Optimism and determination guide the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy (HBHA ) head of school search committee as the members prepare to review applications and interview candidates to lead the school beginning in fall 2019. HBHA is searching for a new head of school following the departure of Howard Haas, who left at the conclusion of the 2017-18 school year. Haas served as the head of school for 11 years.
“It is most important for the community to know that this is a wonderful opportunity for the school to move from strength to strength and grow in importance for the community and in academic excellence,” said search committee Co-Chair Pete Levi.
Levi is chairing the search committee with Carol Porter. During an interview last week, they said they are hopeful they will have a head of school selected by Hanukkah.
“In an ideal situation, we would like someone starting in the fall,” Porter said.
The committee has prepared the opportunity statement and job description, which has been distributed to a number of relevant publications and individuals to be shared. The applications will go to Marc Kramer, Ed.D., a consultant hired by the HBHA to help in the search.
Kramer is an independent consultant who previously held a job working to help day schools find headmasters. He served as the HBHA’s consultant on their last head of school search and consulted with the school during its strategic planning process.
“He is well respected in day school communities around the country,” Levi said.
After the applications are reviewed by Kramer, Levi and Porter, they will be made available to the rest of the committee, who represent all aspects of the local Jewish community. The committee members are Brenda Althouse; Sam Arbesman, Ph.D.; Li Balanoff, MD, HBHA board chair; Annie Glickman; Laura Hewitt, HBHA administrator; Bob Palan; Eva Sokol, BIAV board chair; and David Sosland.
The application lists 12 key competencies wanted in the new head of school, as well as the following qualifications: “The head of school will be a highly skilled, experienced and mission-aligned organizational leader with: a master’s degree or higher in education, educational leadership, nonprofit leadership; rabbinical ordination; or related degree; At least five years of Jewish day school, other independent school, or nonprofit leadership experience. “
“There is not one single attribute the committee is looking for,” Levi said. “The search committee and the board went through many topics and want someone who is a visionary, communicator, can be a team leader, can develop relationships in the community and is Jewishly literate.”
If they can attract a rabbi, Levi said that “would be a qualification we would look for, but not a limiting qualification. We will look for people who have experience as head of schools and leadership positions in relevant organizations.”
Currently a team of three school leaders are acting as the interim head team: Todd Clauer, Upper School principal; Jessica Kyanka-Maggart, Lower and Middle School principal; Rabbi Avi Weinstein, head of Judaic Studies.
“We are fortunate to have these three people, who have worked as a team for a number of years, to be heading the school at this time,” Levi said.
The search committee is optimistic about the search for a variety of reasons.
“Even though we are a small Jewish community in the Midwest,” Levi said, “based on the history and reputation of the Hebrew Academy, as well as the strength of our Jewish community, we are sure we can attract top level candidates.”
When the search has ended and the new head of school is on board, Levi and Porter believe the entire community, not just HBHA, will benefit.
“The school is really a Kansas City center for Jewish education,” Porter said. “In order to have a thriving Jewish community,” we have to have a thriving Jewish based school.”
Because of this, Levi added the search committee views this as a community decision, “not just a decision about the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy. We hope to involve as many people in the community as possible.”
The committee expects to begin receiving applications in September and to hold interviews in September and October. Interested applicants can visit the school’s website, hbha.org, for further information.