Opportunity Statement 3 Summary School Profile

4 Candidate Profile

5 School Profile and History

6 Our Campus

Welcome to Dallas!

9 How to Apply Summary School Profile

Welcome to Akiba Yavneh Academy! We invite you to learn more about our school, our community, and our city. Dallas boasts a thriving and growing Jewish community with significant Jewish infrastructure, booming economic opportunity, and tremendous potential for growth and meaningful impact. With several eruv communities, beautiful Shuls, multiple Kosher restaurants, and a breathtaking campus that serves as the center for Jewish learning from nursery through high school, we are eager to find a dynamic leader to join our team and guide our high school to new heights.

Mission Educational Goals Akiba Yavneh Academy (AYA) is a Modern Orthodox, co-ed, early • To promote the belief that the acquisition of all knowledge, both childhood through 12th grade college-preparatory school dedicated to General and Judaic, is intrinsically valuable and is essential to the providing an academically excellent and values-based General and growth of our students. Judaic education to Jewish students of all backgrounds to inspire a • To ensure a lasting commitment to learning, ethical behavior lifelong love of Torah, higher learning, and the State of . and the observance of mitzvot.

Philosophy Statement • To imbue a love for both the land and the State of Israel and a mastery At Akiba Yavneh Acaedmy we strive to educate the whole child by and appreciation of Hebrew through its study and application. recognizing the unique potential of each student, fostering a culture of respect and kindness, and encouraging a sense of community in • To inspire lifelong learners whose commitment to the pursuit our school. We pursue excellence with a rigorous dual curriculum while of knowledge is coupled with a deep passion for scholarship. celebrating the diversity in our community of learners by providing • To develop individuals who possess a strong sense of responsibility innovative and differentiated learning opportunities, as school and empathy for Klal Yisrael and society as a whole. resources allow, to address each student’s developmental needs. Our students achieve distinction in leading universities and yeshivot after graduating AYA.

To learn more about our schools, please visit www.akibaacademy.org and www.yavnehdallas.org 3 Candidate Profile

We invite you to consider the opportunity to serve as AYA's next High School Judaic Studies Principal. Join us, write the next chapter in our proud legacy, and become a part of our family.

Our leader will: • Embody our mission by demonstrating a deep commitment to Torah, General and Judaic academic excellence, college preparatory rigor, values-based Modern , and the State of Israel.

• Provide a powerful pedagogic vision that inspires faculty to continually grow and promotes joyful teaching and learning, exceptional middot, discipline, and collegiality.

• Communicate and listen effectively to establish and foster positive relationships with faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni and other stakeholders. They will be comfortable communicating in person, by phone, and in writing using every touch-point as an opportunity to instill and reinforce a love for Judaism and a sense of Jewish pride in all of our constituents.

• Lead with strong managerial acumen and articulate a clear vision of Judaic educational excellence and a path towards achieving such excellence. They will accept ownership and accountability for, and assess, the overall performance of the Judaic studies faculty and will inspire commitment and dedication to student-centered learning and an overall growth mindset.

• Inspire our school community by example and will promote and exhibit the highest level of honesty, integrity, and thoughtfulness with staff, educators, parents, and the student body.

Our ideal candidate joins us with 3-5 years of prior experience in educational leadership, a Master's degree in education or a related field, and is invigorated by the opportunity to lead an established and growing high school community. To learn more about our schools, please visit www.akibaacademy.org and www.yavnehdallas.org 4 School Profile and History Akiba Yavneh Academy is a Modern Orthodox, early childhood through high school, co-educational school, offering excellent General and Judaic programs to a diverse population of Jewish students.

Akiba was founded in 1962 and welcomes children from three months classes in everything from science to ballet. Our Early Childhood through the eighth grade from a variety of religious background. The Program is accredited by the National Association for the Education of school is a member of the Texas Association of Non-Public Schools and Young Children (NAEYC) and was one of the fi st schools in the nation The National Society of Hebrew Day Schools. Akiba is accredited by the to be accredited by the Jewish Early Childhood Education Initiative Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). (JECEI)—confi mation that our Early Childhood Program is among the most progressive in the country. Akiba’s Early Childhood Program is renowned in the larger Dallas community for its cutting-edge program, steeped in the latest research. Akiba’s Lower and Middle Schools boast an integrated curriculum, The school meets the most rigorous industry standards in terms of passionate teachers, technologically advanced classroom tools, and a teacher-student ratios, while maintaining a unique warmth and sense deep commitment to educating the whole child, providing opportunities of family that is eminently perceptible to all who know it. Our Early for students to grow academically, emotionally, socially, religiously, and Childhood Program is designed with the guiding principal that children spiritually. Our General studies curriculum exceeds state and national learn in an environment that is simultaneously challenging and nurturing. standards for each grade level and our students excel in meeting these Akiba’s youngest students learn early math and literacy skills through standards as demonstrated in the classroom and on standardized testing. intentional, guided play. Our curriculum promotes problem-solving and Our teachers utilize data to plan for and meet student differentiated higher cognitive skills, while encouraging independent thinking, curiosity needs. Students learn language arts, social studies, science, and math and imagination. In addition to classroom activities, children have regular in integrated lessons and specialist teachers offer instruction in STEM, music, art, physical education, social-emotional workshops, and library technology, art, library, music, and physical education. We have an time, as well as the opportunity to participate in afternoon enrichment extraordinary student-teacher ratio and offer small class sizes.

