Save Hillel

An anonymous person has informed me that the first Kol Hillel is now available for download at Hillel’s website. Click here to view.

Kudos to Mr. C. who is profiled in this issue.

This was sent to me by an anonymous parent:

The initial purpose of this site was to Save Hillel.

As a short recap….There were many issues that came about as a result of teacher non-renewals for the school year scheduled to start on August 20, 2007. Then there were elections amongst other changes, recruits, etc that were and are continuing to take place at the school.

This website became an outlet for those individuals who were not board members who had thoughts and issues that they felt were important enough to convey to the general population. The discussions and dialogues continued throughout the summer and heated up again when the news of the Androns’ departure was announced. This was a tremendous loss and it saddened many. However, the school’s personal loss was a wonderful gain for the community at large.

Things quieted down after this big event and people began to go on vacation.

As we move forward to next week when our beloved teachers go back to school, we will once again have the opportunity to share news, thoughts, feelings, and suggestions on how we can continue to make a positive difference.

We all have the ability to make a difference in the life of a child. We must take this responsibility very seriously. We all have a vested interest of some sort in our beloved Hillel, whether a parent, teacher, student, alum, member, donor or other interested party. Therefore, each and every one of us must do our part to SAVE HILLEL – for our Children, Our Teachers, and Our Community.

Important Dates:
August 13, 2007 – Teachers return
August 20, 2007 – Student begin the 2007/2008 School year.

To all of the current HILLEL students and teachers – - Hatzlacha Rabba – - may you have a wonderful and successful school year.

We will be watching (they will be reading) and we will be assisting in any way we can to Save Hillel and make it the special place it has always been.

An anonymous individual has written the following, with the emphasis below as mine.

What is the goal in all this?

To oust the current administration?
To bring in the IRS?
To lose SACS accreditation?
None of this can happen anytime soon and no one wants to hurt the school.

It seems from reading the comments, that the greatest frustration comes from a lack of communication and accountability. Dr Holden, with the Board’s approval, has made significant changes without clarifying the rational or long term goals. If Dr Holden’s background demonstrated a pattern of building outstanding schools, Judaic or otherwise, the Board’s support would be warranted. Had the Board hired a head of school from Ramaz, Yeshiva of Flatbush or Pinecrest, we would have faith in his actions, even if they were odd. But Dr Holden came from a relatively brief position in a small, Midwest school. The lack of experience coupled with questionable behavior, such as losing the Androns, make many concerned about the direction of the school.

This blog came about because of a lack of confidence in the head of school and the board. The reaction from the board to an alternate slate was vile- many of the members who attacked anyone who dared oppose them were the first to complain when they were on the other side of the fence. Openness, honesty, and transparency- everyone wants it but no one in control ever wants to provide it.

So what is the objective? In my opinion, this blog should provide a channel of communication that will enable teachers, staff, students, parents, alumni and interested community members a voice. This voice will grow in intensity and will become a force in the school. More parents will read what is written hear and eventually more will question. Spin works in a vacuum. This blog will prove to be the anti-spin. So keep writing, listening and caring with respect and derech eretz to all.

This was sent by an anonymous student:

The greatest accomplishment for any educator is to inspire his or her students. This link is to a tribute to the Androns in which some of their former students describe how they were touched and inspired by Michael and Lillian Andron.

It was prepared for a Hillel luncheon two years ago, to honor them for their 18th anniversary year. This was not prepared by the school. It was prepared by HCT alumni from across the country and edited by Michael Andron’s son, Benjamin, also an alum of the program.

I don’t know any other educator or administrator at Hillel that inspired their students the way that Michael and Lillian Andron did. This short dedication prepared by their own students is a testament to their inspiration.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGkUbWzzsdc

An anonymous person writes in:

I heard an excellent speaker this week on the topic of the Beit Hamikdash and Tisha B’Av.

When the speaker brought up the sin of the Egel HaZahav, the golden calf, and the downward spiritual spiral of the Israelites, I couldn’t help but relate this to what has happened at Hillel.

Handing over the leadership of Hillel and the responsibility for the Jewish education of over 1,000 Jewish souls to a large group of non-Jews has been Hillel’s Egel HaZahav. Those who were present at the June 6 meeting could not help but notice the manner in which the Head of School is WORSHIPPED by his supporters. They did not stand for either of the Rabbis who rose to the stage to speak, but were on their feet the minute the head of school began his ascent to the stage. The manner in which they refuse to listen to their fellow Jews, the parents of these Jewish souls, and choose instead to blindly follow their non-Jewish leader, is another form of worship of the foreign. Passing up the outstanding Jewish educators at Hillel for leadership roles and instead bringing in a majority of non-Jews provides further evidence of the disregard for Torah leadership.

