Metro New Leadership At Akiva Education director is the first half of administrative change at the school. Shelli Liebman Dorfman Senior Writer F ollowing an 18-month search and 10 candidate interviews, Yeshivat Akiva has hired Chaye Kohl as the Southfield-based school's new education director. A search committee, headed by Dr. Phil Goldmeier, unanimously recommended the hiring, which was approved by the executive and general board. With a two-year contract, Kohl will begin her new post on Aug. 1. She comes to Akiva as Rabbi Yigal Tsaidi, who served as the school's education direc- tor for nine years, returns home to Israel with his wife, Shulamit, an Akiva teacher and musical director, and their family. Kohl holds a bachelor's degree in English, a master's degree in Judaic studies and has completed Ph.D. work in history and coursework at Matan: The Sadie Rennert Women's Institute for Torah Studies in Jerusalem and Drisha Institute for Jewish Education in New York. She has a certificate in day school administration from Yeshiva University in New York. With more than 30 years experience as an educator in Jewish day schools, Kohl taught at Yeshivah of Flatbush High School in New York for 19 years. She spent the past 10 as an administra- tor, serving as assistant principal at the Frisch School in New Jersey, high school principal at Hillel Community Day School in North Miami Beach and prin- cipal at Yavneh Academy of Dallas. "Ms. Kohl brings a wealth of experi- ence, wisdom and maturity, both inside and outside the classroom," wrote Goldmeier and Akiva President Dr. Howard J. Korman in a July 3 letter to the school's families. "A key addition to our strong administrative staff, she will update our current educational practic- es, thereby creating a model school for the 21st century, using the best of cur- rent educational research in the spirit of Torah U'Mada (Torah and secular knowledge)." However, the letter stressed, "While Ms. Kohl will be charged with running the school, she will not be in charge of Al2 July 9 . 2009 halachic (Jewish law) decisions related to the school. At her suggestion, the board has created and budgeted for a new position, the rabbinic dean, who, in addition to other administrative and teaching roles, will be responsible for halachic decisions relating to the school." Working Together "This is the first time we will have both an education director and rabbinic dean," Korman said. "Rabbinic dean is a new position we created?' In the past, Tsaidi filled both of these roles. "He was the education direc- tor who also took care of the rabbinic oversight for the school:' Korman said. "The new rabbinic dean, when hired, will report to Ms. Kohl on all education issues. For halachic issues, the rabbinic dean has a dual report directly to the executive board." The search for an education direc- tor included interviews with nine men — all rabbis — and Kohl. During the process, the committee decided instead of hiring one person who was both a rabbi and administrator, they would search for two individuals with separate job descriptions. "This is a trend across the country Dr. Phillip Goldmeier tions across the country, strengthens our current administrative structure. Our rabbinic dean will work directly with students, serve as a role model for our high school students in particular, preserve our hashkafa (Jewish thought and philosophy), and provide the criti- cal Torah leadership that makes Yeshivat Akiva Michigan's crown jewel of mod- ern Orthodoxy. At the same time, Ms. Kohl will be free to concentrate on the day-to-day administrative issues of run- ning the school." Other administrative staff at Akiva will continue in their current posts. A. New Level Kohl expects her position and that of rabbinic dean to complement one another. "The rabbinic dean will be the halachic authority to whom I will turn when halachic questions arise at Akiva," she said. "In searching for a rabbinic dean, we will hire someone who will teach and be a strong hashkafic pres- ence in the school for students and faculty?' The same committee that sought out Kohl has already implemented a search for a modern Orthodox rabbi to serve as rabbinic dean. The search will continue with her "Ms. Kohl brings a wealth of experience, wisdom and maturity, both inside and outside the classroom." — to get a great administrator and a great rabbi to serve together, but in dif- ferent capacities," Korman said. "And we've started with the administrator. She is a crackerjack teacher with great organizational skills and pragmatism. From the first time we spoke, I thought she was fabulous:' According to the parent letter, "This innovative model, which has been employed at other educational institu- Dr. Howard Korman input. In the interim, a rabbinic adviso- ry committee has been formed to over- see halachic decisions until a rabbinic dean is hired. Headed by Rabbi Yechiel Morris of Young Israel of Southfield, who also will be teaching at Akiva, the committee also includes Rabbis Eliezer Durden, Joseph Krupnik and Aviad Sanders. "We recognize that the path we are embarking on is different than many Education Director Chaye Kohl are accustomed to:' wrote Korman and Goldmeier in the parent letter. "We feel confident, however, that Ms. Chaye Kohl has the skill set to lead Yeshivat Akiva to the next level:' Kohl, the mother of three married children and the grandmother of five, is also a writer and lecturer. She has already met with the administration and board of the school. "They all com- plement one another well:' Korman said. During a visit to Detroit this week, Kohl plans to meet again with staff and lay leaders of the approximately 300-student school. Having never been to the Detroit area prior to her three visits to Akiva, she looks forward to her upcoming move and delving into learn- ing about the school. "My discussions with faculty, admin- istrators and board members helped me hone my questions, but I still need more information before I can begin to work with them regarding educational practices at Akiva," she said. "The first months will be an important time for me to get to know the school culture and build relationships with the con- stituents." During her visits and conversations, Kohl said, "I was impressed by the pas- sion of the parents, administrators, faculty and students at Yeshivat Akiva. They all feel connected to the school and to each other. "I look forward to being part of the Akiva family."