The Upcoming Jewish Day School Leadership Shortage
Posted on 10/03/2025 @ 06:00 AM
By Jason Ablin, Director Jewish School Leadership Enterprise
“Leadership is not about mobilizing others to solve the problems we already know how to solve, but to help us confront problems we don’t yet understand and take us to places we have never been.”
~ Educational Thinker Michael Fullan
This insight speaks directly to the unique challenges and opportunities that Jewish day school leaders face and sets the tone for understanding why leadership in these schools is so critical.
A Growing Leadership Shortage
Despite the essential role of leadership, Jewish day schools and North American schools more broadly are facing a significant leadership shortage.
According to the Avi Chai Foundation, nearly 50% of Jewish day school heads of school were expected to retire or leave their positions within five years of a recent survey, creating an urgent need for new leaders.
Similarly, a 2023 report by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) highlighted that nearly 60% of heads of independent schools anticipate leaving their roles within the next decade.
With nearly half of current heads of school expected to leave in the near future, investing in and supporting these leaders is not just an investment in education — it is an investment in the Jewish future itself.
An Innovative Initiative
The Jewish School Leadership Enterprise (JSLE) has reached out to partner with CAJE on this innovative initiative to recruit and develop the next generation of Jewish Day School Leaders by seeking to attract 3 types of individuals who might be good candidates:
- Educators already in the field (but not yet heads of school),
- People who are leaders in other fields and are ready to change careers (and need to learn more about educational leadership)
- Students who are interested in a career in education
JSLE has also created a Career Advisor Program that is tailored to each of these different constituencies.
Starting in 2018, 11 outstanding Heads of School and educational leaders came together to develop the vision, mission, and strategic road map to address this upcoming shortage, which become the Jewish School Leadership Enterprise.
Among them is Nora Anderson, Head of School, Rambam Day School at Temple Beth Am here in Miami, former Chair of our Day School Principal and Administrator Advisory Council, who wrote:
“As we face a crisis in identifying, supporting, and retaining quality day school leaders, I joined JSLE to help cultivate the next generation of Jewish day school heads, ensuring our schools are guided by well-prepared, visionary professionals who deeply believe in the future of the Jewish people. Through its curriculum and support services, JSLE has created a pathway to identify and nurture talent both within and beyond the day school world, inspiring future day school leaders to embrace leadership as both a calling and a responsibility.
One of the board members of JSLE is Evelyn Katz, a current member of the CAJE Board and past president of RASG Hebrew Academy on Miami Beach.
“This initiative is bold and absolutely necessary! What makes this effort stand out is the way it looks beyond the usual paths while leveraging resources already in place. We can’t simply wait for leaders to step forward, we have to invite our future leaders in. With ‘concierge-style’ training, mentorship and support, potential candidates can grow into the leaders that our schools so urgently need. In doing so we are not just building a pipeline, we are creating a movement for leadership.”
By broadening the pool of potential leaders and encouraging talented, mission-driven people to step forward, the Jewish School Leadership Enterprise reflects a much-needed response to the leadership shortage.
A Call to Action
If you’re an educator, consider becoming a Jewish school leader to shape and empower an entire school and community! We’ll help you every step of the way.
If you’re ready to step up from your current role, Jewish school leadership could be in your future. We’ll help you every step of the way.
If you’re a student considering how to have a meaningful and rewarding career, talk to us about becoming the leader of a Jewish day school. We’ll help you every step of the way.
We invite everyone who values Jewish education --boards, educators, and professionals from across the Jewish world-- to go to Jewishschoolleader.com and nominate a future leader, support the leaders of tomorrow or become a leader yourself!
No matter what your background, JSLE will provide the guidance, training and connections to get you started on the path to leadership at a Jewish Day School.
As the world continues to change, the need for visionary, resilient, and compassionate leaders in Jewish day schools becomes ever more pressing.
The Jewish School Leadership Enterprise represents one vital step in inspiring and cultivating the next generation of exceptional leaders who will guide Jewish schools — and the community — toward a vibrant future.
For more information, or to nominate someone to be a Jewish Day School Leader, visit: Jewishschoolleader.com
