities of a Head of School:
Monday, December 29, 2008
California Association of Independent Schools Awards Accreditation to Kadima.
Today we learned that CAIS-the California Association of Independent Schools--awarded its accreditation to Kadima This award, along with Kadima's WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) accreditation, puts Kadima along side all of the top independent schools in nation.
Throughout the entire search process, the Committee has been receiving guidance produced by NAIS, which is the national version of CAIS. NAIS has its pulse on the independent school world, and promotes best practices. We've received a variety of data regarding economic issues and other important management topics from NAIS. While there are other management consultants focusing on independent schools--such as Independent School Management--NAIS offers the broadest, clearest, simplest, and most realistic advice. Certainly, from a Head of School search perspective, following the NAIS approach--which we are doing at Kadima--immediately offers a level of professionalism and confidence to potential applicants.
Most importantly, however, the accreditation also means that WASC and CAIS--both independent agencies--have certified that Kadima is delivering the type of educational results it is promising. It is a "seal of approval" by the two most important accrediting agencies in the United States.
Good news for Kadima.
Throughout the entire search process, the Committee has been receiving guidance produced by NAIS, which is the national version of CAIS. NAIS has its pulse on the independent school world, and promotes best practices. We've received a variety of data regarding economic issues and other important management topics from NAIS. While there are other management consultants focusing on independent schools--such as Independent School Management--NAIS offers the broadest, clearest, simplest, and most realistic advice. Certainly, from a Head of School search perspective, following the NAIS approach--which we are doing at Kadima--immediately offers a level of professionalism and confidence to potential applicants.
Most importantly, however, the accreditation also means that WASC and CAIS--both independent agencies--have certified that Kadima is delivering the type of educational results it is promising. It is a "seal of approval" by the two most important accrediting agencies in the United States.
Good news for Kadima.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Quiet Time.
With the kids on vacation from school, and the world slowing down for the end of the secular year, postings may be somewhat sporadic through the rest of the year. The Committee has meetings set for the beginning of the year, after which there be much more news about the search and about Kadima.
We hope everyone has a healthy, fulfilling, safe and happy new year.
We hope everyone has a healthy, fulfilling, safe and happy new year.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
We Made the LA Times!
Check this out!
Front page, California section, on Sunday.
A great story and great publicity for the school's effort to respond to the present economic downturn.
Front page, California section, on Sunday.
A great story and great publicity for the school's effort to respond to the present economic downturn.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Some Good News for the Jewish High Schools...
Like most everyone else, we've been following the Madoff scandal. Fortunately, there was also some good news this week in the Jewish philanthropic community. The Jim Joseph Foundation has launched a pilot program in Los Angeles to make available financial aid funds for five Jewish high schools in Los Angeles. It is estimated that the funds, totalling over $12 million, will pay for up to 600 scholarships for high school students. The Jewish Journal gives the complete story here. This is great news, but it can only be the beginning. This gift will help the high schools, it won't help the other Jewish day schools whose families also desperately need the relief. The danger is that families who leave Jewish day school early may not return for high school.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
PEJE Head of School Search Conference
Today, some members of the Search Committee attended a conference call held by PEJE focusing on techniques for interviewing Head of School candidates. On the panel were two members of a Search Committee and a recently hired Head of School.
The discussion was interesting and useful. PEJE provided a whole list of potential questions for the Search Committee to use when it begins interviews of candidates. We also discussed some pitfalls to avoid.
We also heard how difficult finding the right candidate can be. But we are lucky to be in Los Angeles. It is much harder to find candidates when you are Kadimah School in Buffalo, New York, than when you are Kadima Hebrew Academy in West Hills, California.
The discussion was interesting and useful. PEJE provided a whole list of potential questions for the Search Committee to use when it begins interviews of candidates. We also discussed some pitfalls to avoid.
We also heard how difficult finding the right candidate can be. But we are lucky to be in Los Angeles. It is much harder to find candidates when you are Kadimah School in Buffalo, New York, than when you are Kadima Hebrew Academy in West Hills, California.
Are We Haimish?
Many people in the Kadima community often refer to our school as being haimish which means generally cozy or unpretentious. These are good values; the last thing we need is more pomposity and pretentiousness in our school community. I think it is wonderful that we can view our school as haimish and not elitist.
