Head of School
Solomon Schechter School of Westchester
Hartsdale and White Plains, NY
INTRODUCTION
“I want Schechter Westchester to continue to be a place where Jewish values are important,
where our children receive a top secular and Jewish education and where we are moving
forward and innovating.” Current Parent
Solomon Schechter School of Westchester (www.solomon-schechter.com) is a Jewish day
school serving 865 students from grades K-12. Founded in 1966 as a K-8 day school, the school
has expanded to serve students in all grades on two campuses. Grades K-5 are housed on the
original 25-acre campus in White Plains and the new (2001) 25-acre campus in Hartsdale is
home to the middle and high school students. Accredited by the New York Association of
Independent Schools, Schechter Westchester is affiliated with the Schechter Day School
Network and is also a member of RAVSAK. Serving the Westchester County Jewish community
as well as Jewish communities in New York City, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Rockland, Orange
and Putnam counties, Schechter Westchester appeals to families from diverse Jewish
backgrounds.
Any visitor to campus will quickly discern that Schechter Westchester is a school with engaged
and positive students and a committed, bright and caring faculty. A strong community extends
beyond faculty and students, with a vibrant and dedicated parent body, including many alumni,
who serve the school as supporters, ambassadors and volunteers.
Originally guided by Rabbi Max Gelb (founder) and Leah Gelb (founding principal), the school
added one class per year, graduating the first 8th grade class in 1974. After fourteen years of
building and leading the school, the Gelbs retired in 1980, and Rabbi Dr. Elliot Spiegel, the
current head, was appointed. Under his leadership, the school has grown substantially and has
pioneered numerous innovative programs in teacher training, family and adult education,
student support and religious life.
As noted above, the school has been served by only two leaders since its founding. The school’s
student body and commitment to excellence have engendered strong loyalty from its teaching
staff. Schechter Westchester has a stellar reputation for preparing its students to succeed in
college and beyond. Throughout their years at the school, the academically diverse student
body is well challenged by the general and Judaic studies curricula and strong Hebrew language
instruction.
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Schechter Westchester’s community culture, along with its commitment to excellence in Jewish
and secular education, combines to make it one of the pre-eminent Jewish day schools in the
country. The Schechter Westchester community eagerly seeks an innovative, deeply
knowledgeable, inspiring and Jewishly committed leader to serve as Head of School beginning
July 2013. He or she will enthusiastically embrace the school’s mission, model its tenets and
serve as a sincere and energetic ambassador, both internally and externally. This person will
partner with the school’s Board, senior administrative team, faculty and parents to enhance the
school’s many strengths and ensure a relevant, successful program for the current and next
generations of students.
SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT
Schechter Westchester, a Kindergarten through 12th grade Conservative Jewish day school is set
apart by our comprehensive, intellectually rigorous dual curriculum that empowers and
cultivates each student in mind, body, and soul. Through the teaching of Jewish values, critical
thinking, and openness to new ideas, we inspire our students to achieve academic and personal
excellence, preparing them for college and the ever-changing world beyond.
We are a kehilah, a caring community that fosters the joyous practice of Jewish life. We instill in
our graduates the confidence to navigate life’s journey with a strong moral compass and apply
their passions, knowledge, and skills to the betterment of the Jewish people, the United States,
Israel, and the world.
CORE VALUES
Ahavat Yisrael – Love of Israel
Showing our love for and commitment to the Jewish people and the land and state of Israel as
central to Jewish identity and continuity.
Gemilut Chasadim – Social Action
Responsibility of establishing a better world through exemplary behavior, leadership, and acts
of kindness.
Kavod – Respect
Embracing diversity and respecting ourselves and others as we are created in God’s image.
Kehilah – Community
Taking responsibility for our community as the context for meaningful Jewish lives.
Talmud Torah – Lifelong Learning and Study
Instilling a love for continual learning through balanced study of Torah and general studies.
Tefilah and Shmirat Mitzvot – Observance
Observing Jewish traditions and prayer to provide meaning and joy in our daily lives.
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SCHOOL STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE and FACILITIES
There are 206 full and part-time teaching faculty members with a positive mix of longertenured and newer faculty. Faculty members speak with consistency and conviction of their
commitment to the values and mission of Schechter Westchester and of their passion for
providing the best education possible for their students. Honoring the diverse interests and
learning needs of each student is something Schechter Westchester teachers feel is of primary
importance to their work. Faculty members appreciate the uniquely strong relationships they
develop with students, and students are equally as appreciative of their teachers.
In addition to the Head of School, Schechter Westchester’s administrative team includes Lower,
Middle and High School Principals, Rabbis-in-Residence for the lower and upper school
campuses, Directors of Admission, Institutional Advancement, Communications, Strategic
Initiatives, Finance, and Operations. The Board of Trustees numbers 32 individuals. Invested
Board leadership is highly committed to supporting the school’s transition to the next head of
school.
