Change At Akiva

Departing Dr. Domstein praised as positive force as day school names new secular studies principal.

DIANA LIEBERMAN
Special to the Jewish News

D

into the hall, and ask the parents . who
1- happen to be there, and they are always
willing to help," he said.
The reverse also hasbeen true,
, according to first-grade teacher Karyn
`21 Faber of Southfield.
"Last year, we had scheduled a trip to
the new Southfield Public Library, so the
kids could get familiar with the library,
apply for cards," said Faber, who also is
an Akiva parent. "At the last minute,•one
of my parent drivers couldn't make it.
Dr. Domstein was standing there, saying
goodbye, and, when he heard what hap-
pened, he said, 'I'll take them.'"

r. Charles Domstein, secular studies
principal at Yeshivat Akiva for the
past five years, will be leaving the
school when his contract expires July 1.
Mark Nadel, president of Akiva's board of
directors, said the executive board had decided
late last year to seek other candidates for the
position. "That's standard procedure [when a
senior executive's contract expires]," he said.
Nadel said the board had reviewed
resumes, including Dr. Domstein's. The
incoming principal, Teri Giannetti, was for-
merly a principal in the Walled Lake and
A Positive Influence
West Bloomfield schools. Most recently, she
"We're sad to hear he's leaving," said
taught in Saudi Arabia, where she began a
Akiva parents Dr. Charles and Sara
high school for American and European stu-
Silow of Huntington Woods.
dents.
Along with other parents, the Silows
"Dr. Domstein has been an incredible
recalled
how Dr. Domstein waits at
principal for five years," Nadel said. "I love
During recess at Yeshivat Akiva, Dr. Charles Domstein talks with fifth-graders
Akiva's
front
door every morning,
the -man."
Estee Levi, 11, of Southfield and Madi Spalter, 10, of West Bloomfield.
greeting students by name. "He will be
However, he continued, "the executive
difficult to replace, in terms of
board decided that, going forward, we'd be
the number of years he has worked anywhere else.
warmth, openness and accessibility," Charles Silow
better off going with a change."
"I was in Milwaukee; I was in Montreal," he said.
said.
Akiva's general board affirmed that decision
"I feel good about every place I've been. I hope
"We have been completely happy with him — as
March 21.
every place feels good about me."
parents,
professionally and collegially," said Dr.
A modern-Orthodox day school serving children
Rabbi Tsaidi praised Dr. Domstein's work as a
Silow,
who
has worked with the educator on the
in nursery though 12th grade, Akiva has a 2004-05
teacher as well as an administrator. The secular stud-
Holocaust Survivors' Program at Jewish Family
enrollment of about 340.
ies principal has primarily taught Holocaust history
Service. "He will be missed, especially by the kids,
Both Dr. Domstein and Rabbi Yigal Tsaidi,
classes, recently taking Akiva's eighth-graders to the
who love and adore him."
Akiva's head of school, were hired in July 2000.
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington,
"He's always been completely positive about Akiva
Since then, the board has awarded Rabbi Tsaidi a
D.C. "I hope he will continue to work here as a mas- and he still is," Dr. Silow said.
long-term contract, which runs for four more years.
ter teacher," Rabbi Tsaidi said.
Added Sara Slow, "I don't know what's going
Nadel declined to comment on specific factors the
Dr. Domstein said his future would move
on behind the scenes, but I personally like him
board had considered in re-evaluating Dr.
beyond Akiva.
very much."
Domstein, although he did say that no health or
The educator, a West Bloomfield resident, said
Parent Debbie Kirshner of Oak Park, a certified
disciplinary issues had been involved.
-he's keeping his options open. "I've always had a yen Jewish educator and an Akiva graduate, said she has
"Whenever one of these contracts is up, we owe it
for supervising student teachers," he said. "I'm going "no issues" with Akiva's secular studies curriculum.
to the parents and the entire general board to re-eval-
to look into opportunities through one of the local
"The only thing I would like to see is more pro-
uate where we are and where we want to be," Nadel
universities."
grams
for gifted children," she said, "but that's
said.
A former teacher and administrator in the Detroit
mostly
in Judaic studies."
"For someone to preempt Dr. Domstein, it would
and Oak Park schools, Dr. Domstein said he had
"I've had nothing but positive interactions with
take an incredible candidate. The last thing we want
hoped to continue as Akiva's secular studies princi-
Dr. Domstein," Kirshner said. "Whatever endeavor
to do is to say goodbye to him. What fell into our
pal, "but I was told the school decided to go in
he attempts, I know he'll succeed."
.
laps is that a new candidate just bowled us over."
another direction."
Calling Dr. Domstein a "kind, warm person," Jill
"I'm very supportive of what Rabbi Tsaidi has been
A Heimish Person
Greenbaum, a Southfield resident and mother of
doing," he said. "I hope I've been able to contribute
three Akiva students, said the principal has always
Working with Dr. Domstein has been a privilege,
something to the growth and reputation of the school." been responsive and accessible. "Any issue that came
Rabbi Tsaidi said.
"These last five years have been wonderful," Dr.
up with your child, he would always address it,"
"He's a very heimish person, very warm," the rabbi
Domstein said. "It has been so nice to get up in the
she said.
said. "The kids love him. He gave to us all the great
morning really looking forward to going to work.
The outpouring of good feeling toward Dr.
things he accumulated in 30-40 years in education."
The thing I'll miss most are the kids. I bonded with
Domstein did not surprise board president Nadel.
"Nobody 'fired' Dr. Domstein," Rabbi Tsaidi said.
a lot of the Akiva students, seen them grow up over
"Everybody loves Dr. Domstein," Nadel said. "He
"In Jewish day schools, people change jobs a lot. It's
about five years."
gave
a unique tone of warmth to the institution.
healthy."
He also had high praise for the staff and the parents.
"But
the bottom line is, it's the right time for a
As head of school since July 1, 2000, Rabbi
"Whenever I want something done, I can just go out
change."
Tsaidi's own tenure at Akiva already has exceeded

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