However, we have to be careful. In our zeal to be unpretentious and non-elitist, we have to be careful not to risk lowering our goals and accepting less than true excellence in our practices. For these reasons, Jewish communal professionals often cringe when they hear an organization defined as "haimish." They recognize that an organization might describe itself as "haimish" and thus not strive for excellence since "good enough" is fine; after all, the organization is haimish.
Kadima's leadership has had discussions about this in the past. We certainly want Kadima to be haimish; a place that is comfortable, accessible, warm, and communal. We think that it is, and we don't want to change it. But we also will not use, and never have used, the idea that we are haimish as an excuse for accepting mediocrity at our school. We remain committed, in all of our practices, to high standards and excellence. And to being haimish, too.
However, we have to be careful. In our zeal to be unpretentious and non-elitist, we have to be careful not to risk lowering our goals and accepting less than true excellence in our practices. For these reasons, Jewish communal professionals often cringe when they hear an organization defined as "haimish." They recognize that an organization might describe itself as "haimish" and thus not strive for excellence since "good enough" is fine; after all, the organization is haimish.
Kadima's leadership has had discussions about this in the past. We certainly want Kadima to be haimish; a place that is comfortable, accessible, warm, and communal. We think that it is, and we don't want to change it. But we also will not use, and never have used, the idea that we are haimish as an excuse for accepting mediocrity at our school. We remain committed, in all of our practices, to high standards and excellence. And to being haimish, too.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Monday's Meeting and Other Issues.
The Committee had a very interesting and productive meeting last night. As I have noted, much of our discussions and procedures must remain confidential. We can say that the Committee made a variety of decisions that we hope will move our effort forward. We have an excellent Search Committee; every meeting brings interesting and meaningful discussions.
_____________
I have received some questions about the Committee's focus in finding the right Head of School for Kadima, and in particular, our stated desire to find a charismatic leader who can develop and implement the school's vision, raise funds, hire great teachers, and ultimately, bring more students to the school. While we believe that education experience, because Kadima is a school and education is a fundamental part of Kadima's mission, is inherent in these qualifications, our discussion about the differences between Head of School and Principal may have created some confusion. Moreover, because Dr. Gereboff was, in the past year, serving as principal of the elementary school as well as Head of School, it is natural that there might be some concern about who, if not the new Head, is going to be spending most of their time handling the details related to educational issues.
We want to assure everyone that neither the Committee nor the Board has forgotten about educational issues. We know that Kadima is, at its heart, a school. Part of the problem with this process is that much of it has to be confidential because it involves employment related issues and people's careers, so we just cannot speak freely about everything that is discussed in our meetings. This is especially true at this point, where we are in a particularly sensitive stage of the process.
Nonetheless, we can say that we are looking for a leader for a school; this means that the person we seek, absent some other extraordinary qualifications, will likely be a person who has substantial education experience.
We ask, in the meantime, for your patience during the next few weeks as we move forward with the selection process.
_____________
I have received some questions about the Committee's focus in finding the right Head of School for Kadima, and in particular, our stated desire to find a charismatic leader who can develop and implement the school's vision, raise funds, hire great teachers, and ultimately, bring more students to the school. While we believe that education experience, because Kadima is a school and education is a fundamental part of Kadima's mission, is inherent in these qualifications, our discussion about the differences between Head of School and Principal may have created some confusion. Moreover, because Dr. Gereboff was, in the past year, serving as principal of the elementary school as well as Head of School, it is natural that there might be some concern about who, if not the new Head, is going to be spending most of their time handling the details related to educational issues.
We want to assure everyone that neither the Committee nor the Board has forgotten about educational issues. We know that Kadima is, at its heart, a school. Part of the problem with this process is that much of it has to be confidential because it involves employment related issues and people's careers, so we just cannot speak freely about everything that is discussed in our meetings. This is especially true at this point, where we are in a particularly sensitive stage of the process.
Nonetheless, we can say that we are looking for a leader for a school; this means that the person we seek, absent some other extraordinary qualifications, will likely be a person who has substantial education experience.
We ask, in the meantime, for your patience during the next few weeks as we move forward with the selection process.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
The Process Continues.