With a yearly balanced operating budget of almost $22M, the school awards more than $6M in
financial assistance and merit scholarships each year. Recognizing the importance of an
endowment to the long-term health and sustainability of the school, Schechter Westchester is
undertaking an endowment campaign to significantly increase the current endowment level,
which now stands at $8M. In 2011-2012 the school raised $2.5M for its annual fund.
The school is located on two spacious campuses approximately twenty minutes apart. The
upper school campus’ main building is a modern, light-filled building that is welcoming, inviting
and has educationally appropriate spaces. The campus additionally has two gymnasiums. The
lower school campus is located in buildings and on land (purchased from the town) that
originally housed a public elementary school. The campus is composed of four buildings and
two playgrounds. While the grounds are spacious and the teachers work hard to design
appealing educational spaces, there is room for updating and refreshing, especially in
comparison to the upper school campus.
ACADEMIC, ARTS and ATHLETIC PROGRAMS
“School is fun. We work hard; we have good teachers and we are prepared well. There is a close
community feeling and everyone seems to have a sense of understanding for each other.
Teachers are concerned with our growth as people and as students.”
Middle School Student
Schechter Westchester is recognized as a leader in academic excellence in both general and
Judaic studies. In order to ensure the school’s continued success and the importance of
remaining highly competitive in a local market that boasts very strong independent and public
schools, it will be essential to continue to build upon, and communicate effectively, this
academic excellence.
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The Judaic and general studies programs, supplemented by a rich array of extracurricular and
service opportunities, prepare students to find their own voices with intellectual honesty,
confidence, and moral integrity. Students are invited to think creatively and analytically from
the day they walk into their Kindergarten classrooms. Schechter Westchester’s dual curriculum
and strong Hebrew program enable students to think critically in two languages.
The lower school, with 390 students in K-5, offers small classes (capped at 22 with three
sections per grade and four this year in grade 2). In addition to the dual curriculum, students
participate in physical education, art, music, library and technology. The recently renovated
science lab is an active and student-centered space. All classrooms have SMART Boards and
access to laptop computers. Students in the lower school are taught to play chess by a
recognized chess master. Schechter Westchester’s Chess Team triumphed over all other teams
in the United States, winning the K-9 SuperNationals Chess Championship in 2009. Success in
chess has continued throughout the grades, with the high school winning National
championships in both 2010 and 2011.
The middle school comprises grades 6-8 and enrolls 205 students. A student’s move to middle
school is more than just a move to a new building on a state-of-the-art campus. Although
middle school students share the campus with the high school, they have a dedicated wing of
the main building. An elective program that includes Spanish and a range of courses in the arts
and technology complements the core Judaic and general studies curricula. Enrichment
opportunities include the literary magazine, yearbook, student government, math team and
Hebrew Olympics, as well as special events, including the Living Museum of Jewish History in
the sixth grade and the seventh and eighth grade science fair. Eighth graders also participate in
a two-week trip to Israel.
In the high school enrollment totals 270 and students study English, social science,
mathematics, science, Hebrew, and physical/health education in addition to intensive study of
Jewish culture and history, Bible, Talmud, prayer education and halacha. These subjects are
complemented by an elective program that includes Spanish, Latin and a range of courses in the
arts and technology. Experiential learning and community service are all integral parts of a
student’s experience at the school.
Among the school’s signature programs are two senior class experiences and the recently
launched Sci-Tech program. After the first semester, seniors travel to Israel for two months for
study and travel, with a portion of the time being spent in Poland. Upon their return, all seniors
participate in the WISE (Wise Individualized Senior Experience) program of self-directed study
that enables a senior to pursue a specific area of interest in-depth. The Sci-Tech program is
designed for students with a strong interest in science, technology and engineering and begins
in the 9th grade. The Sci-Tech program offers talented students in the areas of science and
technology the opportunity to expand their intellect and develop skills in inquiry, critical
thinking, problem solving, research, teamwork, and presentation. Schechter Westchester is one
of only seven schools in the country in 2011-2012 to offer this STEM program of courses
developed by the Israel Sci-Tech Network, the largest network of schools and colleges in Israel.
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Students are offered the opportunity for musical instruction during and after school, and can
perform in the school choir, orchestra and bands. The lower school play, the middle school
musical and the high school drama program offer opportunities for artistic expression and
collaboration. High school students can additionally enroll in visual arts electives and the
“Artist-in-Residence” program is considered a highlight of the arts offerings.
In addition to a physical education program, Schechter Westchester also offers competitive
athletics at the middle and high school levels. Although an independent school, Schechter
Westchester participates in the New York State Public High School Association. The Schechter
Westchester Lions field forty-three middle and high school teams.
A high school student suggested that individuals interested in being the next head of school
should, “Check out The Schechter Scuttlebutt on YouTube, an almost weekly news program
about what is going on at school.”