What has been the result of this foreign worship? Sinat Chinam amongst the Jewish families at Hillel. Baseless hatred. Jew against Jew.

What an epic tragedy.

It is time for everyone to reflect on what the decisions of the Hillel leadership have wrought.

Just received this email that was sent anonymously:

This week’s Florida Jewish News reports that three Hillel students declined participation in the national fencing competition for which they had qualified because they had been scheduled to compete on Shabbat. They were quoted in the paper as saying,”We’re missing a great opportunity with the competition taking place right here in Miami but we felt it was far more important to set an example for other Jewish athletes when it comes to observing Shabbat”.

Any real Jewish school would be kvelling over these students and holding them up as outstanding role models.

Hillel’s silence on this speaks volumes.

The Hillel family hears nothing about these students who are truly living their Judaism.

It would seem that the actions of these outstanding students are not what our leadership has in mind when it goes on and on about “excellence” and “Jewish life”.

Perhaps they undermine Holden’s dreams for his athletic program.

What’s next? Will Holden and the Board decide to cancel Shabbat for Hillel students because it interferes with their vision and their blueprint?

If there was any doubt about Hillel’s decline as a truly Jewish school, its silence on the actions of these students is proof of what out leadership values.

Look for an update to the Blueprint after the Board reads this post. It seems they look to us to teach them how to run a Jewish school.

Update July 23: I just received this email from Stephen Korn, who says:

I will take personal responsibility for failing to send the article to the school. My deepest apologies. My son, Jonathan was not able to write the article before mid June and things have been extremely busy.

Here’s the latest:

July 11, 2007
25 Tamuz 5767

Dear Faculty and Staff,

In an effort to continue the open communication we maintain during the school year, we hope you are finding our summer updates helpful in staying informed about Hillel. We write today regarding some personnel changes that have taken place this week.

It is with great sadness that we announce Michael and Lillian Andron have accepted positions at the Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center and will not return to Hillel next year. This is a wonderful opportunity for the Androns to develop a new program at the JCC, ahead of the opening of the new performing arts center. The community will benefit in tremendous ways from a program that invites children and adults from all schools and organizations. It is, however, a bittersweet moment for Hillel. As we congratulate Michael and Lillian, we also lament the loss of two of our most cherished, talented educators. No words can express the school’s appreciation for how the Androns touched the lives of students and inspired them to achieve.

Although it is always difficult to lose good teachers, we thank the Androns for the excellence they built through Hillel’s extracurricular theatre program, allowing us to look ahead from a very positive perspective. With their remarkable achievements as the foundation, we look forward to the program’s further expansion into a comprehensive performing arts educational curriculum that offers – in addition to school plays – an array of such new schoolwide courses as speech, debate and drama with talented faculty. Hillel’s performing arts program will complement that of the JCC and afford our community a range of arts experiences. As we shared at the Annual Event in May, Hillel’s Endowed Chair for the Performing Arts will ensure our students have the very best program for the lifetime of the school. Due to the Androns’ dedication over the years and now the generosity of a private donor, Hillel’s performing arts program will remain as one of the school’s strongest offerings.

Just as this week’s parasha Mattot-Massey teaches us, we are eager to move forward with your partnership while standing firm in our commitment to provide our children with a rich Jewish educational experience. This calls for excellence in every aspect – from academics and Judaic Studies to athletics and the arts. In this time of transition and always, we uphold Hillel’s promise and tradition to offer only the finest.

If you have any questions, please always feel free to contact one of us or a member of the Board. You can reach us through the school at 305.931.2831 x126; Board members also are available at Board@hillel-nmb.net. We wish you a continued safe, enjoyable summer.

Sincerely,

Dr. Adam Holden, Head of School
Rabbi Michael Druin, Associate Head of School-Judaic

This was sent to me by an anonymous individual who wants to call himself/herself “Sad and Gone.”

A few facts (yes, FACTS) to ponder:

Half the high school English department – GONE.
(The two best English teachers Hillel has ever had – Amy Gallup and Jason Gough GONE. Even though Amy left a year ago, half the department is turning over AGAIN this year.)

Half the high school Math department – GONE.

Half the high school Science department – GONE.
(It was originally ¾ of the science department, but, miraculously, one of the teachers deemed not worthy of having a contract renewed was suddenly re-evaluated and “rehabilitated” – after the other folks quit – and miraculously made such a vast improvement that he was named department chairman almost overnight!)

Part of the high school History department – GONE.

Unknown numbers in the Hebrew department – GONE.