On Monday night, after a two week hiatus, the Search Committee is meeting to discuss various potential candidates for the Head of School position. We've received a variety of applications and believe that we have a good candidate pool at this point. We are continuing to receive applications and resumes, and this process will continue until we have engaged a new Head of School.
We can't talk about specifics at this point. Candidates have their own jobs, and it is imperative that we keep our discussions and the identities of potential candidates confidential. What we can talk about is how our process will proceed from here.
The next phase will likely involve semi-finalists. It is always possible that we will get lucky and find the magic candidate right away, but normally, the next phase will be face to face interviews with semi-finalists. These candidates will get to visit the school, visit some of the administration and staff, and then meet with the Search Committee for an extensive interview. Even before this happens, however, we may conduct some telephone interviews to discuss the position with potential applicants so we can gain a better sense of them before we meet with them. Moreover, the Committee will be formulating its interview procedures and questions. If any of you have any particular questions you'd like to ask Head of School candidates, please feel free to email them to us at kadimaheadsearch@gmail.com.
We're sorry that the process has to remain a bit under the radar for now. But we can assure you that the process is moving forward. And stay tuned to this blog; we'll keep posting updates and comments as the process proceeds.
We can't talk about specifics at this point. Candidates have their own jobs, and it is imperative that we keep our discussions and the identities of potential candidates confidential. What we can talk about is how our process will proceed from here.
The next phase will likely involve semi-finalists. It is always possible that we will get lucky and find the magic candidate right away, but normally, the next phase will be face to face interviews with semi-finalists. These candidates will get to visit the school, visit some of the administration and staff, and then meet with the Search Committee for an extensive interview. Even before this happens, however, we may conduct some telephone interviews to discuss the position with potential applicants so we can gain a better sense of them before we meet with them. Moreover, the Committee will be formulating its interview procedures and questions. If any of you have any particular questions you'd like to ask Head of School candidates, please feel free to email them to us at kadimaheadsearch@gmail.com.
We're sorry that the process has to remain a bit under the radar for now. But we can assure you that the process is moving forward. And stay tuned to this blog; we'll keep posting updates and comments as the process proceeds.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Jewish Journal Reports on Tuition Plan.
The Jewish Journal published a terrific story on Kadima's tuition plan in today's edition.
There is one aspect of the story that needs a bit of clarification. The story compares Kadima's tuition to the tuition charged at Temple Beth Am's Pressman Academy, Valley Beth Shalom's Schulweis Day School, and Sinai Temple's Akiba Academy, but fails to note that all of these schools are synagogue day schools; Kadima, of course, is an independent day school.
They are not the same. Unlike Kadima (or Heschel West or A.J. Heschel Day School), which is completely independent, synagogue day schools are usually subsidized by their affiliated synagogues (and also by the many members of those synagogues) and thus can charge less tuition than independent schools. However, most, if not all, synagogue day schools also require families to also pay for synagogue membership, which can easily cost more than $2,000 per family above the cost of "tuition". When synagogue membership costs are included, the differences in real costs between an independent school and a synagogue school virtually disappear. Viewed in this light, it is clear that Kadima's tuition plan represents a significant drop in the cost of Jewish Day School and that its new cost is hardly "middle of the road" as stated in the story.
Still, the story makes the central point: Kadima has taken a stand to help people afford Jewish Day School.
There is one aspect of the story that needs a bit of clarification. The story compares Kadima's tuition to the tuition charged at Temple Beth Am's Pressman Academy, Valley Beth Shalom's Schulweis Day School, and Sinai Temple's Akiba Academy, but fails to note that all of these schools are synagogue day schools; Kadima, of course, is an independent day school.
They are not the same. Unlike Kadima (or Heschel West or A.J. Heschel Day School), which is completely independent, synagogue day schools are usually subsidized by their affiliated synagogues (and also by the many members of those synagogues) and thus can charge less tuition than independent schools. However, most, if not all, synagogue day schools also require families to also pay for synagogue membership, which can easily cost more than $2,000 per family above the cost of "tuition". When synagogue membership costs are included, the differences in real costs between an independent school and a synagogue school virtually disappear. Viewed in this light, it is clear that Kadima's tuition plan represents a significant drop in the cost of Jewish Day School and that its new cost is hardly "middle of the road" as stated in the story.
