Save Hillel

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.

This was sent to me as a PDF. If you did not read the newspaper, here’s your chance to do so: click here.

Avi, please advise us when the letters are published online so that I can direct readers to your website instead.

Someone already posted it, but I also got this emailed to me:

We are pleased to bring you the fourth edition of Hillel’s Blueprint to Excellence Update. We hope you are finding these updates helpful in staying informed of Hillel’s progress and happenings. As we’ve shared previously, important changes are underway at our school, and we believe the following is another accomplishment in our effort to further enhance Hillel’s ability to achieve excellence.

Hillel’s Board of Governors and Administration are currently focused on achieving two major goals:

* To provide a rich educational experience that incorporates best practices
* To ensure Jewish values and Judaic studies are infused throughout Hillel’s curriculum

To accomplish these goals, we have created a new leadership structure for Hillel, which will be applied schoolwide in every division (Upper School, Middle School and Lower School) for the

2007-2008 school year. Within this structure, each division has administrative leaders who share responsibilities for General Studies and Judaic Studies, and report to us both, Head of School and Associate Head of School-Judaic. Information about these educators follows.

* From Harvard University to Yeshiva University, every division’s administrative team is comprised of educational experts with esteemed credentials and experience.
* Most of next year’s administrative leaders have been promoted from within the Hillel family, and some new ones have joined us.
* The structure presents a solid solution to achieve a Board goal to advance the school during a nationwide shortage of Jewish educational leaders, simultaneously maintaining a parallel track to develop future Jewish educational leaders for Hillel and other Jewish schools nationally.

In addition, Hillel’s newly created Student Life division will be led by some of Hillel’s strongest, most admired educators who have served us well for many years. Frumma Rosenberg-Gottlieb will head this department. From classroom lessons to extracurricular activities, her team will create an atmosphere that will infuse every facet of our children’s education with Torah ideals. This division has been established to ensure uncompromising attention to the cultivation of Jewish values in every aspect of Hillel, from Lower School through Upper School and beyond.

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 safe, relaxing summer.

Sincerely,

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

HILLEL EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE

2007 - 2008 / 5767 - 5768

We hope you will agree that this new structure greatly supports Hillel’s overall strategic plan, our Blueprint to Excellence. Thank you for your continued partnership as we move forward on our path to provide the finest Jewish education for our children.

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

UPPER SCHOOL

Principal: Tym Bonilla
Principal, Student Life: Frumma Rosenberg-Gottlieb
Assistant Principal: Laura Ingoldsby

MIDDLE SCHOOL
Principal: Nick Hinrichsen
Assistant Principal: Gary Peirce
Assistant Principal, Student Life: Yossi Kastan

LOWER SCHOOL

Principal: Debra Abolafia
Assistant Principal, Grades 1-5: Rabbi Allen Saks
Assistant Principal, PKT-Kindergarten: Valerie Lustgarten
Assistant Principal, Student Life: Joshua Meisels

All new members of Hillel’s educational administrative team have advanced degrees in education. They all have taught the grade levels of their respective divisions and most have administrative experience in the same fields.

These administrators were hired through internal and national searches using the country’s major Jewish and secular placement outlets. We believe that this group of administrators represents the very best candidates across the nation and brings with them exceptional qualifications, ability and experience.

UPPER SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION

Grade 9 - Grade 12

PRINCIPAL: Tym Bonilla

With more than 12 years in education, Mr. Tym Bonilla brings with him eight years of experience in administration. He holds a bachelor’s degree in American and world history from Ottawa University and a master’s degree in educational administration from Washburn University; he also completed a Harvard University Educational Leadership course in educational vision.

Mr. Bonilla’s career began in the United States Marine Corps with active duty in the Persian Gulf War. As an educator, he has held leadership positions as a service learning director and as an adjunct professor at the graduate level of teacher training programs, communications and marketing.

Mr. Bonilla has principal and assistant principal experience at the upper, middle and lower school levels.

PRINCIPAL, STUDENT LIFE: Frumma Rosenberg-Gottlieb

Mrs. Frumma Rosenberg-Gottlieb has served Hillel since 1998 as middle school principal and Judaic Studies teacher. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and an advanced degree in Jewish studies at Machon Chana, a renowned Torah institute for women, where she subsequently served as school director.

She was also the principal of New York boarding school Bais Rochel Leah and co-director of the Chabad House of Pittsburgh, where she founded the Jewish Women’s University. Highlighting her innovative ideas in Jewish education, Mrs. Rosenberg-Gottlieb lectures internationally and writes about Jewish topics; she has made such media appearances as the “Oprah Winfrey Show.”

Through administrative, classroom and extracurricular activities, Mrs. Rosenberg-Gottlieb will focus on the spiritual aspects of Hillel’s student life. “Every soul is sent to this world with a special mission,” she said. “I feel I have been groomed for this work and will concentrate on the educational themes and projects that mean so much to me.”