And now, the ENTIRE THEATRE department – GONE. What a huge loss!

Two art teachers in 3 years – GONE.

One out of two college guidance counselors – GONE. 2/3 of the college office staff – GONE. And think about this: six college counselors GONE in five years. What do you think the colleges think of that?

Rabbi Feinerman – GONE. Rabbi Kaplan – looking for another job. Who next?

Who will teach the students? With a national teacher shortage, how will outstanding professionals be recruited and retained to fill these enormous vacancies? Who will supervise, mentor, and evaluate the new teachers?

And ponder this:

Ask any teacher how they would describe the HEAD of SCHOOL, and almost unanimously the word “arrogant” is used. Not the words “respected” or “visionary” or “educator” or “brilliant” but “arrogant.” Would you want to work for someone who is arrogant?

How dare he treat highly respected and revered teachers like Rabbi Kaplan and Ms. Holcman and Michael Andron as despicably as he has?

You have an institution with the following “leaders”: (yes, “leaders” in quotation marks)

Brand new elementary school principal who has NEVER BEEN AN ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL.

Brand new middle school principal who has NEVER BEEN A MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.

Brand new high school principal who has NEVER BEEN A HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL. (You’d be shocked as what he does not know about the most basic aspects of high school. Not to mention the highly inexperienced Asst. Principal he hired with a whopping 400 hours of experience – that’s ten 40-hour weeks – yes, ten weeks of high school experience – that’s not even a semester….and we won’t even get into where that experience has been.)

Are these the “leaders” to whom we are entrusting our Jewish children’s education and future? NOT ME!

I won’t even bother reviewing the previously ridiculed credentials of Holden and Druin.

A few years back, the exalted search committee interviewed many people. Since they could not find someone Jewish “enough” and the outstanding, experienced educators who happened to be Conservative Jews rather than Orthodox Jews did not suit the people heading up the search, we went down the path of NON-JEWS leading our school. And what a disaster this has been.

Now since both the principals and assistant principals in both the high school and middle school are not Jewish, they have been forced to create ADDITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS for a “token” Jew. Is this how you want your tuition dollars spent? And which Jews have they put in these positions? One lady in the high school who was allegedly ineffective as a middle school leader and got “promoted” to the high school. (MEMO to Frumma: look what happened to Bev Buncher when she got “promoted.”) Add to that great record a nice young man in the middle school who is totally inexperienced and has only taught a one semester class. (Yes, he’s a nice guy, but is he qualified – especially with the other inexperienced people on his team? You can afford one new, inexperienced but enthusiastic person if the others on the team are experienced, but this position wouldn’t even be necessary if one of the others were Jewish!)

Once again I ask: are these the people you want guiding our school, making decisions that will affect the lives of our precious children?

NOT ME!

Ok. Don’t be negative. Offer constructive solutions.

Here goes:

Hire qualified, experienced people to teach and run the school.

Treat the faculty and staff with respect and common courtesy.

It’s that simple.

Is is do-able? Yes, in the long run, but not if your kid only has a few years left at Hillel. Stay and fight? Not at the expense of a child’s education or a career. A year in the life of a child is an eternity. A year in the life of a teacher who is not respected or treated with common courtesy is not tolerable. It will take more than a year to fix Hillel. Do not waste a single year. Every child’s education is important. Every teacher’s career is important. So, sadly, I am outta here! Good luck to those who stay behind!

I have been asked to post this, with the following message:

Please see the letter being sent by Dr. Andron…..Posting for the community at large! IT IS A DEVASTATING LOSS FOR OUR SCHOOL AND LEAVES A TREMENDOUS VOID — IT IS A TREMENDOUS GAIN FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

Dear Thespians, Alumni, and Beloved Parents (past and present),

It is with sadness (and as you’ll soon see excitement) that I compose this letter to tell all of you that Lillian and I are leaving Hillel. Don’t worry! There will be an easy way to continue doing theatre with us in a new and expanded way. Before I describe what lies before us, let me muse for a minute about the past… a post mortem like we do at the end of one show so we can move on to the next.

Just look at what we’ve done together! All of us! I am so proud of every actor, techie, parent volunteer and participant for the last twenty years. Fifty shows that touched every genre possible: Shylock, Les Misérables, Joseph/Dreamcoat, John Lennon and Me, Flowers for Algernon, Noises Off, Ballyhoo, Gamma Rays… and the list goes on and on. Just the tech alone: for Les Misérables: 75 set changes, 300 light cues; for Joseph, an uncountable series of costume changes; For Beauty and the Beast, even more changes… and more complicated, too. There’s no end to the great theatre that all of us created.

