Head of School

THE SCHOOL 

Striar Hebrew Academy of Sharon (“SHAS”) is the beloved heartbeat of the flourishing Sharon Modern Orthodox community. Today, SHAS serves approximately 100 students in grades N-5, and has experienced consistent growth in each of the past 7 years. Our primary population comes from Sharon, and most are members of Young Israel, the local Modern Orthodox shul. We have also had families from Providence, Norwood, Canton, Newton, Stoughton, Hingham, and other neighboring towns. While we take great pride in Modern Orthodoxy, we also welcome and wish to serve families of diverse backgrounds. We have children of Conservative clergy, intermarried families, and students from secular homes, all of whom desire a strong Modern Orthodox education.

Since the early 1980s, SHAS has been serving the Jewish children of the South Boston Area. An initial grant of land and money from R. William and Daniel Striar, z"tl’s  made this vision a reality in 1985, when Striar Hebrew Academy was founded as a preschool on the Ashcroft Road campus. The school grew and expanded, and in 2000, jointly acquired the 100 Ames Street campus with the Young Israel of Sharon for elementary classrooms and other program facilities.  In 2016, the school sold the Ashcroft campus, expanded its classroom space on Ames St., and unified the early childhood and elementary grades. This unification emphasized a one-school culture and enhanced the educational experience for our students and their families. In the 10 years since then, the school has experienced tremendous growth, expanding from 60 to 101 students. It is not uncommon for the youngest grades to now have waitlists. 

In a recent family survey conducted by Rosov Consulting, SHAS had an NPS of +69, indicating an extraordinarily strong level of parent satisfaction. SHAS faculty retention is extremely high, with some of our most esteemed educators having been on staff for over 20 years. In asking families to describe SHAS, we have heard the following attributes: “It’s a cousin-culture.” “We always try to get to yes.” “My child is thriving academically, and that’s the least impressive aspect!” “SHAS is just fun!” “Children run into school. It just seems like everyone loves this place.” 

With strong recruitment and Sharon’s current record pace of growth, we anticipate continued growth. SHAS is a member of AISNE (Association of Independent Schools of New England), and involved with Prizmah: the Center for Jewish Day Schools. 

SHAS believes that Jewish education is a right, not a privilege. We have worked closely with consultants from Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) to develop an innovative and generous Customized Tuition Model. We work closely with families to make the experience accessible to all. 

SHAS takes pride in our academic program and commitment to progressive pedagogy. We constantly engage with new Professional Development opportunities in both General and Judaic studies. We have meaningful learning ceremonies including Mesibat Haotiyot, Mesibat Hassidur, Mesibat Hachumash, Science Fair, State Fair, and Graduation. We also have a very strong culture of out-of-classroom learning experiences. These include: Borderland State Park Day, Yom Choref, SHAS Shabbat, Macabiya, Yom Shemesh, the One-Minute Talent show, weekly Shabbat Ruach, and much more. 

SHAS is at the precipice of a new era. Our new Head of School will help us develop our new strategic plan, as we make plans for our larger student population. This exciting time is perfect for innovative thinkers, visionaries, and dreamers! 

The Position

The Head of School serves as the chief executive professional for the school community and the leader responsible for the supervision and guidance of our faculty, professional staff, and administration. The HOS will be expected to oversee planning, program development and evaluation, advancement, finance, and marketing, while also serving as the public face of the institution and engaging in community relations. Over the next 3-5 years, their priority will be maintaining our stability while leading a strategic plan. The Head of School will oversee and collaborate with our senior leadership team, which includes our Principal, Business Manager, Director of Admissions and Community Engagement, Director of Shorashim: the Yaakov Spellman Early Learning Center, and our co-Directors of Student Support. The Head of School will lead our outstanding faculty and oversee professional development. SHAS faculty is uniquely dedicated to our mission: bettering our community, one child at a time. Part of this position’s responsibilities is preserving the deep trust that has been built between our faculty and parents. 

