A Ladder For Learning

We gir
We
Learn

In The Beginni

Joyous morning ceremonies get the JAMD off to a great start.

DIANA LIEBERMAN

Academy support-
ers. lift Rabbi Lee
Buckman as he
gives a thumbs-up
Monday.

Hiring The Best

Several JAMD teachers
discuss their reasons for
taking on the challenge
of a brand new school.

DIANA LIEBERMAN

Std j Writer

ith a student body of about 49
and a teaching staff of more
than 20 full- and part-time faculty
members, the Jewish Academy of
Metropolitan Detroit provides an
exceptional student-teacher ratio.
In addition, each instructor brings
something special to the mix, said
Rabbi Lee Buckman, head of school.
"Our faculty is a top-notch faculty
that combines experienced teachers
and new teachers," he said. "They are
talented, good role models and excit-
ed about the possibilities of building
and shaping a new school. Their aca-
demic credentials have done the most
to market the school."

Related editorial: page 37

9/1
2000

16

Sta Writer

It

abbi Lee Buchman, head of school
at the Jewish Academy of
Metropolitan Detroit, could be for-
given for a little excess enthusiasm
on Monday morning, Aug. 28.
The Jewish day high school he'd been work-
ing on for more than a year had finally come to
fruition, with more students, more start-up
funding and qUite possibly the most beautiful
and up-to-date facilities in the entire country.
Borrowing a few words from Democratic
vice-presidential candidate Sen. Joseph
Lieberman, Rabbi Buckman stood before a
crowd of about 500 and shouted, "Is the Detroit
Jewish community great or what?"
His audience broke out in cheers.
The JAMD, housed for now at the D. Dan
and Betty Kahn Building of the Jewish
Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit, is
a non-affiliated school brought about by the
hard work of a team of volunteers. For its first

Administrators Set Standard

Working with Rabbi Buckman as
administrators at the JAMD are
Rabbi Aaron Bergman and Dr.
Helene Cohen.
Rabbi Aaron Bergman, head of the
Judaic Studies Department, comes to
the JAMD from Congregation Beth
Ahm, where he had served as rabbi
since 1991. Prior to that, he was
rabbi in residence at Hillel Day
School of Metropolitan Detroit in
Farmington Hills.
After receiving his undergraduate
degree from the University of
Michigan, Rabbi Bergman earned a
master s degree and rabbinic ordina-
tion from the Jewish Theological
Seminary of America in New York
City. This was followed by graduate
work in Jewish folklore at Hebrew
University in Jerusalem.
In addition to his administrative
duties, Rabbi Bergman will team-
teach the Jewish history sections of
the school's history courses.
Dr. Helene Cohen, director of aca-
demic affairs, was formerly an assis-
tant principal at Hillel Day School.
Before taking on a professional role at
the JAMD, she was a member of the
school's steering committee.
Her academic degrees include a

'

doctorate in administration,
planning and social policy. She
also earned a master's degree in
educational administration at
Harvard University and anoth-
er master's in integrated arts in
education and elementary edu-
cation from Lesley College,
both located in Cambridge,
Mass., and a bachelor's degree
from U-M.
"Her reputation is that of "a
sensible and sensitive educa-
tor," Rabbi Buckman said.

Introducing Faculty

year in West Bloomfield, it includes students in
grades nine and 10 only. Grades 11 and 12 will
be added one year at a time.
Monday's ceremonies began with two concur-
rent minyanim (prayer services) in the JCC's
Marion and David Handlernan Hall and
Auditorium. Then participants filed into an out-
door courtyard, where they stood in the grass for
ceremonies, speeches and celebrating.
"This is a great day not only for this wonder-
ful school but for the Jewish community," said
Robert Aronson, CEO of the Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit.
Federation's gift of $750,000 in matching
funds was one of several that were instrumental
in allowing the school to reach its opening day
"I can assure you that, as the school grows
and prospers, Federation will be with you all the
way" Aronson said.
Along with the Federation grant, Robert
Roth, president of the school's board of directors,
recognized grant support from the Schostak
Family Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit Millennium Fund and the Boston-based
Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education.
He thanked the Charach and Pitt families for
facilitatina use of the space the school occupies.
And Jeffrey
Garden, chair of the steering
b
committee in the difficult years before the
JAMD had walls and students, came in for
praise from Roth as being "a real consensus
builder."

Student Ari Mendelson o 'lest Bloom .11
works on the JAMD We page with Patti
Shayne, technology department bead,
and summer intern Dani Barak of
West Bloomfield

Several teachers spoke with evi-
dent enthusiasm about their rea-
sons for joining the JAMD staff
John Boshoven, director of career
counseling, said the opportunity to
work with Rabbi Buckman and Dr.
Cohen was part of his reason for
coming to the new school.
"Both are well-spoken, articulate
and passionate people who want to
make a difference in the lives of
young people,' said Boshoven, who is
formerly with the Community High
School in Ann Arbor. While in Ann
Arbor, Boshoven was chosen as one of
three guest lecturers to speak on col-
lege admissions at a graduate-level

course on educational reform at U-M.
Among the other teachers putting
in hours at the JAMD prior to the
opening of school was Patti Shayne,
technology department head.
Shayne has been working with the
young people to implement a wireless
network that will allow students, staff
and families to use laptop computers
to access the Internet from all class-
rooms and surrounding areas.
Teachers will be able to post home-
work on the Web page while students
can send their homework back.
Shayne most recently was direc-

