This was sent to me from an alum who received this message from someone else who received it from the Hillel board. He writes:
They don’t address any of the issues that have been brought up. They don’t address the faculty that have been fired. All they do is express confidence in Holden and Druin.
Do you agree? The comments are open.
The letter from the Hillel board follows:
Dear Hillel Families,
We write on behalf of Hillel’s Board of Governors upon recent decisions regarding ‘07-’08 faculty contracts and other steps we are taking to continue the advancement of Hillel’s Blueprint to Excellence, our strategic plan.
Since Hillel launched the Blueprint to Excellence two years ago, in so many ways the school has taken a direction toward new heights. Models of nationally recognized Jewish, independent and public schools are being applied. Traditions are being preserved and Jewish values are being infused through religious and cultural experiences and will be done so at an enhanced level next year with a new school-wide Jewish and Student Life Department; this is in addition to divisional Jewish studies specialists. Curriculum is expanding to prepare students for today’s rigorous college admission process. Hillel is committed to giving our children the Jewish education they deserve.
A time of evolution and growth brings about valuable change and transition, which at times may raise questions for some. Therefore, we ask you to reflect upon Hillel’s ultimate goal to attain excellence. In order to progress, Hillel’s faculty, staff and administration must be the finest. For that reason, the administration introduced a comprehensive development and evaluation system this year that touches on the following fields to ensure Hillel has the best
teachers: curriculum and instruction, learning environment, communication, professional and leadership standards, and Jewish-oriented characteristics. As the administration fulfills its ongoing responsibility to provide our children with talented teachers who are in line with today’s educational standards, the Board’s Executive Committee is kept apprised throughout the entire process.
Hillel is proud to have built a solid plan and structure based upon the guidance of such national experts as Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education and the National Association of Independent Schools. The Board believes in the best practices implemented by the administration and the leadership of Dr. Adam Holden and Rabbi Michael Druin.
The Board’s shared intention with the administration is to strengthen Hillel so we may fulfill our mission. We can only do so with change. At times, this may mean overcoming challenge or adversity. Achievement is not a simple task and requires partnership. In our desire for Hillel to excel, we look forward to this continued joint venture with our students, parents, professionals and alumni.
Most importantly, please remember that our children are the only reason we are on this path. As our mission states, with care and concern for each child, Hillel seeks to create a nurturing, respectful and academically inspiring environment, imbued with traditional Torah values and designed for college preparations and admission.
We encourage you to pick up a copy of Hillel’s Blueprint to Excellence in any division’s reception area or to review it on Hillel’s Web site. If you have any questions, feel free to contact either of us (305.931.2831 x113), Dr. Holden (305.931.2831 x137) or Rabbi Druin (305.931.2831 x113). Thank you for joining us during this time of strategic growth.
Sincerely,
Rafael Russ, Chariman
Gil Bonwitt, Vice Chairman
14 responses so far ↓
1 Concerned Citizen // Mar 27, 2007 at 10:02 pm
For those who wish to understand what the “comprehensive evaluation process” involves please read my response posted on “To the Board of Governors” (ed: the link to that response is here).
2 YOU'RE WRONG!!!! // Mar 27, 2007 at 10:41 pm
A LETTER TO HILLEL BOARD: YOU ARE FIRING THE BEST AT HILLEL!!!!!!! you know what i say to the “LEADERSHIP OF “DR” Holden and “Rabbi” druin……I THINK YOU SHOULD BE FIRED….honostly you’re ruining our school (LEAVE!!!!!!!) AND why is it that YOU were not evaluated….because you are the ones doing the firing and want to save your own butts…well i say this… you are the WORST “leadership” this school has seen!
3 Concerned Citizen // Mar 28, 2007 at 12:19 am
I couldn’t agree more with what was stated above.
“Blueprint to Excellence” . Hmmm….sounds a lot like the rhetoric Bush uses. See how well he’s accomplished his “Road Map to Peace”.
Sounds pretty. Means nothing.
Looks like that Blueprint could use some RE-vision.
4 Isaac Sapoznik // Mar 28, 2007 at 2:00 am
There has been nothing excellent about the last couple of disasterous years. Because of Rabbi Lefkowitz I have began on a religous path that no other Rabbi has ever led me on. Rabbi Lefkowitz takes the time to answer any question I have and always wants to sit down to learn with me whenever I am town. Let me remind you I AM GRADUATING COLLEGE IN MAY! This is 4 years since I have had a class with Rabbi Lefkowitz. If he shows dedication to a single student outside of school 4 years after graduation, imagine the impact he is making on kids everyday at the school.
Commitment to excellence is a propoganda comment. I went to Hillel before the so called commitment to excellence and I was just as prepared for college as anyone is after the so called plan. I go to the University of Florida and I have over a 3.5 GPA. This was and is a very hard school to get in and I was very prepared.
This is before that so called commitment with the same exact teachers you are firing.
Look who is gone: Mrs. Gorin, Mrs. Konovitch, Mr. LEIBERSFELD…all since the commitment to excellence. Please look at the colleges the students from 2003 were accepted to and went to: Harvard, Yale, Tufts, Princeton that is just to name a few. Please tell me the lack of excellence going on?
Firing these teachers just proves how incompetent the decision making process is. I don’t beleive in their commitment. I beleive I went to an excellent school that I would have sent my kids to back then. Today? I don’t even know what kind of school it is.
Re-thing your so called “Commitment to Excellence” because the school that you are changing was excellent before you even got there.
5 Concerned Citizen // Mar 28, 2007 at 7:44 am
It’s quite amazing to hear how this board and this administration is walking around Hillel today telling the parents that everything has been resolved and is back to normal. Many parents are believing them. Unfortunately, nothing has been resolved at all.