Responsibilities of the Role

1.  Relationship Building
1. Relationship with community: The head will develop close relationships with local rabbis, community leaders (both within Sharon, and within the greater Boston community), and elected officials. 
2. Relationship with students: The head will teach select Judaics classes, and engage students during recess and other informal periods. They will be a role model for our children. 
3. Relationship with teachers: the head will develop a supportive relationship with teachers that promotes their continued growth. 
4. Relationship with parents: the head should be available, attentive, and accountable. 
5. Relationship with donors: The head will engage donors and assist in achieving our fundraising goals. 
6. All of these relationships will be supported by an ability to listen empathically, communicate clearly, and follow through consistently.
2. Governance/Board Relations
1. Report to the Board of Trustees: The HOS will work closely with the Board of Trustees to create and implement the strategic plan.
2. Serve as an ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees
3. Work with the Board of Trustees and its committees to carry out school policies; attend meetings and keep trustees informed on aspects of the school’s operations.
4. Propose and maintain the budget. 
1. Work with the Business Manager to ensure financial health and stability of the school.
2. Oversee the entire budget process in close partnership with lay leadership. 
5. Work with the Financial Committee to manage investments and longer-term portfolios.
3. Strategic Planning 
1. Meet with the Board of Trustees to develop and implement a new strategic plan.
2. Work closely with the Business Manager and Board of Trustees on fundraising campaigns, including a potential capital and/ or building campaign. 
3. Work with the administrators to track overall donations, reengage existing donors and create plans to engage new donors.
4.  Academic Leadership
1. Oversee, support, and evaluate the Leadership Team.
2. The Head of School will work closely with the principal to support and evaluate the Principal’s creation, implementation, and assessment of all educational programs, including general education, Judaic studies, physical education, related arts, and extracurricular programs. 
3. Enrich, maintain, and articulate the school’s mission, vision, and values to the entire community.
4. Work closely with the directors of Student Support, who guide and empower faculty with tools and strategies needed to support the success of all students through differentiated methods of instruction.
5. Management
1. Recruit, hire, supervise, and create mentorship and professional development opportunities for the faculty, staff and administration.
2. Work with the Director of Admissions and Community engagement to create thoughtful strategies around engagement, recruitment, development, and community.
3. Maintain the SHAS culture of trust and transparency. We believe deeply in the benefit of the doubt, patience, and best intentions! 
6. Community relations
1. Serve as a skilled spokesperson and advocate who is able to articulate the inspiring educational and visionary mission that SHAS offers the Jewish community and community at-large.
2. Maintain close relationships with the CJP, the Beker Foundation, and other major community organizations. 
3. Give Divrei Torah, Shiurim, and classes to the Young Israel and broader Sharon community.
4. Enhance all school relationships, including those with current and prospective parents, volunteers, the Jewish community, and our secular educational partners i.e. SPS.
5. Oversee recruitment, and build relationships with young families in the community, hosting shabbat and yom tov meals, and inviting community members into the HOS’s home.
6. Represent the school at state and federal agencies, educational organizations, and member agencies.

Qualifications for the Position 

Our next Head of School will:

1. Be motivated by children’s educational, social and emotional development. 
2. Model passion for learning and teaching, inspire others, and enjoy being a familiar presence in and out of the classroom.
3. Love learning, teaching, and community building. 
4. Have a proven track record as an organizational leader and/or educational administrator, with school administrator and/or prior Head of School experience preferred.
5. Have educational leadership experience, and a familiarity with progressive pedagogy, as well as content for general and Judaic studies. 
6. Be prepared to quickly build strong, collaboration-focused relationships. 
7. Have a demonstrated commitment to Modern Orthodoxy. 
8. Have an advanced degree. Smicha or the equivalent preferred, such as Maharat or Rabba. 
9. Strong preference for candidates willing to relocate to Sharon and be part of the Young Israel community.
10. Have proven experience with management skills in the educational and/or nonprofit sector, with a record of achievement in advancement, recruitment/enrollment, and administration.
11. Have educational experience in the classroom at the elementary school level.
12. Be an organized, effective time manager, skilled in written and oral communications, with an inherent talent for relationship building with a variety of internal and external constituents.
13. Have a willingness and eagerness to advocate for SHAS with partner Jewish agencies and explore positive working relationships.
14. Possesses excellent interpersonal, political, and diplomatic leadership skills, and embraces a collaborative and team-centered management approach.

SHARON

Sharon is a beautiful suburban community with a wealth of natural resources. Its uniqueness is its beauty and location. Located just 22 miles from Boston and Providence, Sharon has quick access to both metropolitan centers via MBTA commuter trains, and to New York City and Washington, D.C., via Amtrak trains at nearby station, Route 128. Most Sharon residents live in single-family houses ranging from relatively modest ranches to luxury properties. Sharon does offer a few home rentals within the Eruv. 

Jewish life in Sharon is wonderful. We have a gorgeous mikvah, a keilim mikveh, and a large (and expanding) eruv. There are three Orthodox shuls: Young Israel, Etz Chaim, and Chabad. We also have close relationships with the non-Orthodox shuls and their wonderful clergy. Young Israel has a daily minyan (often with multiple options). On Shabbat morning they have already outgrown their newly built stroller parking! 

Sharon has a kosher supermarket, Zaydes Family Market, that includes both a deli counter and a pizza oven. Life’s-a-Bagel has world class sandwiches. Sharon prides itself in being the home of Crescent Ridge, an award-winning ice cream shop. There is plenty of Kosher food available at our local Shaw’s supermarket and Costco, with Menches frozen yogurt and Trader Joes nearby. Just a short drive away you can access more options in Newton and Brookline as well, including restaurants and kosher supermarkets from Brookline that offer weekly delivery options to Sharon! 

The highlight of Sharon is Lake Massapoag. Fun for relaxing, swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, taking a walk or catching a concert, the lake is a beloved feature of our town. Some of our other favorite local activities include state parks, Wards Berry Farm, the new library, trampoline parks, and other recreational opportunities. 

To apply to become our next head of school please send a cover letter and resume to Amy Wasser, Senior Director of Consulting Services at Prizmah, Center for Jewish Day Schools [email protected]