Still, the story makes the central point: Kadima has taken a stand to help people afford Jewish Day School.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Kadima's Press Release on Tuition Plan
Here's Kadima's formal press release on its tuition plan.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For information, contact:
Phyllis Folb Michelle Starkman
The Phylmar Group Director of Admissions
310/474-3937 818/444-8820 x125
pfolb@phylmar.com info@khwms.org
KADIMA HEBREW ACADEMY/KADIMA HESCHEL WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL
ANNOUNCES COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP TO LOWER TUITION
West Hills, December 2, 2008 - Kadima Hebrew Academy/Kadima Heschel West Middle
School announced today it will reduce the cost of tuition for the 2009-2010 academic
year as part of a new Community Tuition Partnership.
“We believe an excellent Jewish education should be affordable for everyone,” said Dr.
Barbara Gereboff, Head of School for Kadima Hebrew Academy/Kadima Heschel West.
“In this economy, Jewish education is one investment with guaranteed returns.” The
reduced tuition structure will benefit existing families, new families to the school and the
greater community. “Kadima is taking a stand for the middle-income Jewish family –
we’re addressing economic realities and doing our part to not only offer an exceptional
academic curriculum, but also to ensure Jewish continuity. Jewish day school graduates
are the leaders of tomorrow, not only within the Jewish community, but in the
community-at-large,” said Shawn Evenhaim, President of the Board of Trustees for
Kadima.
Through a unanimous decision, the Board of Trustees voted to reduce tuition an average
of 20% for students enrolled from Kindergarten through 8th grade. This initiative is
supported by a generous partnership within the school’s community as well as private
donors. The school will continue offering its dynamic and enriched academic education
without sacrificing any components of its program.
Kadima Hebrew Academy/Kadima Heschel West is dedicated to educating children of
diverse backgrounds through an outstanding General Studies curriculum that prepares
them for success in top high schools and universities. The Judaic Studies program
connects children to their community while nurturing compassionate, ethical, and
socially responsible individuals. Kadima graduates leave with excellent academic
preparation as well as a clear understanding of their Jewish values.
For admissions information please contact the Admissions Department at 818/346-0849
x339 or email admissions@kadimaacademy.org or info@khwms.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For information, contact:
Phyllis Folb Michelle Starkman
The Phylmar Group Director of Admissions
310/474-3937 818/444-8820 x125
pfolb@phylmar.com info@khwms.org
KADIMA HEBREW ACADEMY/KADIMA HESCHEL WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL
ANNOUNCES COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP TO LOWER TUITION
West Hills, December 2, 2008 - Kadima Hebrew Academy/Kadima Heschel West Middle
School announced today it will reduce the cost of tuition for the 2009-2010 academic
year as part of a new Community Tuition Partnership.
“We believe an excellent Jewish education should be affordable for everyone,” said Dr.
Barbara Gereboff, Head of School for Kadima Hebrew Academy/Kadima Heschel West.
“In this economy, Jewish education is one investment with guaranteed returns.” The
reduced tuition structure will benefit existing families, new families to the school and the
greater community. “Kadima is taking a stand for the middle-income Jewish family –
we’re addressing economic realities and doing our part to not only offer an exceptional
academic curriculum, but also to ensure Jewish continuity. Jewish day school graduates
are the leaders of tomorrow, not only within the Jewish community, but in the
community-at-large,” said Shawn Evenhaim, President of the Board of Trustees for
Kadima.
Through a unanimous decision, the Board of Trustees voted to reduce tuition an average
of 20% for students enrolled from Kindergarten through 8th grade. This initiative is
supported by a generous partnership within the school’s community as well as private
donors. The school will continue offering its dynamic and enriched academic education
without sacrificing any components of its program.
Kadima Hebrew Academy/Kadima Heschel West is dedicated to educating children of
diverse backgrounds through an outstanding General Studies curriculum that prepares
them for success in top high schools and universities. The Judaic Studies program
connects children to their community while nurturing compassionate, ethical, and
socially responsible individuals. Kadima graduates leave with excellent academic
preparation as well as a clear understanding of their Jewish values.
For admissions information please contact the Admissions Department at 818/346-0849
x339 or email admissions@kadimaacademy.org or info@khwms.org.