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
As detailed, above, Schechter Westchester is a school of many strengths and resources. It is a
school community that has enjoyed continued growth and is committed to ensuring excellence
and innovation in its many programs. A new head of school will have the opportunity to build
on the school’s many strengths in partnership with a highly invested, strategically minded
Board, strong and loyal faculty and a committed parent body, all in service of a positive,
engaging student body.
The transition to new leadership after a lengthy headship creates both opportunities
and challenges for this school community. The Board is well prepared to support the
head as the community adjusts to new leadership. A new head of school who recognizes
the additional challenges created in a school community that almost wholly knows no
different leadership will transition most effectively. Thus, a new head who will be
patient and respectful in learning the school culture and balancing tradition and
innovation will help this school community transition successfully.
Schechter Westchester is a school that values community and relationships. The culture
of the school is such that the community will best embrace a head of school who is
highly visible, successfully builds relationships and who invites and fosters a culture of
communication and collaboration.
Throughout the school’s three divisions, the strengths of the academic program can be
seen, but there is opportunity to coalesce faculty school-wide to ensure a strong K-12
scope and sequence and put voice to a shared vision and excitement regarding essential
outcomes. Thus, a leader who can enthusiastically implement and participate in a
process that brings faculty from all divisions together to examine the curriculum will be
well matched to address this challenge and will ensure the school’s continued academic
excellence.
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617-332-3131 www.independent-thinking.com
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The school’s administrative structure has changed with recent leadership transitions and
as the school has grown; a new head of school will need to assess this structure in order
to ensure that it most effectively manages internal and external priorities. Additionally,
providing the school community with clearly defined roles and responsibilities for
administrative positions will bring needed clarity.
As the new head of school works to become acquainted with the school community,
developing a plan for a focused exploration of how to communicate most effectively
with the school’s many stakeholders will be a strong initial step in meeting the
community’s desire for enhanced communications. In particular, systems to ensure
strong communications between divisions need to be strengthened and/ or
implemented.
Like many independent schools, through careful stewardship of resources and
innovation in seeking alternate revenue sources, Schechter Westchester needs to
mitigate rising costs and resulting tuition increases to ensure that the school continues
to be a viable option for families across the socio-economic spectrum. In addition, in
order to retain the high quality of teachers and the highest level of instruction for
students, the school must ensure that faculty salaries are competitive. A new head of
school will need to embrace his or her role as a chief fundraiser, striving to enable a
strong development program to offer continued support.
The Board looks forward to working in partnership with the new head of school in an
ongoing and proactive strategic assessment and continuous improvement process,
building on the recently developed Vision 2020. Such a process will allow for a focus on
examining the school’s programs, establishing priorities and intentional goals that can
be well communicated and widely shared. The undertaking of this process will promote
positive interaction between the trustees and faculty and the administration and
faculty, working to ensure that both the Board and the administration is fully apprised
of faculty concerns and triumphs while instilling the faculty with the confidence that the
Board and administration are well-educated in making strategic decisions on behalf of
the school.
LEADERSHIP NEEDS
The successful candidate will be a hard-working, strategic and creative leader who:
Has the ability to inspire and execute as an educational and intellectual leader who
models a love of learning
Is Jewishly knowledgeable, ritually observant and sensitive to the school’s mission
Has a track record of successful relationship building, fund-raising and marketing and is
excited about serving as the school’s chief ambassador, communicating Schechter
Westchester’s mission adeptly and authentically
Possesses leadership qualities characterized by resolve, personal humility, good humor
and professional will
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Has well-honed strategic skills, including the ability to initiate and manage change and
to build and work with effective and well-functioning teams
Connects genuinely, warmly and joyfully with students of all ages
Will coalesce the school community through strong two-way communication and active,
visible leadership
Leads with clarity and high expectations, building a culture of trust, respect and
accountability
Utilizes a decision-making style that is open to appropriate input from constituents and
balances collaboration and decisiveness
Has excellent written and verbal communication skills
Is technologically savvy and effectively balances the use of technology to support
communication and education while maintaining strong personal interactions.
The ideal candidate will be an individual who has a track record of success as a leader, who is
innovative, perceptive, deeply knowledgeable, a strong communicator, listener and relationship
builder. This is a great opportunity for an experienced, enthusiastic and good humored
professional to enhance an already strong school.
FOR CONSIDERATION
Please send electronically: Resume, Letter of Interest and Educational Philosophy or Personal
Statement to:
Jane Foote or Bill Lyons, Managing Partners
Independent Thinking
westchester@independent-thinking.com
617-332-3131
Schechter Westchester offers a competitive salary and benefits. All inquiries will be treated
confidentially and review of candidate files will begin immediately.
Independent Thinking PO Box 600247, Newton, MA 02460
617-332-3131 www.independent-thinking.com
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