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February 11, 2000/5 Adar 1 5760, Vol. 52, No.23
Community high school appoints headmaster
LEISAH NAMM
Staff Writer
Jay M. Schechter, an educator with 33 years of combined public and private education experience in New York, has been named first headmaster of the Valley's planned Jewish Community High School.
The board of directors of the Jewish Community High School announced the appointment last week.
"Our community has taken a significant step in its development by hiring Jay Schechter," said Deborah Harris, board president. "Jay is an educational leader of the highest caliber commanding great respect among his colleagues."
Schechter says that among his top priorities is to "develop a core Judaic and secular curriculum that will reflect the board's vision of an excellent college preparatory program."
"Our school's Judaic philosophy will be one of inclusion, providing students with well-rounded knowledge of who they are as Jews," he said. "(Among our goals) is for our students to be admitted to the finest universities in this country."
Since moving to the Valley Jan. 30, Schechter has visited public and private schools, started the groundwork for hiring faculty, and begun familiarizing himself with educational programs in the Valley and the type of education that Jewish students and parents want.
"He is actively involved with the whole process of developing a school," Harris said.
Schechter said he has found that the Jewish community in the Valley has huge potential for growth, a high energy level and the advantages of climate and employment. He sees the future co-ed high school as helping the Phoenix Jewish community establish an identity.
Besides providing both excellent secular and Jewish education, Schechter said, the community high school will offer a range of extracurricular activities, including sports teams, drama, fine arts, band and orchestra.
"I want parents to say emphatically, 'This is where I want to send my children for high school," he said.
Rabbi William Berk of Temple Chai, a Reform congregation in northeast Phoenix, said, "We are very excited about Jay Schechter's hiring. He has a great background in high school education, (and) running different high schools with very diverse populations, which is very important in our diverse Jewish community."
Rabbi Bonnie Koppell of Temple Beth Sholom, a Conservative congregation in Mesa, said she is encouraged by Schechter's "high degree of professionalism and commitment to the vision of a community Jewish high school for the Phoenix area that embraces all denominations."
Before his move to the Valley, Schechter was the principal of Mesivta Rambam-Maimonides High School in Lawrence, N.Y.
"When I saw the advertisement for the headmaster position in "Education Week," I was instantly attracted," Schechter said. "I knew this would be the challenge of a lifetime. My colleagues and family have been very supportive and recognize my desire to build a great community Jewish high school in Phoenix.
"I am anxious to meet with Jewish parents and students, synagogues and youth groups; to become better acquainted with the Phoenix area's Jewish community and its educational needs," he said.
Schechter and his wife Debbie, who worked as a pre-kindergarten specialist for the New York City Board of Education, will reside in Phoenix. They have three adult sons, all of whom are lawyers.
Assessments now are being made on whether the Jewish community high school will open in September 2000 or 2001, Harris said. She expects the decision to be made by the end of February.
"The Jewish community in Phoenix is about to take a big leap forward with the establishment of the high school," Schechter said. "We look forward to welcoming new students into our new school."
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