More Wisdom from NAIS
The National Association of Independent Schools is the preeminent organization of independent (private) schools in the United States. NAIS's president, Patrick Bassett, writes a column, and lately he's been focused upon the effect of the present economic situation on independent schools.
In his most recent column Bassett points out that schools are getting a wide variety of advice about how to handle tuition issues. Bassett opines that school will only succeed if it can set its tuition level such that it presents the best value (i.e., people believe that the education is worth the price) for parents. Simply demanding higher and higher tuition fees is not enough.
This is a potentially seismic shift in the thinking about private school tuition. The present economic crisis is forcing schools to innovate in their financial management and funding methodologies. Previously, the conventional wisdom encouraged schools to raise their tuition every year because the reality is that a good education costs a lot of money. This model no longer works. Schools cannot simply continue to raise their prices and hope that their stakeholders will find a way to pay for it, because the stakeholders can't and they won't. As Bassett notes, such a model is simply "unsustainable."
And so last night Kadima made a huge step in this direction. By reducing the tuition--essentially providing financial aid for everyone--but also encouraging and demanding its stakeholders to help make it work, either through direct support or working hard to increase enrollment--Kadima is truly engaging in the kind of forward thinking and creative action espoused by the experts at NAIS.
In his most recent column Bassett points out that schools are getting a wide variety of advice about how to handle tuition issues. Bassett opines that school will only succeed if it can set its tuition level such that it presents the best value (i.e., people believe that the education is worth the price) for parents. Simply demanding higher and higher tuition fees is not enough.
This is a potentially seismic shift in the thinking about private school tuition. The present economic crisis is forcing schools to innovate in their financial management and funding methodologies. Previously, the conventional wisdom encouraged schools to raise their tuition every year because the reality is that a good education costs a lot of money. This model no longer works. Schools cannot simply continue to raise their prices and hope that their stakeholders will find a way to pay for it, because the stakeholders can't and they won't. As Bassett notes, such a model is simply "unsustainable."
And so last night Kadima made a huge step in this direction. By reducing the tuition--essentially providing financial aid for everyone--but also encouraging and demanding its stakeholders to help make it work, either through direct support or working hard to increase enrollment--Kadima is truly engaging in the kind of forward thinking and creative action espoused by the experts at NAIS.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
The Night Kadima Made History.
What an evening!
Tonight we heard the big news about Kadima's Community Tuition Partnership. After several months of planning the Board of Trustees announced that Kadima will be dropping its tuition for the 2009-2010 school year by approximately 20 percent for elementary school and for Kadima Heschel West Middle School. Here's the comparison between this year and next year's tuition:
In a stirring call to action, and at the end of extradordinary speeches by alumni, administration, and Board leadership, Rabbi Stewart Vogel of Temple Aliyah praised Kadima's decision and urged its stakeholders to serve as Pioneers, Partners and Ambassadors. Kadima's decision to lower tuition--when the recent history of private schools has been to raise tuition--is pioneering. Its decision puts Kadima--and its stakeholders--at the vanguard of Jewish Day School education. Yet, the effort will only work if the school and its community partner by working together to bring financial support and new students to the school Finally, the stakeholders must serve as ambassadors to spread the good news about Kadima's program.
It was a historic evening.
Tonight we heard the big news about Kadima's Community Tuition Partnership. After several months of planning the Board of Trustees announced that Kadima will be dropping its tuition for the 2009-2010 school year by approximately 20 percent for elementary school and for Kadima Heschel West Middle School. Here's the comparison between this year and next year's tuition:
In a stirring call to action, and at the end of extradordinary speeches by alumni, administration, and Board leadership, Rabbi Stewart Vogel of Temple Aliyah praised Kadima's decision and urged its stakeholders to serve as Pioneers, Partners and Ambassadors. Kadima's decision to lower tuition--when the recent history of private schools has been to raise tuition--is pioneering. Its decision puts Kadima--and its stakeholders--at the vanguard of Jewish Day School education. Yet, the effort will only work if the school and its community partner by working together to bring financial support and new students to the school Finally, the stakeholders must serve as ambassadors to spread the good news about Kadima's program.
It was a historic evening.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Economic Realities and The Need for Action.