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL: Laura Ingoldsby

Ms. Laura Ingoldsby will apply to Hillel her successful teaching career in diverse classroom settings, ranging from inner-city to established independent schools. She has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Washington and Lee University and a master’s degree in school leadership from Harvard University.

Ms. Ingoldsby completed her graduate degree from Harvard while simultaneously completing a

400-hour principal internship at the Boston College High School. She also has special education experience from her roles as resident group leader and assistant director of the Atlantic Coast Special Education Services.

An accomplished athlete, Ms. Ingoldsby looks forward to expanding Hillel’s organized sports and athletics programs.

MIDDLE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION

Grade 6 - Grade 8

PRINCIPAL: Nick Hinrichsen

Middle School will be led by Mr. Nick Hinrichsen, an educator who has been with Hillel for more than a decade and has served as high school assistant principal since 2004. Mr. Hinrichsen earned his bachelor’s degree in secondary education from East Stroudsburg University, his master’s degree in educational psychology from Widener University and his educational specialist degree in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University; he is a candidate for his doctorate of education.

In his Hillel tenure, he has strengthened curriculum through the development of the Grade 8 Move Up Day program, new AP policies, an Upper School program of studies, a schoolwide judiciary committee, and the introduction of Hillel’s drug education program, including student screenings and DFYIT (Drug Free Youth In Town) in the Upper School and Middle School. Partnered with Dr. Holden, Mr. Hinrichsen has improved Hillel’s policies of discipline, attendance, grading and uniform/dress code.

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL: Gary Peirce

Mr. Gary Peirce is a middle school specialist who moved into education after a highly successful 15-year career in business. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Northwood University and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Missouri. In addition, Mr. Peirce completed educational leadership programs in gifted education at the College of William and Mary, and in curriculum mapping at Columbia University.

Prior to Hillel, he was the dean of student activities at the Pine School in Martin County; he has taught at the middle school level in both public and private schools. A colleague recently described Mr. Peirce as “one of the most effective educators that I have known in my 15 years of teaching.”

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, STUDENT LIFE: Yossi Kastan

Mr. Yossi Kastan is a Hillel graduate, currently earning a master’s degree in education at Nova Southeastern University and working on his rabbinic ordination. Until this year, Mr. Kastan worked with Hillel’s high school administration.

He has served in such roles as director of The Jewish Youth Education Council in Australia and as program director of the Young Israel of Monsey. He also teaches Jewish children in local public schools in a CAJE extracurricular program. Dedicated to the Middle School, Mr. Kastan will work with Frumma Rosenberg-Gottlieb to bring to life his passionate commitment to Jewish education, all while giving back to his alma mater by educating the next generation of Hillel alumni.

LOWER SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION
PKT - Grade 5

PRINCIPAL: Debra Abolafia

With a 25-year career in education and administration, Ms. Debra Abolafia was Hillel’s principal of early childhood education last year. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Queens College and a master’s degree in special education from Hunter College.

Until she joined Hillel, Ms. Abolafia was the director of early learning programs at Nova Southeastern University’s Mailman Segal Institute and the principal of the Baudhuin School. There, she was responsible for the development, administration and supervision of all early childhood program directors and the professional development department’s academic, training and outreach programs. Her balance of education, administrative experience and relationships with Hillel families makes Ms. Abolafia the ideal fit for this new position.

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, Grades 1 - 5: Rabbi Allen Saks

Rabbi Allen Saks has been a Hillel Judaic Studies teacher since 2003. At Yeshiva University, he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Jewish education and administration, as well as his rabbinic ordination.

Past roles include principal of the Rabbi David L. Silver Yeshiva Academy in Pennsylvania and principal of Canada’s Akiva Academy. Rabbi Saks’ teaching and administrative experience is diverse within lower and middle school grade levels.

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, PKT - Kindergarten: Valerie Lustgarten

Mrs. Valerie Lustgarten has been a Hillel early childhood teacher since 2006. Her bachelor’s degree in preschool education and master’s degree in early childhood education are from Universidad Metropolitana, Caracas. In addition, she has a master’s degree in Montessori education from the Southern Montessori Institute.

Mrs. Lustgarten’s 19 years of experience in early childhood education have been spent as a master teacher, assistant principal and administrator in the United States and Venezuela.

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, STUDENT LIFE: Joshua Meisels

Since 1997, Mr. Joshua Meisels has served as Hillel’s director of Judaics and rebbe for Grades 1-6. A former Hillel student, he has a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University and a master’s degree in education from Nova Southeastern University. He has developed programs at Hillel that integrate Jewish values with social-emotional learning and has great enthusiasm for Torah and spirituality.

Mr. Meisels will work with Frumma Rosenberg-Gottlieb to instill informal Torah learning and to strengthen a connection to the Jewish community in every student of the Lower School.

Hillel is a Jewish community day school structured to cultivate and inspire students’ interests and talents and to prepare them for college admission. By engaging students in meaningful cultural and religious experiences, Hillel strives to deepen their commitment to Judaism, the Jewish people and the State of Israel. Hillel is the second largest Jewish community day school in the nation.