Milwaukee Jewish Day School, Head of School

Milwaukee Jewish Day School (MJDS), founded in 1981, is a pluralistic Jewish day school which currently serves 139 students Early Childhood, age 3, through Grade 8. Set in a beautiful residential Milwaukee neighborhood on a campus with other Jewish organizations, MJDS is a school where academic excellence and Jewish values are intertwined. The school's commitment to empathy, wonder, and tikkun olam (responsibility for making the world a better place) forms the heart of the MJDS community and educational program. With innovative teaching, small class sizes, and faculty's commitment to know each child throughout the school, MJDS supports students' academic, personal, and spiritual growth. MJDS seeks an energetic, highly relational educational leader to serve as head of school beginning July 1, 2025.

MISSION and VALUES

Where academic excellence and Jewish values prepare children for a lifetime of success, leadership, and engagement with the world.

At the heart of the MJDS experience are three core values that serve as guiding principles:

● Empathy: Students aim to understand and be sensitive to the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of others

● Wonder: Students are encouraged to experience curiosity and appreciation of the world around them

● Tikkun Olam: Students are taught that their responsibility, as Jews and as people, is to make the world a better place

MJDS is committed to being an authentic pluralistic community. Guided by the wisdom of Pirkei Avot 4 -"Who is wise? One who learns from all"-MJDS embraces the diversity within Judaism. By exploring the diversity of Jewish tradition, understanding, and expression, MJDS believes that individuals better understand their own Judaism. At MJDS, students and families are offered the experiences and tools to engage with the world, while creating meaningful Jewish time together.

The school strives to nurture students into mensches, compassionate, responsible individuals. MJDS guides students in exploring their Jewish identities and connecting to the world around them, equipping them with the tools and values to thrive as thoughtful, engaged citizens and leaders. The MJDS rally cry "Moving from me to we" reflects its commitment to community and collective responsibility.

LEADERSHIP NEEDS

MJDS's next head of school will embrace the school's mission and exude its core values of empathy, wonder, and tikkun olam. They will be an experienced, collaborative leader and educator who has strong knowledge of and appreciation for Jewish values, embraces those values in their own life, and shares MJDS's commitment to pluralism. Additionally, the next head of school will:

• Be a highly relational individual who authentically enjoys interacting with individuals of the many ages represented within the school's community

• Possess a track record of conceiving of and implementing strategic initiatives with successful outcomes as well as the ability to partner with and lead Board members and other stakeholders in securing MJDS's future

• Demonstrate the personal skills and enthusiasm to serve as a compelling chief ambassador both within the school community and throughout the Milwaukee Jewish community

• Understand and be energized by fundraising and marketing, enjoying the opportunities to encourage others to invest in MJDS's students and its future

• Revel in the opportunity a small school enables to balance the internal and external pieces of a head of school's responsibilities, and possess a track record that underscores the ability to prioritize competing demands

• Be an effective, inspiring, and adept communicator in both small and large group settings, able to listen well and engage in challenging conversations with ease and empathy

• Appreciate MJDS's educational approaches to student-centered learning, academic rigor, and an innovative curriculum, and engage knowledgably in discussions of pedagogy, both secular and Judaic, and

• Serve as a compelling role model, possess a sense of humor, and exude infectious joyfulness.

The MJDS community is tightly knit, bound by a shared mission and clear core values that permeate every aspect of the school. The deep pride and purpose that faculty, families, and students share create a vibrant and purposeful learning environment. With the support of a dedicated Board of Directors and administrative leadership team, MJDS fosters a culture that celebrates collaboration and works towards a singular goal: providing an education infused with Jewish tradition that equips students for the future. The opportunity to join this community and lead this vibrant school is a wonderful opportunity for an enthusiastic school leader.

For Consideration

Please send electronically: Resume, Letter of Interest and Educational Philosophy or Personal Statement to:

Samantha Brennan, Senior Consultant or

Jane Armstrong, Managing Partner

Independent Thinking

samantha@independent-thinking.com

jane@independent-thinking.com

All inquiries will be treated confidentially and review of candidate files will begin immediately.

Search Calendar:

Review of files to being immediately. July 1, 2025 start date.

Milwaukee Jewish Day School, Head of School - Opportunity Statement

www.mjds.org