Tomorrow night, the Kadima Board of Trustees will be holding an incredibly exciting and critical meeting regarding its Community Tuition Partnership. It is important for all parents to attend this meeting.
It is well established that economic downturns--especially bad ones like the present one--affect Jewish Day Schools. Way back in 2003 during the last recession--which was nothing like the present one in terms of severity--a study was done by the Avi Chai Foundation concerning the affect of the economic downturn on Jewish Day Schools. The study concluded that:
"It is quite clear that for most day schools, the current economic downturn has had
a pronounced adverse impact, affecting them in a variety of ways: enrollment,
tuition arrearages, scholarship applications, fundraising, and staffing capabilities.
It has also affected the families of day school students, among whom there are
clearly a number who are experiencing stress. Moreover, many of the consequences
of the situation are still unfolding. There is reason to believe that there may
be an even greater negative impact in the school year that has just opened on
school finances and enrollment. "
The Kadima Board of Trustees recognizes this reality. And the Board stands ready to try to do something about it. Tomorrow's meeting will be the first step in this plan. It is important that all members of the Kadima community attend this meeting.
It is well established that economic downturns--especially bad ones like the present one--affect Jewish Day Schools. Way back in 2003 during the last recession--which was nothing like the present one in terms of severity--a study was done by the Avi Chai Foundation concerning the affect of the economic downturn on Jewish Day Schools. The study concluded that:
"It is quite clear that for most day schools, the current economic downturn has had
a pronounced adverse impact, affecting them in a variety of ways: enrollment,
tuition arrearages, scholarship applications, fundraising, and staffing capabilities.
It has also affected the families of day school students, among whom there are
clearly a number who are experiencing stress. Moreover, many of the consequences
of the situation are still unfolding. There is reason to believe that there may
be an even greater negative impact in the school year that has just opened on
school finances and enrollment. "
The Kadima Board of Trustees recognizes this reality. And the Board stands ready to try to do something about it. Tomorrow's meeting will be the first step in this plan. It is important that all members of the Kadima community attend this meeting.
Friday, December 5, 2008
A Quick Note About The Process.
The Committee plans to meet on December 15, 2008 to discuss the results of our initial round of advertising, as well as the various contacts and communications made by Committee members themselves. We will be reviewing potential candidates in our pool as well as examining the state of the candidate pool in general. We will also be discussing various other aspects related to the search process.
It is possible that we may find, from the initial round of resumes, that we have enough semi-finalists and we want to conduct personal interviews immediately. It is also possible that we will find that we have no semi-finalists. It is also possible that we may have a few semi-finalists, but need or want to look further. Or it may be that we want to conduct telephone interviews before deciding whether to bring any candidates back to the school for an interview. In short, there are a variety of permutations and possibilities, and it is impossible for us to determine, until the Committee meets and discusses it, whether this will be a quick search or a long one.
As we have said from the beginning, while we recognize the need to find a Head of School fast, we are mindful that our most important task is finding the right Head of School for Kadima.
Remember, good things come to those who wait.
Shabbat Shalom.
It is possible that we may find, from the initial round of resumes, that we have enough semi-finalists and we want to conduct personal interviews immediately. It is also possible that we will find that we have no semi-finalists. It is also possible that we may have a few semi-finalists, but need or want to look further. Or it may be that we want to conduct telephone interviews before deciding whether to bring any candidates back to the school for an interview. In short, there are a variety of permutations and possibilities, and it is impossible for us to determine, until the Committee meets and discusses it, whether this will be a quick search or a long one.
As we have said from the beginning, while we recognize the need to find a Head of School fast, we are mindful that our most important task is finding the right Head of School for Kadima.
Remember, good things come to those who wait.
Shabbat Shalom.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Technology. Laptops. Excitement.
Last night, my sixth grader brought home his school issued Macbook for the first time. All of our Middle School students get their own laptops to use during their three years at the Middle School. The technology teacher had given the class specific instructions--followed up by an email to the parents--about how he was to care for the computer. He was thrilled to have the laptop, and excited to show all of its parts and software to the rest of the family. We were thrilled that he knew how to use the laptop and was learning to use it as a tool to complete his work, and that it was not just a toy.