To learn more about our schools, please visit www.akibaacademy.org and www.yavnehdallas.org 5 School Profile And History (continued)

Yavneh Academy, our high school, was founded in 1992 with 13 students Yavneh graduates often study in Israel for one year before college at and seeks to provide its students with a superior, dynamic, and college- programs such as: MMY, , Michlelet Esther, preparatory combined General and Judaic education. We celebrate a Machon Gold, , Shaare Mevasseret Tzion, Shaalvim, diverse student body, with representation from all elements of the Dallas Merkaz HaTorah, Kerem B’Yavneh, Reishit Yerushalayim, and HaKotel. Jewish communities. Yavneh offers AP courses, rigorous curriculum in all subjects, and tracked Judaic courses, to meet the needs of students from Our students consistently do well on the SAT and ACT, and Yavneh has a variety of backgrounds. produced multiple National Merit Scholars, notably 2 commendees and 5 finalists in the past 6 years. Yavneh students have been named AP Yavneh is accredited by TAAPS (Texas Alliance of Accredited Private scholars for five consecutive years and are math competition winners. Schools), receiving reaccreditation in 2015 for a maximum seven-year Graduates have earned over $8.3 million in merit scholarships to leading period until 2022. universities and colleges.

The culture at Yavneh is collegiate; our students are leaders. Our students Yavneh students have been accepted to: Bar Ilan University, Barnard advocate for additional class offerings, extra-curricular activities, and service College, Brandeis University, Boston University, Columbia University, opportunities and frequently hold leadership positions in the community. Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, Massachusetts Insitute of Technology, Northwestern University, Stanford University, Texas A&M Yavneh achieves distinction beyond the classroom. Our student University, University of Maryland, University of Michigan, University of newspaper, the Bulldog Print, has won several awards and our boys’ Texas, Vanderbilt University, Washington University in St. Louis, soccer and basketball teams have progressed to the Texas playoffs. Yale University, University, and several more. Other extra-curriculars include: Student Council, girls’ volleyball, girls’ softball, girls’ basketball, boys’ and girls’ tennis, theater, mock trial, Now a merged preschool through 12th grade school, Akiba Yavneh numerous community service clubs, mishmar, and Shabbatonim. Academy will carry on the legacy of these two storied institutions.

To learn more about our schools, please visit www.akibaacademy.org and www.yavnehdallas.org 6 Our Campus

Akiba Yavneh Academy is located on a $25 million, 8.5-acre state of the art campus that was completed in 2005. The Schultz Rosenberg campus is recognized nationally as one of the finest Jewish day school campuses in the country, designed intentionally as an optimal setting for educating children. Our classrooms are filled with abundant natural light and there is a sense of joyful calm that permeates the entire campus.

The campus includes seven buildings, state of the art science labs, an athletic complex with spectator seating, art facilities, a library, an outdoor amphitheater, two full-service kitchens, two Batei Midrash, a theatrical stage with lighting and sound, music room, conference rooms, fields, courts, playgrounds, a café, and 24-hour security.

The campus was influenced deeply by David Moss, a world-renowned Jewish artist, who guided the spiritual intention of the campus design. The seven species of the Land of Israel are planted throughout the campus, alongside indigenous Texas plants. It has won numerous awards.

AYA’s campus is located in the heart of North Dallas and is a short commute from the most desirable and Jewishly dense neighborhoods in the Dallas area.

To learn more about our schools, please visit www.akibaacademy.org and www.yavnehdallas.org 7 DALLAS, OUR CITY, OUR COMMUNITY

WELCOME TO DALLAS!

Much more than barbecue, beer and cowboy boots, Dallas is a large and Dallas Jewish life is vibrant, well-developed, and growing steadily. There are growing urban center. As the largest metropolitan area in Texas and the two major Eruv neighborhoods, North Dallas and Far North Dallas, as well as 4th largest in the US, Dallas is home to 21 Fortune 500 companies, and two newer Eruv communities in Plano and Richardson. There are numerous growing. Dallas is conveniently located and has two major airports to synagogues: 9 Orthodox, 2 traditional, 5 Conservative, and 9 Reform. easily facilitate travel. There are numerous Kosher certified restaurants in Dallas: Aderet, Benny’s Dallas has 5 professional sports teams, more than 400 parks, 60 lakes and Bagels, Fino, Kosher Palate, The Market Cafe, Meat Point, Midtown reservoirs, and a world-class burgeoning arts district. An average high Kosher Pizza, Milk and Honey Market and Grill, Monster Yogurt, temperature of 76 degrees, more shopping and more restaurants per capita and two locations of the Tom Thumb Grocery, Bakery, Sushi, and Butcher. than any other major US city, 175 plus museums and galleries, and over 50 professional and community theaters all contribute to making Dallas one The Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas is exceptionally active, strong, of the most sought-after cities in which to raise a family. The median home and supportive of Jewish education. The Federation is housed on the value in Dallas is $198,400 and there is no state income tax, combining to campus of the JCC, which includes a state-of-the-art gym, camp, youth make Dallas an especially affordable and pleasant place to live. sports, senior activities, and a preschool.

To learn more about our schools, please visit www.akibaacademy.org and www.yavnehdallas.org 8 How To Apply

Interested candidates are encouraged to contact our Human Resources Director, Ms Heather Moodley at [email protected] to confidentially discuss the opportunity and the process.

Candidates who are ready to apply should submit the following materials as a PDF, via email:

• A cover letter indicating why you are particularly interested in serving as High School Judaic Studies Principal including a description of how your experiences qualify you for this leadership position.

• A current résumé

• Statement of educational philosophy and practice

• List of 3 references with name, phone number, and email address of each

To learn more about our schools, please visit www.akibaacademy.org and www.yavnehdallas.org 9