different type of emptiness.
As the founding dean of JAMD, she
will be missed by the next generation
of the Jewish community and their
families, said Rabbi Lee Buckman,
JAMD head of school.
In a letter distributed among JAMD
staff this week, Rabbi Buckman wrote:
"It is with mixed emotions of sadness
and congratulations that we will bid
farewell to an entire family that has
effected our lives so lovingly."
Dr. Cohen said, "I care so much
about so many kids, parents and teach-
ers in this community. I feel really lucky
to have had people trust me enough to
allow me to be a part of their lives and I
have taken that trust very seriously."
Before taking her current position at
JAMD, Cohen was assistant principal
at Hillel Day School of Metropolitan
Detroit; director of Midrasha College,
an Agency for Jewish Education adult
Jewish learning center in Southfield;
and adjunct professor at U-M, teach-
ing education reform at the graduate
school of education in Ann Arbor.
"The Hillel and JAMD families and
teachers have changed me and I owe
them a lot," she said. "I am excited
about the new phase of our lives, but I
am • really emotional."
Dr. Cohen will stay on at JAMD
until December 2005, and will assist
in the transition and integration of a
successor for her position.
In Washington, she will work as a
consultant, utilizing her experience
and her doctoral degree in educational
administration planning and social
policy.
"Each of us has experienced Helene's
professionalism, extraordinary atten-
tion to detail, tireless work ethic, abili-
ty to anticipate outcomes, wisdom of
experience, and heartfelt concern for
adults and children alike," wrote
Rabbi Buckman.
"She has inspired respect in parents,
motivated an entire staff of teachers to
reach for excellence, and counseled
dozens of teenagers to face the vicissi-
tudes of adolescence and academics
with equanimity and confidence.
"The colorful, student-made quilts
that Helene carefully designed and
sewed together, which are now dis=
played in our lobby, are emblematic of
the beautiful educational vision that
she has helped construct at JAMD."
Experience Galore
The Cohens look forward to their new
experience.
"Hillel is a phenomenal organization,"
WASHINGTON BOUND
on page 24
David Stiebel, a senior at the Jewish Academy,
[ always had a passion for advanced mathematics.
WISH
CADEMY
sMetropolitort Detroit
Academy d
Mdropdtan DIM
6600 West Maple Road
West Bloomfield, MI 48322
Phone (248) 592-5263
www.jamd.org
Last year, he was one of 75 students chosen nationwide to participate in the
annual Research Science Institute at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT). It was there that David applied his grasp of linear algebra and number
theory to conduct research on the infamous "traveling salesman problem." His
paper "To be greedy or not be greedy: An approximation algorithm for the
traveling salesman" earned him honors as a semi-finalist in the 2004-2005
Siemens Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science and Technology.
President of the student body for the second consecutive year, David has taken
lead roles in several of JAMD's musicals and dramas, has been the co-captain
of the school's robotics team, has been a loyal player on the boys' basketball
team, and volunteers regularly at Friendship Circle. After David received his
acceptance letter to MIT for college, he admitted that JAMD's most tangible
impact was in helping him develop a strong Jewish identity. "Before JAMD, I
was Jewish because my parents were Jewish. Now 1 am Jewish and choose to
be Jewish because I love and respect Judaism."
The Jewish Academy succeeds in helping students like David
discover new talents and interests
because of the dynamic and caring learning environment that promotes
critical thinking, confident leadership and Jewish commitment.
www.jamd.org
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