We routinely speak about the need to teach our children to compete in a highly technological world and highly competitive world. At the Middle School, our technology program truly is second to none. We teach kids not only how computers work, but also how to work with computers. Whether it is downloading assignments from the school's website (the Middle School uses a great program, First Class, to connect the students and parents to the school's academic world), using software to create a musical composition, reviewing teachers' notes on line, learning to keyboard, or mastering software, the most important thing is that the technology program is fully integrated with the rest of the educational program. As our Middle School students use their computers for all of their regular subjects, "technology" becomes less of a class in itself (although students continue to learn about technology as a subject) and more a mechanism for them to use to achieve their educational goals. Just we all use our computers to accomplish certain tasks, our students similarly use their computers. A brief description of the Middle School's technology program is here.
We know that this off topic again, but one of the privileges of running a blog is that the author gets to go off topic sometimes. Rather than have the blog go silent while we review the resumes that arrive, this blog is a valuable tool to help our community remain connected to Kadima.
We routinely speak about the need to teach our children to compete in a highly technological world and highly competitive world. At the Middle School, our technology program truly is second to none. We teach kids not only how computers work, but also how to work with computers. Whether it is downloading assignments from the school's website (the Middle School uses a great program, First Class, to connect the students and parents to the school's academic world), using software to create a musical composition, reviewing teachers' notes on line, learning to keyboard, or mastering software, the most important thing is that the technology program is fully integrated with the rest of the educational program. As our Middle School students use their computers for all of their regular subjects, "technology" becomes less of a class in itself (although students continue to learn about technology as a subject) and more a mechanism for them to use to achieve their educational goals. Just we all use our computers to accomplish certain tasks, our students similarly use their computers. A brief description of the Middle School's technology program is here.
We know that this off topic again, but one of the privileges of running a blog is that the author gets to go off topic sometimes. Rather than have the blog go silent while we review the resumes that arrive, this blog is a valuable tool to help our community remain connected to Kadima.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
An Important Meeting
This is somewhat off topic, but we wanted to remind all of our stakeholders to attend the very important meeting at the school on December 9 at 7:00 p.m. Our Board will be presenting important information regarding a revolutionary new model for addressing the cost of Jewish Day School education, so it is important that you all try to attend.
We know that these are difficult economic times. Educators around the country are trying to address the issue. For one interesting take on the economic downturn's potential effect upon private school education from the leader of the National Association of Independent Schools, take a look here.
With regard to our search, you can see our first on line advertisement here. We expect additional advertisements to be placed in the coming days.
We know that these are difficult economic times. Educators around the country are trying to address the issue. For one interesting take on the economic downturn's potential effect upon private school education from the leader of the National Association of Independent Schools, take a look here.
With regard to our search, you can see our first on line advertisement here. We expect additional advertisements to be placed in the coming days.
Monday, December 1, 2008
You Found Us!
We sent out an email to our parent community today informing them of the blog. Since then, our viewership has grown significantly. Hopefully, you all will like what you see (let us know your comments, either by listing them here, or sending us a message at kadimaheadsearch@gmail.com) and you will visit us often.
Some Interesting Poll Data
We know that some of you may be curious about the results of the online survey we did about our short term and long term goals for new Head of School. We received 69 responses (out of about 200 emails sent, which is considered an excellent response); thank you to those who responded. Here are the results:
As you can see, most respondents focused upon educational aspects of the Head of School's job. These tasks concern the Head of School's role as "guarantor" (as discussed a few posts below) of the school's educational achievements. While the Head of School normally does not, directly, involve himself or herself in the details of a school's educational program (that's a job for the principal), the Head must still ensure that the school is achieving the educational results demanded by the school's stakeholders. The poll results show that parents overwhelming want a Head of School that will guarantee the continued academic quality of Kadima.
We also found interesting that our parents did not focus upon fundraising and admissions; yet, conversely; our Board members overwhelmingly voted that these were the most critical goals for the new Head of School. Board respondents unanimously stated that admissions was the most important immediate goal of the new Head of School, with fundraising and community relations tied for second.