And we worked like a family to do it. Lillian and I have kvelled as we have seen high school students mentoring the elementary and middle school kids, or to see those same high school students being mentored by alumni and adult volunteers and performers. That inter-generational camaraderie – students, alumni, parents and faculty working together as a collaborative family to produce a work of art – has been a unique feature of our program and a personal source of joy for me.

Did it hurt your academics? Hey, almost every Silver Knight Honorable Mention to date (and our first winner, this year) was a Thespian. Almost every year, we had at least one Thespian speak at graduation as valedictorian, salutatorian, or class president. We produced the Number One Techie in the country as determined by the International Thespian Society. HCT has always had a large percentage of the “top ten” kids in academics, proving once again how right-brain stimulation enhances left-brain accomplishment, producing a more balanced human being.

Did it affect your personal growth as people and as Jews? No doubt! So many of you showed such amazing growth in absorbing HCT key lessons such as noblesse oblige, pro-active thinking on your feet, esprit de corps, self-esteem, true confidence from within and Torah centeredness. For twenty years, we have shared our lives with so many hundreds of young Jewish students and tried to ignite creative, spiritual sparks. I’m proud of our Judaic successes; so many of you were brought closer to your Yiddishkeit through this program. The classes in Jewish meditation and kavana were often a highlight of your days and mine.

We are equally proud of some of the fabulous theatre art that inspired dozens of budding careers in acting, directing, producing, the writing of plays and films, movie making, and technical theatre that all began on the Hillel stage.

But the nature of all things is “change” and for a variety of reasons, we both feel that now is the time. So with great excitement let me tell you that Lillian and I are accepting the positions as Artistic Director and Managing Director of J-CAT: The Jewish Cultural Arts Center (just a working title… maybe we should have a naming contest… hmm) located just 100 yards away from Hillel at the MAR-JCC!

So here’s the plan (still developing) of what’s going to happen:

We will be creating a mini-Black Box Theatre that will challenge actors and tech alike in new ways. (@120 seats).

We will be doing the same pre-announced four shows this year (although the musical may change because of the change in venue). Yes, competition may be tougher because students from other schools will be auditioning… but your training and experience and preparation should stand you in good stead.

The cast of The Good Doctor remains the same! Its opening night will be even more special because it will help kick off the fund-raising drive for the new Cultural Arts Center that is going to be built in the next few years. And we hope there will be extra performances. We will have after-school classes available with Lillian in acting for both Middle and High School.

We will be Re-introducing and overseeing the Summer Stock Camp program starting
next year. Some of you younger ones may want to be in it… some older ones may
want to be counselors (open to actors and tech).

What about the Thespian trips? We will be conducting theatre trips to New York or London (for teens, for adults, for families). Modeled after our famed Hillel Thespian trips, these include our seeing shows, having workshops, having talkbacks with actors, directors and designers… and sight-seeing when there are a few minutes left over.

Hillel Thespian Alumni! You’ll be welcomed back to audition for all plays (or for Tech) as will those who have gone to Krop and other schools…. we look forward to seeing you as more than just audience. We will be developing a Professional Repertory Company, a group of actors who will be working on both serious, comic and children’s theatre. And they’ll even be getting paid!

Rehearsal schedules will be somewhat different (easier for some… tougher for others) as will some participation fees (which can be handled, as in the past, by selling ads). All in all, we’ll still be doing excellent theatre as we swap one “empty space” for another.

The end-of-summer Shabbaton (Larry Silverberg’s Teen Actor Master Class, with this world-renowned teacher of Meisner Acting Method) will still take place but will no longer be sponsored by Hillel but by Kodesh. We are expanding its scope initially to include alumni of the last 3 years. Those interested must contact me immediately! Older alumni who are interested should contact me as well. (Those already registered who wrote their checks to Hillel… call me, or have your parents contact me.) This will be an amazing 2-day Shabbat-Sunday experience.

Please feel free to call us with any questions, but please don’t ask us WHY. The only explanation I can give you is better said with this wonderful quote: ‘whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should’.

Both Lillian and I want to thank you all: parents, students, alumni, friends and all the Hillel administrations throughout our history that have created a home for the HCT. You have enriched our lives so much over the last 20 years; we hoped we have touched yours. But this is not an end… it’s just a beginning.

We’ve raised the Hillel Bar as far as we can take it. You all made that happen and nothing will ever change that. Now with this transitional studio-theatre (and the amazing one still in architect’s blueprints… and it is amazing) the greatest age of our theatre work is yet to come. Be a part of the adventure.

We love you all.

Michael and Lillian

More here.