6 Upset alum // Mar 28, 2007 at 8:34 am
I did not know that bluepreint for excellance meant making the Faculty Judenrein.
7 Concerned Parent // Mar 28, 2007 at 10:01 am
No one was told why particular teachers were let go. All we hear are general statements with no specifics. General statements are meaningless. If we are given more specifics, perhaps the backlash would not be occuring.
8 Aaron // Mar 28, 2007 at 12:19 pm
This letter seems somewhat contradictory. The “Blueprint to Excellence” states under says as follows:
FACULTY
Goal: Retain and attract outstanding faculty members.
Rationale: With greater competition for faculty, Hillel must focus on providing the best environment to retain its current teachers and to attract new faculty. Hillel is committed to developing, retaining and attracting the most capable, committed and professional faculty possible, both in content skills and in pedagogy.
Action Plan:
* Maintain and seek all available means to provide salaries, benefits and other incentives to attract and retain an excellent faculty.
* Continue and enhance Hillel as an exemplary school by training its faculty in the most effective pedagogical methods for reaching all children. These would include such areas as brain development, learning differences, appropriate use of technology and curricular integration.
* Hire faculty who can create a positive experience inside, as well as outside the classroom for all members of our diverse student population.
It would seem that these recent firings go against the goal of RETAINING outstanding faculty members.
9 anon // Mar 28, 2007 at 5:40 pm
This correspondence, signed by the chairman and vice chairman of the Board, is of no surprise and adds no new information.
It is the Board who chose Adam Holden and Druin (I can’t bring myself to call him Rabbi) to Hillel, without thoroughly investigating their credentials. The Board must feel obligated to back up their poor choices of administrators to save their own face.
The non-renewed faculty have been loyal and generous employees of Hillel who have embodied the real vision of the school: to nurture a of love for Judaism and to educate our students.
The “Blueprint of Excellence” should already have included the teachers who have proven their ability to fulfill and exceed the stated goals: namely Mrs Heber and Mrs Galitzer.
Both of these individuals have taught through numerous administrative changes, have impacted hundreds of young lives, and have remained apolitical in the Hillel arena. More likely than not they are being let go because of their “high salaries” (they could each have done better financially pursuing different careers), their potential threat to mediocre admnistrators (particularly Druin and Kohl), and their popularity with students and Hillel families. It is they who have already overcome challenge and adversity to maintain the standards that the Board now wishes to reach with their “blueprint.”
Their departure at the end of this school year will leave a void in the faculty that will not be easily filled.
10 Anon....but wouldn't be if she didnt have a sister who might have to deal with backlash from what I say.... // Mar 28, 2007 at 9:19 pm
This letter is just one more example of how blatant lies continue to be peddled out of that school….
The first line that struck me was,
“Traditions are being preserved and Jewish values are being infused through religious and cultural experiences…”
Well, the students aren’t having the same rich cultural experiences the faculty seems to be having. My sister informed me that this year Purim was not celebrated with the usual fun and fanfare. I remember Purim at Hillel with fondness. I remember the Carnivals and bonding with the teachers as we danced to Israeli music in the carpool circle with Rabbi Lefkowitz manning the speakers. This year, students dressed up and went to class. Oh yes, quite a rich cultural experience.
Secondly, I think the school should take its own advice
“…please remember that our children are the only reason we are on this path. As our mission states, with care and concern for each child, Hillel seeks to create a nurturing, respectful and academically inspiring environment, imbued with traditional Torah values…”
All of this support and concern for the teachers whose contracts were not renewed should be evidence enough that the school is not doing right by the students. The students know what inspires them and what doesn’t. Why get rid of three teachers who inspire children? The Facebook groups, the websites, and the blogs that collectively call for the school to reconsider their rash decisions have been created by STUDENTS and ALUMNI! The parents are agreeing and posting as well but the children are spearheading the rebellion. For the love of God, LISTEN TO THE CHILDREN!
11 anonymous // Mar 29, 2007 at 1:11 am
Agreed and well said. My children too were upset with the lack of fun on the memorable Purim Holiday. Additionally, it is getting old to hear, Dr. Holden said and Dr. Holden doesn’t like, and Dr. Holden doesn’t agree.
We know what Fidel Castro doesn’t like — people to have their own minds and see things for what is.
However, we do have minds and brains and clear understanding of Jewish values, holidays and celebrations.
If we don’t all continue to speak up and be heard - - then it will be all about Dr. Holden and not about us. We pay for this education, we have expectations of what should be - - we have the right to be fully informed and heard.
Children at Hillel were always smiling, always happy, always wanting to get up and go to school.
Don’t let the lights go out - - -it shined for all of these years. Don’t let the light burn - - it shines through our love and our tears.
Please - - - DON’T LET THE LIGHT BURN OUT!!!!!!!
HEAR OUR PLEA, O’BOARD - - -make the right choice!!!!! FOR THE SAKE OF OUR CHILDREN AND OUR SCHOOL!!!!
12 Concerned Citizen // Mar 29, 2007 at 10:12 am
ATTENTION BRAVE PARENTS WHEREVER YOU ARE:
We need you to band together now on www.petitiononline.com and get this petition going already!
Alumni can’t start this ball rolling…only parents can call the public hearing.
I beseech you for the sake of your children’s future and the future of klall yisrael to get up the gumption and just do it already.
www.petitiononline.com
JUST DO IT!
13 Concerned Citizen // Mar 29, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Correction. Here is the link:
The petition can be located at http://www.petitiononline.com/SSHCDS07/petition.html
14 Concerned Citizen // Mar 29, 2007 at 10:58 pm
PARENTS: PLEASE EMAIL THE LINK TO AS MANY HILLEL PARENTS AS YOU CAN
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