When you think about it, this makes sense. While parents focus solely upon educational aspects of the school, the Board of Trustees also works to ensure that Kadima remains a center of Jewish education in the San Fernando Valley. Board members certainly demand excellence from Kadima's educational product, but Board members also look at the school's budget, and they know that such excellence costs a lot of money. The easiest way to raise this money is not fundraising from already strapped stakeholders; the most efficient way is to create a program that attracts huge numbers of kids to the school. When viewed in this light, it is hardly surprising the Board members would look at increasing student admissions as being one of the primary goals for a new Head of School.
| Of the following activities typically expected of a head of school, please select up to five activities that you believe should be the focus of the Head of School either immediately or during the next three years. PLEASE SELECT NO MORE THAN FIVE ACTIVITIES. | ||
|
|
Recruiting, retaining and compensating quality faculty. | 80% | |
| Expanding parent and alumni giving/support. | 6% | |
| Developing a sound five year financial plan for the school. | 52% | |
| Creating a state of the art program and curriculum. | 74% | |
| Managing and expanding effective use of technology. | 33% | |
| Communicating with internal and external audiences. | 19% | |
| Creating a diverse and inclusive school community. | 30% | |
| Improving parent/school relationships. | 35% | |
| Marketing/branding the school. | 39% | |
| Renovating/enhancing school facilities. | 13% | |
| Developing a more global outlook and programming for the school. | 20% | |
| Creating a more environmentally sustainable school building and practices. | 20% | |
| Developing a more cohesive school community. | 36% | |
| Other, please specify | 9% |
As you can see, most respondents focused upon educational aspects of the Head of School's job. These tasks concern the Head of School's role as "guarantor" (as discussed a few posts below) of the school's educational achievements. While the Head of School normally does not, directly, involve himself or herself in the details of a school's educational program (that's a job for the principal), the Head must still ensure that the school is achieving the educational results demanded by the school's stakeholders. The poll results show that parents overwhelming want a Head of School that will guarantee the continued academic quality of Kadima.
We also found interesting that our parents did not focus upon fundraising and admissions; yet, conversely; our Board members overwhelmingly voted that these were the most critical goals for the new Head of School. Board respondents unanimously stated that admissions was the most important immediate goal of the new Head of School, with fundraising and community relations tied for second.
When you think about it, this makes sense. While parents focus solely upon educational aspects of the school, the Board of Trustees also works to ensure that Kadima remains a center of Jewish education in the San Fernando Valley. Board members certainly demand excellence from Kadima's educational product, but Board members also look at the school's budget, and they know that such excellence costs a lot of money. The easiest way to raise this money is not fundraising from already strapped stakeholders; the most efficient way is to create a program that attracts huge numbers of kids to the school. When viewed in this light, it is hardly surprising the Board members would look at increasing student admissions as being one of the primary goals for a new Head of School.
The Search Begins...
We hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving holiday.
We've finalized our initial advertisement for the Head of School position. This advertisement will be placed in a variety of strategic media, as well as being used by Committee members who make direct recruiting calls for potential candidates.
Here's the text of the advertisement.
If you have any possible candidates, we'd appreciate it if you could forward the advertisement to them so they can apply for the position.
We've finalized our initial advertisement for the Head of School position. This advertisement will be placed in a variety of strategic media, as well as being used by Committee members who make direct recruiting calls for potential candidates.
Here's the text of the advertisement.
HEAD OF SCHOOL
Founded in 1970,
Kadima seeks a charismatic and entrepreneurial leader and a community builder who will guide Kadima to greater achievement and increase significantly Kadima’s student population. Our next Head of School will exemplify dynamic leadership skills, integrity, and a commitment to academic excellence, the Jewish people and Jewish values.
Our new Head of School will possess:
¨ Demonstrated success at inspiring community and creating enthusiasm for Jewish education;
¨ Established leadership skills with faculty, staff, Trustees, parents, students in a diverse community;
¨ Proven success with institutional advancement, fundraising, marketing, and financial management; and,
¨ Recognized accomplishment in managing and creating innovative and effective curricula, pedogogy and educational program development that both inspires the school community and results in tangible academic success.
Kadima is located in West Hills, California, in the San Fernando Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles. It is part of a thriving and energetic Jewish community. Kadima offers a competitive salary and benefits package.
If you have any possible candidates, we'd appreciate it if you could forward the advertisement to them so they can apply for the position.
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